(12) United States Patent
`Yamazaki et al.
`
`USOO6809774B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,809,774 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Oct. 26, 2004
`
`(54) WRIST-CARRIED CAMERA AND
`WATCH-TYPE INFORMATION EQUIPMENT
`
`(75) Inventors: Akihisa Yamazaki, Asaka (JP); Koji
`Sagae, Asaka (JP)
`gae,
`(73) Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.,
`Minami-Ashigara (JP)
`
`c:
`- - -
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/432,090
`(22) Filed:
`Nov. 2, 1999
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(JP) ........................................... 1O-316054
`Nov. 6, 1998
`(51) Int. Cl. ................................................ H04N 5/225
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................................ 348/373; 348/376
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 348/373, 374,
`348/375, 376, 61, 73,207.99; 396/318,
`56, 336; 368/10, 71, 21; 340/5.82, 7.55;
`455/556.1, 11.1, 344
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,362,398 A
`5,329,501 A
`5,475,653 A
`5,572,196 A
`
`12/1982 Jackson ...................... 368/240
`7/1994 Meister et al. ......
`... 368/10
`12/1995 Yamada et al. .....
`... 368/10
`11/1996 Sakumoto et al. ......... 340/7.55
`
`5,572,488 A 11/1996 Yamada et al. ............... 368/10
`5,977,535 A * 11/1999 Rostoker ..........
`... 250/208.1
`6,359.837 B1 * 3/2002 Tsukamoto .................. 368/10
`2001/0011025 A1 * 8/2001. Ohki et al - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 455/556
`2001/0017663 A1 * 8/2001 Yamaguchi et al. ........ 348/373
`2002/0180586 A1 12/2002 Kitson et al. .............. 340/5.82
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`62009289 A * 10/1987 ............ GO4G/1/OO
`JP
`O5-209973
`* 8/1993
`JP
`8278382
`10/1996
`JP
`1090442
`4/1998
`JP
`10108152
`4/1998
`JP
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Aung Moe
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Birch, Stewart, Kolasch &
`Birch, LLP
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`In a wrist-carried camera having a watch function, a body
`including a taking lens is provided in Such a manner as to
`freely rotate with respect to a band part through a rotation
`mechanism, and a release Switch is provided at the unrotated
`band part. Setting a camera mode Stops the hands of the
`watch in the direction of a taking lens So as to display an
`image-capturing direction. A rotary bezel is arranged around
`a display part, and marks indicating modes of the camera are
`formed on the bezel. A hand of the watch is also used as an
`indicator for pointing the mode display mark in the bezel.
`Setting the mark in the bezel to the indicator Switches and
`displays the operation modes.
`
`19 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`Exhibit 1019
`Page 01 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 26, 2004
`Oct. 26, 2004
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
`Sheet 1 0f 9
`
`US 6,809,774 B1
`US 6,809,774 B1
`
`F G. 1
`FIG.1
`
`
`
`
`
`F G. 2
`FIG.2
`
`
`
`Exhibit 1019
`
`Page 02 of 16
`
`Exhibit 1019
`Page 02 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 26, 2004
`Oct. 26, 2004
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`Sheet 2 0f 9
`
`US 6,809,774 B1
`US 6,809,774 B1
`
`F G. 3
`F l G. 3
`
`28
`28
`
`26
`26
`
`12
`12
`
`3O
`30
`
`14
`14
`
`16
`16
`
`F G. 4
`F I G. 4
`
`
`
`Exhibit 1019
`
`Page 03 of 16
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`Exhibit 1019
`Page 03 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 26, 2004
`Oct. 26, 2004
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
`Sheet 3 0f 9
`
`US 6,809,774 B1
`US 6,809,774 B1
`
`F G. 5
`FIG.5
`
`
`
`
`
`Exhibit 1019
`
`Page 04 of 16
`
`Exhibit 1019
`Page 04 of 16
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 26, 2004
`Oct. 26, 2004
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
`Sheet4 0f9
`
`US 6,809,774 B1
`US 6,809,774 B1
`
`
`
`wz_>_mocz<z
`
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`Exhibit 1019
`
`Page 05 of 16
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`Exhibit 1019
`Page 05 of 16
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`
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`
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`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 26, 2004
`
`Sheet 5 of 9
`
`US 6,809,774 B1
`
`F G. 7
`
`START
`
`TURN HANDS TO
`REPRESENT
`CURRENT TIME
`
`DRIVE HANDS TO
`REPRESENT TIME
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TURN HANDS TO
`MAGE CAPTURNG
`DIRECTION
`
`STOP HANDS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RELEASE
`SWITCH IS TURNED
`ON?
`
`STORE CAPTURED
`MAGE DATA
`
`Exhibit 1019
`Page 06 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 26, 2004
`Oct. 26, 2004
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`Sheet6 0f9
`
`US 6,809,774 B1
`US 6,809,774 B1
`
`mmmmzm:
`
`
`
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`
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`
`
`Exhibit 1019
`
`Page 07 of 16
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`Exhibit 1019
`Page 07 of 16
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`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 26, 2004
`
`Sheet7 0f9
`
`US 6,809,774 B1
`
`
`
`woz<z><4am_o
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`Exhibit 1019
`
`Page 08 of 16
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`Exhibit 1019
`Page 08 of 16
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 26, 2004
`Oct. 26, 2004
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
`Sheet 8 0f 9
`
`US 6,809,774 B1
`US 6,809,774 B1
`
`F G 1 0
`FIG.1O
`
`
`
`
`
`Exhibit 1019
`
`Page 09 of 16
`
`Exhibit 1019
`Page 09 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 26, 2004
`Oct. 26, 2004
`
`Sheet 9 of 9
`Sheet 9 0f 9
`
`US 6,809,774 B1
`US 6,809,774 B1
`
`F G. 1 2
`FIG.12
`
`
`
`
`
`Exhibit 1019
`
`Page 10 0f16
`
`Exhibit 1019
`Page 10 of 16
`
`

`

`1
`WRISTCARRIED CAMERA AND
`WATCH-TYPE INFORMATION EQUIPMENT
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates generally to a wrist-carried
`camera and watch-type information equipment, and more
`particularly to a camera shaped to be worn about the wrist
`of an operator like a wristwatch, a portable information
`terminal and other portable Small information equipment.
`2. Description of Related Art
`In the field of electronic cameras Such as a digital camera,
`a great deal of effort was put into the miniaturization of the
`cameras. Japanese Patent Provisional Publication Nos.
`5-209973, 8-278382, 10-108152, etc. disclose a variety of
`wrist-carried cameras. In the conventional wrist-carried
`camera, however, the position of the taking lens and the
`direction of an optical axis of the taking lens are fixed.
`Accordingly, the operator has to put the wrist with the worn
`wristwatch-type camera in front of the body to use the
`functions of the camera, and the operator has to move the
`body or the wrist to turn the taking lens toward the object.
`In this case, the operator has to move the wrist in an
`unnatural way Sometimes in order to adjust the angle of view
`desirably.
`Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 10-90442
`discloses the combination of a wristwatch and a radiotele
`phone. It proposed to use hands of an analog watch as
`indicators, which do not only represent time but also indicate
`which button has been pressed among control buttons
`arranged at the circumference of the watch. It is, however,
`impossible to determine at first sight whether the hands of
`the watch represent the time or indicate the control button.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`In View of the foregoing, the first object of the present
`invention is to provide a wrist-carried camera that makes it
`easier to adjust the angle of View and never imposes a
`burden on an operator. The Second object of the present
`invention is to provide portable watch-type information
`equipment that makes it possible to identify a Subject of
`display on a display part.
`To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present
`invention is directed to a wrist-carried camera, comprising:
`a camera part including a taking lens and an imaging device
`capable of converting an image of an object formed through
`the taking lens into an electronic image Signal; a band part
`capable of being worn about a wrist of an operator; and a
`connection mechanism connecting the camera part and the
`band part, the connection mechanism being attached on a
`portion of the band part and rotatably Supporting the camera
`part.
`The operator can wear the wrist-carried camera of the
`present invention around the wrist like a wristwatch. The
`camera part is capable of rotating with respect to the band
`part due to the rotation mechanism, So that the taking lens
`can be turned to a desired direction according to the object.
`Therefore, the angle of view can easily be adjusted at hand,
`and the operator does not have to take up an unnatural Stance
`in order to take a picture.
`Preferably, an image-Storing Start Switch is provided at a
`part that is never rotated by the rotation mechanism, and
`hence, the image-Storing Start Switch will never be moved by
`the rotation of the camera part. It is therefore easy to operate
`the wrist-carried camera.
`
`15
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`25
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`60
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`
`US 6,809,774 B1
`
`2
`The present invention is also directed to a watch-type
`camera comprising: a timepiece; a display part capable of, in
`a first mode, representing time by means of an hour hand, a
`minute hand and a Second hand according to the timepiece;
`a camera part including a taking lens and an imaging device
`capable of, in a Second mode, converting an image of an
`object formed through the taking lens into an electronic
`image Signal; a mode Switching device capable of Switching
`the first and Second modes, and a controller which turns at
`least one of the hour hand, the minute hand and the Second
`hand to a direction of an optical axis of the taking lens when
`the Second mode is Set. The hour hand, the minute hand and
`the Second hand may be existing members, and the display
`part may comprise a mechanism driving the hour hand, the
`minute hand and the Second hand. Alternatively, the display
`part may comprise an electronic display which displayS
`images of the hour hand, the minute hand and the Second
`hand.
`The present invention is also directed to watch-type
`information equipment, comprising: a timepiece; a display
`part which represents time by means of an hour hand, a
`minute hand and a Second hand according to the timepiece
`in a first mode, and which represents information other than
`the time in a Second mode, and a controller which changes
`actions of the Second hand in accordance with Switching
`between the first and Second modes.
`To change the actions of the Second hand, the Second hand
`is Stopped or the display of the Second hand is erased. The
`actions of the Second hand are changed in the Second mode
`for displaying information other than the time in the infor
`mation equipment, which has a watch function for analog
`displaying the time, and other functions other than the
`watch. Thus, the operator can easily identify the present
`mode of the information equipment.
`The present invention is also directed to the watch type
`information equipment, further comprising: a camera part
`including a taking lens and an imaging device capable of, in
`the Second mode, converting an image of an object formed
`through the taking lens into an electronic image Signal.
`The present invention is also directed to watch type
`information equipment comprising: a timepiece; a display
`part which represents time by means of an hour hand, a
`minute hand and a Second hand according to the timepiece
`in a first mode, and which represents information other than
`the time in a Second mode; a mode display member rotatably
`Surrounding the display part, the mode display member
`being provided with a plurality of marks representing modes
`in the Second mode; and a controller which Stops, in the
`Second mode, at least one of the hour hand, the minute hand
`and the Second hand to utilize the at least one of the hour
`hand, the minute hand and the Second hand as an indicator
`indicating one of the marks of the mode display member.
`According to the present invention, the mode of the
`equipment is displayed on the rotatable mode display
`member, and the hand of the watch is also used as an
`indicator. This eliminates the necessity for a special indica
`tion means and makes it easier to display the mode.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The nature of this invention, as well as other objects and
`advantages thereof, will be explained in the following with
`reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like
`reference characters designate the same or similar parts
`throughout the figures and wherein:
`FIG. 1 an outside drawing showing the front of a wrist
`carried electronic camera according to the first embodiment
`of the present invention;
`
`Exhibit 1019
`Page 11 of 16
`
`

`

`3
`FIG. 2 is an outside drawing showing the backside of an
`electronic camera in FIG.1;
`FIG. 3 is a side view showing an electronic camera in
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a time display in
`a watch mode;
`FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of the display in a
`camera mode;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electronic camera
`according to the first embodiment;
`FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the procedure for control
`ling an electronic camera according to the first embodiment;
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electronic camera
`according to the second embodiment of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the procedure for control
`ling an electronic camera according to the Second embodi
`ment,
`FIG. 10 is an outside drawing showing the front side of an
`electronic camera according to the third embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of a display in a
`camera mode of an electronic camera according to the third
`embodiment of the present invention; and
`FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an example of an
`electronic camera, which has a tilting mechanism arranged
`at a taking lens.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`This invention will be described in further detail by way
`of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
`FIG. 1 is an outside drawing of the front of a wrist-carried
`electronic camera 10 according to the first embodiment of
`the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 are a back perspective
`view and a side view, respectively, of the electronic camera
`10. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the electronic camera 10
`comprises a body 12 having watch functions and camera
`functions and a band 14 capable of being worn about a Wrist
`of an operator. Thus, the electronic camera 10 is shaped like
`a wristwatch in such a manner as to be worn about the Wrist
`of the operator. The body 12 connects to a portion of the
`band 14 through a rotary mechanism 16, which Supports the
`body 12 rotatably on a normal line of the portion of the band
`14. Thus, the body 12 is capable of turning on an axis
`perpendicular to a tangent plane of the Surface of the
`connecting portion of the band.
`The body 12 has a so-called analog watch type display
`part 24 provided with an hour hand 18, a minute hand 20 and
`a second hand 22. A stem 26 is arranged at the right Side of
`the body 12 in FIG. 1 as is the case with an ordinary
`wristwatch (in the direction of three o'clock on the display
`of the watch). A taking lens 28 is arranged at the top side of
`the body 12 (in the direction of twelve o'clock on the display
`of the watch). This is the standard arrangement, which aims
`at directing an optical axis of the taking lens 28 toward an
`object in front of the operator, who is putting his wrist with
`the worn camera 10 in front of his body. The taking lens 28
`and the stem 26 are not necessarily provided at the above
`mentioned positions. The taking lens 28 may be buried in the
`body 12.
`A solid state imaging device 34 (see FIG. 6) Such as a
`CCD is arranged behind the taking lens 28. A processing
`circuit for processing signals read from the imaging device,
`
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`US 6,809,774 B1
`
`4
`a memory, a central processing unit (CPU), and a timepiece
`or watch operating part are disposed in the body 12.
`An imaging start instruction Switch or a release Switch 30
`is attached to the band 14. If a release Switch were provided
`at the body 12, the release switch would shift with the
`rotation of the body 12. To address this problem, the release
`switch 30 is arranged on the band 14, which is not rotated.
`Although not illustrated in the drawings, a mode Selector,
`a variety of control buttons, and other control members are
`arranged at appropriate positions of the band 14 and the
`body 12. Of course, it is possible to use the stem 26 as the
`control member such as the mode Selector.
`FIG. 4 shows an example of the display in a watch mode.
`When the electronic camera 10 is in the watch mode; the
`hour hand 18, the minute hand 20 and the second hand 22
`are driven by the watch operating part according to the rules
`of the analog time representation System. If the electronic
`camera 10 is set to the camera mode; the hour hand 18, the
`minute hand 20 and the second hand 22 are stopped in the
`state of pointing to twelve o’clock and along the optical axis
`of the taking lens 28 (i.e., an image-capturing direction) as
`shown in FIG. 5. The switching of the display according to
`the switching of the modes will be described later in further
`detail.
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the electronic camera
`10. The electronic camera 10 comprises an optical unit 32,
`the solid state imaging device 34, an imaging circuit 36, a
`memory 38, a storage device 40, an image processing
`control CPU 42, an autofocus (AF) control circuit 44, a flash
`control circuit 46, an electronic flash part 48, a camera
`power supply control switch 50, a CPU with timepiece
`functions 52, a display Switching circuit 54, a hand driving
`unit 56 and a variety of control members 58.
`The optical unit 32 includes the taking lens 28 (see FIG.
`1), and a light from the object enters a light receiving Surface
`of the imaging device 34 through the optical unit 32. The
`light received by the imaging device 34 is photo-electrically
`converted, and is sequentially read as image signals. The
`imaging circuit 36 includes an analog processing part Such
`as a CDS clamp and a gain control amplifier, an A/D
`converter, and known digital image processing circuits Such
`as a luminance signal generating circuit, a color differential
`signal generating circuit and a gamma correcting circuit. The
`imaging circuit 36 processes the signals read from the
`imaging device 34 in a predetermined manner under the
`control of the image processing control CPU 42, So that the
`signals can be converted into electronic image data in digital
`form.
`The image data captured in response to the operation of
`the release switch 30 (see FIG. 1) included in the control
`members 58, is stored in the memory 38, and is processed in
`a predetermined manner Such as compression. Thereafter,
`the processed data is recorded through the storage device 40
`in a storage medium.
`The electronic camera 10 has a known automatic expo
`sure adjustment (AE) function and an AF adjusting device.
`Only turning the taking lens 28 toward the object adjusts the
`exposure to the optimum, and the AF control circuit 44
`automatically focuses the taking lens 28. If a flash operation
`mode is set to an automatic flash mode, the flash control
`circuit 46 automatically drives the electronic flash part 48 in
`order to capture an image of the object at a low luminance
`with the proper exposure.
`The camera power supply control switch 50 is turned on
`and off according to control signals outputted from the CPU
`52. In the watch mode, the Switch 50 is off. Setting the
`
`Exhibit 1019
`Page 12 of 16
`
`

`

`S
`camera mode turns on the Switch 50 so as to supply the
`power to the camera block. The dotted lines in FIG. 6
`conceptually represent the Supply of the power to each
`circuit in the camera block.
`The hand driving unit 56 includes a drive mechanism for
`operating the hour hand 18, the minute hand 20 and the
`second hand 22. The CPU 52 controls the hand driving unit
`56 through the display Switching circuit 54.
`The CPU 52 has built-in timepiece functions to serve as
`the watch operating part. The CPU 52 Switches the mode
`between the watch mode and the camera mode in accor
`dance with the Signals outputted from the mode Selector
`included in the control members 58. More specifically, if the
`watch mode is selected, the CPU 52 turns off the camera
`power Supply control switch 50, and sets the display switch
`ing circuit 54 to a first display mode or a time display mode.
`Then, the CPU 52 controls the hand driving unit 56 as is the
`case with the ordinary analog watch to drive the hands 18,
`20 and 22, thereby operating the hands 18, 20 and 22 so that
`the current time can be shown on the display part 24.
`If the camera mode is selected, the CPU 52 turns on the
`camera power Supply control Switch 50 to Supply the power
`to the camera block, and Sets the display Switching circuit 54
`to a Second display mode or a camera display mode. Then,
`the CPU 52 controls the hand driving unit 56 to turn the hour
`hand 18, the minute hand 20 and the second hand 22 (or at
`least one of there) to the direction of the optical axis of the
`taking lens 28. Then, the CPU 52 stops the driving of the
`hands 18, 20 and 22.
`Since the hands of the watch represent the direction of the
`taking lens 28, the operator can easily know the image
`capturing direction even if the body 12 is rotated. Moreover,
`it is particularly desirable to utilize the hands of the watch
`for displaying the direction of the optical axis of the taking
`lens, Since it is not practical to use an optical finder in the
`wrist-carried camera shaped like a wristwatch.
`Stopping the Second hand 22 in the camera mode makes
`it clear the distinction between the watch mode and the
`camera mode. Thus, the Second hand 22 functions as a mode
`display device for letting the operator know whether the
`electronic camera 10 is in the watch mode or the camera
`mode.
`Pressing the release Switch 30 in the camera mode Sup
`plies an image-Storing Start Signal or a release signal to the
`CPU 52, and a predetermined image-Storing operation Starts
`in response to the release Signal. For example, at the low
`luminance in the automatic flash mode, the CPU 52 drives
`the electronic flash part 48, and captures the image Signals
`read from the Solid State imaging device 34 in response to
`the release Signal into the memory 38 through the imaging
`circuit 36. The image Signals are then compressed or the like
`to be stored through the Storage device 40 in the Storage
`medium. The Storage medium may be either an extremely
`small removable memory card or a flash memory built in the
`electric camera 10.
`The image data Stored in the Storage medium can be read
`through the image processing control CPU 42, and the read
`image data are expanded in an contraction/expansion circuit.
