Digital camera using an indicating device to indicate a plurality of functions

Abstract

Operation situations of a plurality of functions of the camera can be checked from a front of the camera without adding any new hardware. A self-timer LED which is previously provided on a front of the camera is also used as an indicating device which indicates operation situations of other functions of the camera. That is, operation situations such as charging a rechargeable battery or communicating with a personal computer are indicated by lighting, blinking, or the like of the self-timer LED. Especially, when a digital camera is mounted to a cradle used in charging the battery or communicating with the personal computer, the operation situations such as charging or communicating can be effectively checked from the front of the camera. Further, for a digital camera which has a moving image-capturing function or a voice recording function, moving image recording or voice recording is indicated by lighting, blinking, or the like of the self-timer LED.

1 . A digital camera which has a first function of self-timer image-capturing function and a second function different from the first function, the digital camera comprising: 
 an indicating device which is arranged on a front of the digital camera,    wherein the indicating device indicates a situation in self-timer image-capturing by at least one of lighting and blinking, and indicates an operation situation of the second function,    wherein the second function is at least one of an external device communication function, a battery charging function or a moving image-capturing function,    wherein the indicating device indicates the external device communication function when a communication with an external device is performed, and    wherein, when the moving image-capturing function is being performed for a continuous interval of time during which communication with the external device is not being performed, the indicating device is configured to indicate the moving-image capturing function during the interval of time, regardless of whether the moving image-capturing function is accompanied by sound recording during the interval of time.    
   
   
       2 . The digital camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicating device indicates the operation situation of the second function by at least one of lighting, blinking, and emitting colors.  
   
   
       3 . The digital camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the second function further includes a voice recording function.  
   
   
       4 . The digital camera according to  claim 3 , wherein the indicating device indicates the operation situation of the second function by at least one of lighting, blinking, and emitting colors.  
   
   
       5 . A digital camera, wherein: 
 the digital camera has a self-timer image-capturing function;    the digital camera is mounted to a cradle;    the cradle has a terminal to communicate with an external device carrying out two-way communication, and a power output terminal to output a direct voltage source;    the digital camera carries out two-way communication with the external device via the cradle;    the digital camera has a charging function of charging a battery in the digital camera by the direct voltage source input from the power output terminal of the cradle when power of the digital camera is off; and    the digital camera comprises a first indicating device which is arranged on a front of the digital camera,    wherein the first indicating device indicates a situation in self-timer image-capturing by at least one of lighting and blinking, and indicates a charging situation by the charging function,    wherein the first indicating device indicates the two-way communication with the external device when the two-way communication is performed, and,    wherein the first indicating device is configured to indicate the self-timer image-capturing function only at times when the two-way communication is not being performed while the self-timer image-capturing is being performed.    
   
   
       6 . The digital camera according to  claim 5 , wherein data communicating with the external device is indicated by the first indicating device when the power of the digital camera is on.  
   
   
       7 . A method for indicating a plurality of functions of a camera, comprising: 
 indicating a first function utilizing an indicating device located in a front of the camera, wherein the first function is a self-timer image-capturing function; and    indicating a second function utilizing the indicating device, wherein the second function includes a battery charge processing or a moving image-capturing,    indicating a third function utilizing the indicating device, wherein the third function is communications processing,    wherein the step of indicating the communications processing is performed only when the camera is performing the communications processing with an external device,    wherein the step of indicating the self-timer image capturing function is performed when the camera is not performing the communications processing with the external device and is performing the self-timer image capturing function, and    wherein the stet of indicating the second function is performed regardless of whether the second function is accompanied by a sound recording function.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the indicating device is an LED.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of indicating self-timer image-capturing function includes: 
 operating the indicating device in a continuous manner for a first predetermined period of time when it is determined that a shutter button of the camera is fully depressed;    operating the indicating device in a blinking manner for a second predetermined period of time after the first predetermined period of time has elapsed; and    operating the indicating device in the continuous manner for a third predetermined period of time after the second predetermined period of time has elapsed.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of indicating the battery charge processing function includes: 
 operating the indicating device in a continuous manner until it is determined that the battery is fully charged; and    ceasing operation of the indicating device when it is determined that the battery is fully charged.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of indicating the communications processing function includes: 
 operating the indicating device in a blinking manner when it is determined that the camera is in communication with an external device;    operating the indicating device in an intermittent manner when it is determined that the camera may be disconnected from communication with the external device; and    ceasing operation of the indicating device when it is determined that the camera is disconnected from communication with the external device.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the communication processing occurs via a USB bus.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of indicating the moving image-capturing function includes: 
 operating the indicating device in a blinking manner when it is determined that the camera is in a moving image recording mode; and    ceasing operation of the indicating device when it is determined that the camera is no longer in the moving image recording mode.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein it is determined that the camera is no longer in the moving image recording mode when a shutter button of the camera is half-depressed or when a predetermined time has passed since a start of the moving image recording mode.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of indicating the audio recording function includes: 
 operating the indicating device in a blinking manner when it is determined that the camera is in an audio recording mode; and    ceasing operation of the indicating device when it is determined that the camera is no longer in the audio recording mode.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein it is determined that the camera is no longer in the audio recording mode when a shutter button of the camera is half-depressed or when there is no more capacity in a recording medium.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of indicating the voice memo processing function includes: 
 operating the indicating device in a blinking manner when it is determined that the camera a voice memo mode; and    ceasing operation of the indicating device when it is determined that the camera is no longer in the voice memo mode.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein it is determined that the camera is no longer in the voice memo mode 
 when a menu/OK button of the camera is on or    when a back switch of the camera is on and a predetermined time has passed since a start of the moving image recording mode.    
   
   
       19 . The digital camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the battery charging function takes place when the camera has already been externally turned off.  
   
   
       20 . The digital camera according to  claim 5 , wherein the battery charging function takes place when the camera has already been externally turned off.  
   
   
       21 . The digital camera according to  claim 5 , wherein the digital camera carries out the two-way communication with the external device when the camera has already been externally turned on.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of indicating the second function of the battery charge processing is performed when the digital camera has already been externally turned off.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the steps of indicating communications processing, audio recording, and voice memo processing are performed when the digital camera has already been externally turned on.  
   
   
       24 . The digital camera according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the indicating device is configured to indicate the moving image-capturing function by blinking when the camera is in a moving image recording mode and ceasing blinking and by ceasing blinking when the camera is no longer in the moving image recording mode, and    wherein the camera is no longer in the moving image-capturing function when a shutter button of the camera is half-depressed or when a predetermined time has passed since a start of the moving image recording mode.    
   
   
       25 . The digital camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicating device is configured to indicate the battery charging function by operating in a continuous manner until the battery is fully charged and ceasing operation when the battery is fully charged.  
   
   
       26 . A digital camera, comprising: 
 an indicating device arranged on a front of the digital camera,    wherein the digital camera is capable of performing a self-timer image-capturing, a battery charging, and a moving-image capturing, and    wherein the indicating device is configured to 
 indicate the self-timer image-capturing is taking place when the camera performs the self-timer image-capturing,  
 indicate the battery charging is taking place when the camera performs the battery charging, and  
 indicate the moving image-capturing is taking place, regardless of whether the moving image-capturing is accompanied by sound recording, when the camera performs the moving image-capturing.  
   
   
   
       27 . The digital camera according to  claim 26 , wherein the indicating device is configured to indicate that the self-timer image-capturing is taking place by lighting or blinking or both.  
   
   
       28 . The digital camera according to  claim 26 , wherein the digital camera is configured to perform the battery charging function when the digital camera is manually turned off.  
   
   
       29 . The digital camera according to  claim 26 , 
 wherein the digital camera is capable of performing external device communication, and    wherein the indicating device is configured to indicate the external device communication is taking place when the camera performs the external device communication.    
   
   
       30 . The digital camera according to  claim 29 , wherein the indicating device is configured to indicate that the self-timer image-capturing is taking place when the camera does not perform the external device communication and the camera performs the self-timer image-capturing.  
   
   
       31 . The digital camera according to  claim 29 , wherein the indicating device is configured to indicate that the moving image-capturing is taking place when the camera does not perform the external device communication and the camera performs the moving image-capturing.  
   
   
       32 . The digital camera according to  claim 29 , 
 wherein the digital camera is capable of performing voice recording, and    wherein the indicating device is configured to indicate the voice recording is taking place when the camera performs the voice recording.    
   
   
       33 . The digital camera according to  claim 1 , further comprising a CPU, wherein the CPU is configured to 
 determine whether a power of the digital camera is turned on or off,    determine whether a battery is inserted into the digital camera when it is determined that the power of the digital camera is turned off,    perform the battery charge function when it is determined that the battery is inserted into the digital camera and the power of the digital camera is turned off, wherein the indicating device indicates that the battery charge function is being performed,    determine whether the digital camera is in communication connection with an external device when it is determined that the power of the digital camera is turned on, and    perform the external device communication function with the external device when it is determined that the power of the digital camera is turned on and the digital camera is in communication connection with the external device, wherein the indicating device indicates that the external device communication function is being performed.    
   
   
       34 . The digital camera according to  claim 5 , further comprising a CPU, wherein the CPU is configured to 
 determine whether the power of the digital camera is on or off,    determine whether the battery is in the digital camera when it is determined that the power of the digital camera is off,    perform the charging function when it is determined that the battery is in the digital camera and the power of the digital camera is off, wherein the first indicating device indicates that the charging function is being performed,    determine whether the cradle is in communication connection with the external device when it is determined that the power of the digital camera is on, and    perform the external device communication function with the external device when it is determined that the power of the digital camera is on and the cradle is in communication connection with the external device, wherein the indicating device indicates that the external device communication function is being performed.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 determining whether a power of the camera is turned on or off;    determining whether a battery is inserted into the camera when it is determined that the power of the camera is turned off;    performing the battery charge function and indicating, utilizing the indicating device, that the battery charge function is being performed when it is determined that the battery is inserted into the camera and the power of the camera is turned off;    determining whether the camera is in communication connection with an external device when it is determined that the power of the camera is turned on; and    performing the external device communication function with the external device and indicating, utilizing the indicating device, that the external device communication function is being performed when it is determined that the power of the camera is turned on and the camera is in communication connection with the external device.    
   
   
       36 . The digital camera according to  claim 26 , further comprising a CPU, wherein the CPU is configured to 
 determine whether a power of the digital camera is turned on or off,    determine whether a battery is inserted into the digital camera when it is determined that the power of the digital camera is turned off,    perform the battery charging when it is determined that the battery is inserted into the digital camera and the power of the digital camera is turned off,    determine whether the digital camera is in communication connection with an external device when it is determined that the power of the digital camera is turned on, and    perform the external device communication function with the external device when it is determined that the power of the digital camera is turned on and the digital camera is in communication connection with the external device, wherein the indicating device indicates that the external device communication function is being performed.