US5489955A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Camera having sound recording function
Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
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Filing: 1994-09-29
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Granted: 1996-02-06
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Expires: 2014-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A camera having a sound recording function is disclosed, in which an object image is photographed/recorded, as an optical image transmitted through a photographic optical system or photoelectrically converted image data, on a film having a magnetic recording portion, a magnetic disk/tape, or the like, while sound data is sampled for a predetermined period of time before/after the photographic operation. The sampled sound data is temporarily stored in a sound data storage section constituted by a semiconductor memory and the like. In a film wind-up operation, the sound data is written in the magnetic recording portion of the film. With this operation, the predetermined number of frames can be photographed regardless of whether sound data is present or absent. Further, another camera having a sound recording function is disclosed, in which sound around the camera (sound data) at a given time is temporarily stored in a sound data storage section 54, and sound stored during a film wind-up (film advance) operation is stored on a magnetic track of a film.
Inventors
- 👤 Tatsuya Satoh
- 👤 Kunio Yokoyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:28
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B31/00; G03B31/06; G03B17/00; G03B17/24; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/24; G03B2217/242; G03B2217/244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A camera having a sound recording function, comprising: a camera body allowing a film having a magnetic recording portion to be loaded therein; a manual operation member for outputting a first signal in response to an initial operation of the camera and for outputting a second signal in response to a camera operation following the initial operation; sound data storage means for continuously sampling sounds around said camera to produce sound data during a sampling period initiated by the first signal, storing said sound data sampled within a period of time having a preset maximum duration, and updating the stored sound data if the sampling period exceeds the preset maximum duration, said sound data storage means including a sound input microphone, a converter for converting the sound data sampled by said microphone into encoded data, and a semiconductor memory for temporarily storing the encoded data; exposure means for executing an exposure operation in response to the second signal; film advance means for winding up said film by one frame upon completion of the exposure operation; and magnetic recording means for reading out the updated data stored in said semiconductor memory and for recording the read out data on the magnetic recording portion while said film advance means winds up said film by one frame, after completion of said exposure operation, said magnetic recording means including a magnetic head and a driving circuit for said magnetic head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A camera having a sound recording function, comprising: a camera body allowing a film having a magnetic recording portion to be loaded therein; a manual operation member for outputting a first signal in response to an initial operation of the camera and for outputting a second signal in response to a camera operation following the initial operation; sound data storage means for continuously sampling sounds around said camera to produce sound data during a sampling period initiated by the first signal, storing said sound data sampled within a period of time having a preset maximum duration, and updating the stored sound data if the sampling period exceeds the preset maximum duration, said sound data storage means including a sound input microphone, a converter for converting the sound data sampled by said microphone into encoded data, and a semiconductor memory for temporarily storing the encoded data; exposure means for executing an exposure operation in response to the second signal; film advance means for winding up said film by one frame upon completion of the exposure operation; and magnetic recording means for reading out the updated data stored in said semiconductor memory and for recording the read out data on the magnetic recording portion while said film advance means winds up said film by one frame, after completion of said exposure operation, said magnetic recording means including a magnetic head and a driving circuit for said magnetic head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A camera according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying that the sound data is being sampled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said sound data storage means terminates said sampling period in response to said second signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
180 words
A camera having a sound recording function, comprising: a camera body allowing a film having a magnetic recording portion to be loaded therein; sound data storage means for continuously sampling sounds around said camera to produce sound data during a sampling period prior to a photographic operation in response to a photography start signal, storing said sound data sampled within a period of time having a preset maximum duration, and updating the stored sound data if the sampling period exceeds the preset maximum duration, said sound data storage means including a sound input microphone, a converter for converting the sound data sampled by said microphone into encoded data, and a semiconductor memory for temporarily storing the encoded data; film advance means for feeding said film; and magnetic recording means for reading out the updated data stored in said semiconductor memory and for recording the read out data on the magnetic recording portion while a film advance operation is performed by said film advance means, said magnetic recording means including a magnetic head and a driving circuit for said magnetic head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
180 words
A camera having a sound recording function, comprising: a camera body allowing a film having a magnetic recording portion to be loaded therein; sound data storage means for continuously sampling sounds around said camera to produce sound data during a sampling period prior to a photographic operation in response to a photography start signal, storing said sound data sampled within a period of time having a preset maximum duration, and updating the stored sound data if the sampling period exceeds the preset maximum duration, said sound data storage means including a sound input microphone, a converter for converting the sound data sampled by said microphone into encoded data, and a semiconductor memory for temporarily storing the encoded data; film advance means for feeding said film; and magnetic recording means for reading out the updated data stored in said semiconductor memory and for recording the read out data on the magnetic recording portion while a film advance operation is performed by said film advance means, said magnetic recording means including a magnetic head and a driving circuit for said magnetic head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A camera according to claim 4, further comprising an operation member for producing a photography start signal for designating a start of a sound recording operation so that the sound sampling operation is started in response to the photography start signal output when said operation member is operated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A camera according to claim 5, wherein said operating member comprises a release switch and outputs a signal for designating a start of the sound recording operation when said release switch is in a state of half-depression.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein said sound data storage means executes a sound data storing operation at least when an actuator is not operated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A camera according to claim 7, wherein said actuator comprises an actuator for exposure control.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A camera according to claim 7, wherein said actuator comprises a film feed motor included in said film advance means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein said sound data storage means sequentially updates the sound data stored in said semiconductor memory in a chronological order when a sound data storing operation is continuously performed for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein said magnetic recording means executes a magnetic recording operation in synchronism with a one-frame wind-up operation performed by said film advance means after an exposure operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein said sound data storage means terminates a sound sampling operation immediately before an exposure operation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A camera according to claim 4, further comprising display means for displaying that sound data is being sampled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein said sound data storage means further includes: timepiece means for measuring a sound sampling time; and display means for displaying a remaining sound data storing time in accordance with a measurement output from said timepiece means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein said sound data storage means further includes means for clearing sound data stored in said semiconductor memory after a recording operation of said magnetic recording means is completed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein said sound data storage means further includes means for interrupting a sampling operation when an exposure start signal is input during sampling of the sound data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein said sound data storage means further includes: determining means for determining whether a level of sampled sound data is higher than a predetermined value; and display means for displaying a sampling state indication on the basis of a determination result from said determining means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
A camera according to claim 7, wherein said sound data storage means executes a sampling operation again when said determining means produces a determination result indicating that the level of the sampled sound data is lower than the predetermined value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein said sound data storage means terminates said sampling period in response to a photographic operation that follows said photography start signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
191 words
A camera of the type capable of executing a sequential photographing operation and capable of writing various data, corresponding to photographed frames, in a magnetic recording portion of a film, comprising: recording means for recording data on the magnetic recording portion of the film during a wind-up operation of said film; sound data storage means for sampling sounds around said camera, within a predetermined time duration prior to a photographic operation in response to a photography start signal, and for storing sampled sound data before or after an exposure sequence; and control means for controlling said recording means to extract an output from said sound data storage means to perform a data recording operation during a film advance operation; wherein said sound data storage means changes a sound sampling time in accordance with a change in a photographic mode to a single frame shooting mode or a rapid sequence mode, and wherein when the sound sampling operation is performed after the exposure sequence is selected, said film is rewound to a start frame of a rapid sequence operation, and sound data is subsequently recorded while consecutively photographed frames are wound up.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
191 words