`Then, the image data can be outputted to another external
`equipment through an output part or a communication part
`(not shown).
`FIG. 7 shows a flow chart showing the procedure for
`controlling the electronic camera 10, which is constructed in
`the above-mentioned manner.
`As shown in FIG. 7, on the start of the processing, the
`CPU 52 determines whether the watch mode or the camera
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`mode is Selected in accordance with the detection results of
`the Signals outputted from the mode Selector included in the
`control members 58 (S.110). If the camera mode is selected,
`the CPU 52 turns the hands 18, 20 and 22 of the watch in the
`Same direction as the optical axis of the taking lens 28, in
`other words, to twelve o'clock on the display (S112), and
`stops the hands 18, 20 and 22 there.
`Then, the CPU 52 determines whether the release Switch
`30 has been pressed or not (S116). If the release switch 30
`is pressed, the CPU 52 stores the captured image data
`through the Storage device 40 in the Storage medium as
`described with reference to FIG. 6 (S118). If the release
`Switch 30 is not pressed at S116, the processing returns to
`S110.
`If the watch mode is selected at S110, the CPU 52 turns
`off the power Supply of the camera block, which is not in
`use, and turns the hands 18, 20 and 22 to represent the
`current time (S120). Then, the CPU 52 drives the hands 18,
`20 and 22 to represent the time with the timepiece functions
`of the CPU 52 (S122).
`A description will now be given of the operation of the
`electronic camera 10 according to this embodiment.
`When the watch mode is Switched to the camera mode by
`operating the mode Selector or the control member Such as
`the stem 26, the hands 18, 20 and 22 are turned to the
`direction of the taking lens 28. Therefore, the operator can
`easily know the image-capturing direction and adjust the
`angle of View according to the direction of the hands. Since
`the Second hand 22 Stops in the camera mode, it is possible
`to know whether the watch mode or the camera mode is Set
`in accordance with the movement of the Second hand 22.
`It is particularly advantageous that the operator can easily
`know the image-capturing direction in the wrist-carried
`camera that is constructed in Such a manner that the image
`capturing direction is changed by rotating the body 12. In the
`case of a lens-buried camera in which the taking lens 28 does
`not projects from the rim of the body, it is difficult to know
`the image-capturing direction from the outside. In this case,
`the handineSS can be improved by representing the direction
`of the taking lens by utilizing the hands of the watch as
`mentioned above.
`The electronic camera 10 of this embodiment is con
`Structed in Such a manner that the body 12 with the taking
`lens 28 is rotatable with respect to the band 14. Therefore,
`the taking lens 28 can easily be turned toward a desired
`object by rotating the body 12 in the camera mode. Thus, the
`operator does not have to move the body or the wrist in an
`unnatural way, and the operator is not physically burdened.
`Moreover, the release Switch 30 is provided at the unro
`tating band 14, and therefore, the release switch 30 is fixed
`at a predetermined position regardless of the rotation of the
`body 12. This facilitates the operation of the release Switch
`30. It is also possible to turn the taking lens 28 toward the
`operator by rotating the body 12, and thus, the operator can
`easily capture an image of oneself.
`In this embodiment, all of the hour hand 18, the minute
`hand 20 and the Second hand 22 are turned to the twelve
`o'clock (along the optical axis of the taking lens 28) on the
`display 24, however, the present invention should not be
`restricted to this. All the hands of the watch do not neces
`Sarily point to the twelve o'clock, and at least predetermined
`one of the hands may represent the image-capturing direc
`tion.
`The idea that the hand of the watch is used to represent the
`direction of the taking lens 28 in the camera mode may be
`applied to a wide variety of watch-type cameras Such as a
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`wristwatch-type camera that is not provided with the rota
`tion mechanism 16, and a watch-type camera that is not
`provided with the band (e.g., a pocket-watch-type camera).
`The hands of the watch are not restricted to the existing
`mechanical Structures, but they may be embodied by dis
`playing on a display unit Such as an onScreen display.
`According to the Second embodiment, the hands of the
`watch are embodied by the display on the display unit.
`A description will now be given of the second embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the electronic camera
`according to the Second embodiment of the present inven
`tion. Parts similar to those described with reference to FIG.
`6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and they will
`not be described. The electronic camera of the second
`embodiment is provided with a display Switching circuit 70
`and a display unit 72 instead of the display Switching circuit
`54 and the hand driving unit 56 in FIG. 6.
`The display unit 72 such as a liquid crystal display is built
`in the body 12 in FIG.1. More specifically, a display screen
`of the display unit 72 is arranged at a part corresponding to
`the display part 24 of the body 12. The display unit 72 can
`Switch displaying and not displaying images of the hour
`hand 18, the minute hand 20 and the second hand 22
`according to the display Switching circuit 70. The display
`unit 72 is used to represent the time with the images of the
`hands, and the display unit 72 is also used to display a
`captured image.
`In the watch mode, the hands of the watch are displayed
`on the Screen of the display unit 72, and the present time is
`represented according to the rules of the analog time repre
`Sentation System. In the camera mode, the hands of the
`watch are not displayed, and the image data captured
`through the Solid State imaging device 34 is Supplied to the
`display unit 72 through the display switching circuit 70 so
`that the captured image can be displayed on the Screen of the
`display unit 72.
`If a movie image, which is captured by the camera before
`the instruction is given to Start the image-Storing, is dis
`played on the display unit 72, the operator can determine the
`angle of view while looking at the movie image. In this case,
`however, the battery is exhausted quickly.
`To address this problem, it is preferable to provide a
`Switching device capable of turning on and off the display of
`the movie image on the display unit 72. If the operator
`Selects an power-Saving mode or a movie-off mode, the
`power Supply of the camera block is turned off to Save the
`power, and the hand of the watch on the display unit 72 is
`turned to the direction of the optical axis of the taking lens
`28 as shown in FIG. 5, thus indicating the direction of the
`optical axis of the taking lens 28 or the image-capturing
`direction. The operator can adjust the optical axis of the
`taking lens 28 with reference to the indication of the hand.
`Then, the depression of the release switch 30 turns on the
`power Supply of the camera block to execute the image
`capturing and Storing.
`If the operator Selects the movie-on mode, the hands of
`the watch are not displayed, and the movie image is dis
`played on the screen of the display unit 72. In FIG. 5, the
`broken line imaginarily indicates a movie image display area
`74 if the display unit 72 is used as the display part 24.
`FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the procedure for control
`ling the electronic camera according to the Second
`embodiment, which is constructed in the above-mentioned
`manner. As shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 52 determines
`whether the watch mode or the camera mode is Selected
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`according to the detection results of the Signals inputted
`from the mode selector included in the control members 58
`(S210). If the watch mode is selected, the power supply of
`the camera is turned off So as not to display the movie image
`(S212). Then, the hands of the watch are displayed on the
`display part 24 while being turned to the positions for
`representing the present time (S214).
`If the camera mode is selected at S210, the CPU 52
`determines whether the movie-on mode is set or not (S216).
`If the movie-on mode is determined as being Selected
`according to the detection of the Signals inputted from the
`mode selector included in the control members 58, the hands
`of the watch are not displayed (S218), and the power supply
`of the camera is turned on to drive the Solid State imaging
`device 34, the imaging circuit 36, etc. So as to display the
`movie image on the display unit 72 (S220).
`If the movie-off mode is determined as being Selected at
`S216, only the hands of the watch are displayed (S222) and
`they are turned to the direction of the optical axis of the
`taking lens 28 (S224). Then, whether the release switch 30
`has been pressed or not is determined (S226). If the release
`Switch 30 has not been turned on, the process returns to S210
`to wait for the input of the image-Storing Start instruction. If
`the operator presses the release Switch 30, the image-Storing
`is performed, and the captured image data is Stored through
`the storage device 40 in the storage medium (S228).
`In the movie-on mode, canceling the unnecessary display
`of the hands of the watch makes the movie image easier to
`See. In the movie-off mode, Since the hands are displayed to
`indicate the direction of the taking lens 28, the image
`capturing direction can be known easily.
`A description will now be given of the third embodiment
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in which the watch-ty