IP Library Granted Patent US 9,344,628
Granted Patent B2
US 9,344,628 · App. 14/177,317 · Granted May 17, 2016

Image capture device with driving mode switching

Inventor: Dai Shintani (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
H04N5/23245G03B9/20G03B9/42H04N5/23241
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,344,628
App. No.
14/177,317
Granted
May 17, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

This image capture device includes: an imager which receives an optical image of a subject and outputs image data; a focal plane shuttering apparatus which restricts incidence of the optical image onto the imager and which is able to select either a normally opened driving method or a normally closed driving method; and a driving method switching section which switches a method for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into one of the normally opened and normally closed driving methods. The driving method switching section switches the method for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally opened driving method after an image capturing operation has been performed.

Claims (35)

1. An image capture device comprising:

an imager configured to receives an optical image of a subject and to output image data;

a focal plane shuttering apparatus which restricts incidence of the optical image onto the imager and which is able to select either a normally opened driving mode or a normally closed driving mode; and

a driving mode switching section configured to switch a mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into one of the normally opened and normally closed driving modes,

wherein the driving mode switching section switches the mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally opened driving mode after an image capturing operation has been performed in the normally closed driving mode.

2. The image capture device of claim 1 , further comprising a mode selecting section configured to be able to change the modes of operation from a single shooting mode into a continuous shooting mode, or vice versa,

wherein when its modes of operation are changed into the single shooting mode by the mode selecting section, the driving mode switching section switches the mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally opened driving mode, and

when its modes of operation are changed into the continuous shooting mode by the mode selecting section, the driving mode switching section switches the mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally closed driving mode.

3. The image capture device of claim 2 , wherein the continuous shooting mode is subdivided into a plurality of modes with mutually different shooting intervals, and

if the mode selecting section selects a continuous shooting mode with the shortest shooting interval, the driving mode switching section switches the driving mode into the normally closed driving mode,

if the mode selecting section selects another continuous shooting mode, the driving mode switching section switches the driving mode into the normally opened driving mode.

4. The image capture device of claim 3 , further comprising:

a power supply unit which supplies power; and

a power supplying section into which the power supply unit is insertable,

wherein if the power supplying ability of the power supply unit declines while a continuous shooting session is being carried out by the normally closed driving mode, the driving mode switching section switches the mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally opened driving mode and then stops performing the continuous shooting session.

5. The image capture device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power supply unit which supplies power; and

a power supplying section which is connected to the power supply unit, the power supplying section being configured to relay the power supplied from the power supply unit,

wherein if the power supply unit is once disconnected from the power supplying section but resumes supplying power to the power supplying section during an image capturing operation, the driving mode switching section switches the mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally closed driving mode.

6. The image capture device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power supply unit which supplies power; and

a power supplying section which is connected to the power supply unit, the power supplying section being configured to relay the power supplied from the power supply unit,

wherein when the power supplying section starts relaying the power, the driving mode switching section switches the mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally opened driving mode.

7. An image capture device comprising:

an imager configured to receive an optical image of a subject and to output image data;

a focal plane shuttering apparatus which restricts incidence of the optical image onto the imager and which is able to select either a normally opened driving mode or a normally closed driving mode;

a driving mode switching section configured to switch a mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into one of the normally opened and normally closed driving modes; and

a mode selecting section configured to be able to change the modes of operation from a single shooting mode into a continuous shooting mode, or vice versa,

wherein when its modes of operation are changed into the continuous shooting mode by the mode selecting section, the driving mode switching section switches a mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally closed driving mode during a continuous shooting session.

8. The image capture device of claim 7 , wherein when its modes of operation are changed into the continuous shooting mode by the mode selecting section, the driving mode switching section switches a mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally opened driving mode after the continuous shooting session has been performed.

9. The image capture device of claim 7 , wherein when its modes of operation are changed into the single shooting mode by the mode selecting section, the driving mode switching section switches the mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally opened driving mode, and

when its modes of operation are changed into the continuous shooting mode by the mode selecting section, the driving mode switching section switches the mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally closed driving mode.

10. The image capture device of claim 7 , wherein the continuous shooting mode is subdivided into a plurality of modes with mutually different shooting intervals, and

if the mode selecting section selects a continuous shooting mode with the shortest shooting interval, the driving mode switching section switches the mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally closed driving mode during the continuous shooting session,

if the mode selecting section selects another continuous shooting mode with a longer shooting interval than the continuous shooting mode, the driving mode switching section switches the mode for driving the focal plane shuttering apparatus into the normally opened driving mode during the continuous shooting session.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2014
From: SHINTANI, DAI
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032926/0991 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2011-182396 · Aug 24, 2011 · national
JP 2011-225591 · Oct 13, 2011 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2012005340 · Aug 24, 2012
Related Publication 20140176747A1 · Jun 26, 2014