A camera of the type capable of executing a sequential photographing operation and capable of writing various data, corresponding to photographed frames, in a magnetic recording portion of a film, comprising: recording means for recording data on the magnetic recording portion of the film during a wind-up operation of said film; sound data storage means for sampling sounds around said camera, within a predetermined time duration prior to a photographic operation in response to a photography start signal, and for storing sampled sound data before or after an exposure sequence; and control means for controlling said recording means to extract an output from said sound data storage means to perform a data recording operation during a film advance operation; wherein said sound data storage means changes a sound sampling time in accordance with a change in a photographic mode to a single frame shooting mode or a rapid sequence mode, and wherein when the sound sampling operation is performed after the exposure sequence is selected, said film is rewound to a start frame of a rapid sequence operation, and sound data is subsequently recorded while consecutively photographed frames are wound up.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
196 words
A camera of the type capable of executing a sequential photographing operation and capable of writing various data, corresponding to photographed frames, in a magnetic recording portion of a film, comprising: recording means for recording data on the magnetic recording portion of the film during a wind-up operation of said film; sound data storage means for sampling sounds around said camera, within a predetermined time duration prior to a photographic operation in response to a photography start signal, and for storing sampled sound data before or after an exposure sequence; and control means for controlling said recording means to extract an output from said sound data storage means to perform a data recording operation during a film advance operation; wherein said sound data storage means changes a sound sampling time in accordance with a change in a photographic mode to a single frame shooting mode or a rapid sequence mode, and wherein when the sound sampling operation is performed after the exposure sequence is selected, said film is rewound to a start frame of a rapid sequence operation after sound sampling is performed, and sound data is subsequently recorded while consecutively photographed frames are wound up.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
196 words
A camera of the type capable of executing a sequential photographing operation and capable of writing various data, corresponding to photographed frames, in a magnetic recording portion of a film, comprising: recording means for recording data on the magnetic recording portion of the film during a wind-up operation of said film; sound data storage means for sampling sounds around said camera, within a predetermined time duration prior to a photographic operation in response to a photography start signal, and for storing sampled sound data before or after an exposure sequence; and control means for controlling said recording means to extract an output from said sound data storage means to perform a data recording operation during a film advance operation; wherein said sound data storage means changes a sound sampling time in accordance with a change in a photographic mode to a single frame shooting mode or a rapid sequence mode, and wherein when the sound sampling operation is performed after the exposure sequence is selected, said film is rewound to a start frame of a rapid sequence operation after sound sampling is performed, and sound data is subsequently recorded while consecutively photographed frames are wound up.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
180 words
A camera of the type capable of executing a sequential photographing operation and capable of writing various data, corresponding to photographed frames, in a magnetic recording portion of a film, comprising: recording means for recording data on the magnetic recording portion of the film during a wind-up operation of said film; sound data storage means for sampling sounds around said camera, within a predetermined time duration prior to a photographic operation in response to a photography start signal, and for storing sampled sound data before or after an exposure sequence; and control means for controlling said recording means to extract an output from said sound data storage means to perform a data recording operation during a film advance operation; wherein said sound data storage means changes a sound sampling time in accordance with a change in a photographic mode to a single frame shooting mode or a rapid sequence mode, and wherein when the sound sampling operation is performed after the exposure sequence is selected, a sound sampling time is changed in accordance with a number of frames consecutively photographed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
180 words
A camera of the type capable of executing a sequential photographing operation and capable of writing various data, corresponding to photographed frames, in a magnetic recording portion of a film, comprising: recording means for recording data on the magnetic recording portion of the film during a wind-up operation of said film; sound data storage means for sampling sounds around said camera, within a predetermined time duration prior to a photographic operation in response to a photography start signal, and for storing sampled sound data before or after an exposure sequence; and control means for controlling said recording means to extract an output from said sound data storage means to perform a data recording operation during a film advance operation; wherein said sound data storage means changes a sound sampling time in accordance with a change in a photographic mode to a single frame shooting mode or a rapid sequence mode, and wherein when the sound sampling operation is performed after the exposure sequence is selected, a sound sampling time is changed in accordance with a number of frames consecutively photographed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-05 | 1999-08-07 | 2000-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-05 | 2003-08-07 | 2004-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-05 | 2007-08-07 | 2008-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |