Patent US7167203B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7167203B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital camera having controller for reducing occurrences of blur in displayed images
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1999-07-29
•
Granted: 2007-01-23
•
Expires: 2019-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A digital camera comprises a camera body and an image sensing unit. The image sensing unit is provided with a taking lens and an image sensing device for taking images and with an optical viewfinder. The camera body is provided with a controller for controlling the camera, signal processing circuits for processing signals from the image sensing device, a display device for displaying images taken and an interface for recording images taken onto a memory card. The display device serves as a viewfinder. In taking a image, the controller performs an AF control of the taking lens. When power supply to the camera is started, and when the display device is activated, the controller sets the taking lens at a predetermined focus position where in-focus condition is obtained for distant to close-range views, so that blurred images are not displayed on the display device.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhiko Yukawa
- 👤 Masahito Niikawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:12
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B13/00; G03B13/32; G03B13/18; G03B19/00; G03B19/02; G03B3/00; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/63; H04N23/67; H04N2101/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A camera comprising: a storing device for storing a state value to indicate whether display of an image captured is requested or not; a taking lens movable between a first focus position in which a far distance object is in-focus condition and a second focus position in which a near distance object is in-focus condition; an image sensing device for sensing an optical subject image formed by the taking lens; a display device for displaying a subject image sensed by the image sensing device; and a controller for driving the taking lens to a third focus position where in-focus condition is substantially obtained for distant to close-range views before display by the display device is started, wherein said driving of the taking lens is performed when power supply to the camera is started and the controller automatically starts driving of the display device after performing said driving of the taking lens if the controller determines that the state value indicates the display is requested when the power supply to the camera is started.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A camera comprising: a storing device for storing a state value to indicate whether display of an image captured is requested or not; a taking lens movable between a first focus position in which a far distance object is in-focus condition and a second focus position in which a near distance object is in-focus condition; an image sensing device for sensing an optical subject image formed by the taking lens; a display device for displaying a subject image sensed by the image sensing device; and a controller for driving the taking lens to a third focus position where in-focus condition is substantially obtained for distant to close-range views before display by the display device is started, wherein said driving of the taking lens is performed when power supply to the camera is started and the controller automatically starts driving of the display device after performing said driving of the taking lens if the controller determines that the state value indicates the display is requested when the power supply to the camera is started.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said controller is further configured to drive said taking lens to said focus position when driving of the display device is instructed to start and before actual display by the display device is started.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A camera as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the display device is instructed to start to drive by manually operating an operation member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
141 words
A camera body to be used with a taking lens which is movable between a first focus position in which a far distance object is in-focus condition and a second focus position in which a near distance object is in-focus condition, said camera body comprising: a storing device for storing a state value to indicate whether display of an image captured is requested or not: a display device for displaying an image captured; and a controller for controlling image taking so that a captured image through the taking lens becomes substantially in-focus condition for distant to close-range views before automatically starting the display of the captured image by the display device, wherein said controlling is performed when power supply to a camera including the camera body is started if the controller determines that the state value indicates the display is requested.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
141 words
A camera body to be used with a taking lens which is movable between a first focus position in which a far distance object is in-focus condition and a second focus position in which a near distance object is in-focus condition, said camera body comprising: a storing device for storing a state value to indicate whether display of an image captured is requested or not: a display device for displaying an image captured; and a controller for controlling image taking so that a captured image through the taking lens becomes substantially in-focus condition for distant to close-range views before automatically starting the display of the captured image by the display device, wherein said controlling is performed when power supply to a camera including the camera body is started if the controller determines that the state value indicates the display is requested.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A camera body as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the display device receives the image from a taking unit comprising a taking lens and an image sensing device for sensing an image formed by the taking lens, and wherein the controller performs said controlling by setting the taking lens at a focus position where in-focus condition is substantially obtained for distant to close-range views.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A camera body as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said controller controls image taking so that said in-focus condition is substantially obtained when driving of the display device is instructed to start and before actual display by the display device is started.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
A display control method in a digital camera having a display device, comprising the steps of determining, based on a stored state value, whether display of an image captured is requested or not when power supply to the camera is started; if the stored state value indicates the display is requested when the power supply to the camera is started, automatically driving a taking lens to a focus position where in-focus condition is substantially obtained for distant to close-range views; and when the display is requested, after the taking lens has reached said focus position, automatically starting the display of an image taken through the taking lens situated at said focus position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
A display control method in a digital camera having a display device, comprising the steps of determining, based on a stored state value, whether display of an image captured is requested or not when power supply to the camera is started; if the stored state value indicates the display is requested when the power supply to the camera is started, automatically driving a taking lens to a focus position where in-focus condition is substantially obtained for distant to close-range views; and when the display is requested, after the taking lens has reached said focus position, automatically starting the display of an image taken through the taking lens situated at said focus position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein said state value is settable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein said step of displaying occurs automatically.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS5526539A
Cited
JPS5785011A
Cited
US5172151A
Cited
US4963985A
Cited
JPH01131539A
Cited
US5122880A
Cited
US5751351A
Cited
US6184931B1
Cited
US6392702B1
Cited
US5296970A
Cited
US5424776A
Cited
JPH06123914A
Cited
JPH06233172A
Cited
US5826118A
Cited
JPH07151952A
Cited
JPH08125914A
Cited
JPH0998314A
Cited
US5819120A
Cited
JPH09312797A
Cited
US6166765A
Cited
US6097548A
Cited
US6459857B2
Cited
US6519003B1
Cited
US6101339A
Cited
JP2001117542A
Cited
US6812967B1
Cited
US6643458B2
Cited
US20060187332A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-01-22 | 2010-07-24 | 2011-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-01-22 | 2014-07-24 | 2015-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-01-22 | 2018-07-24 | 2019-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |