Patent ID: 6571066
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
A camera having a multimode power button, the camera capable of being on such that the camera is capable of functioning according to a plurality of operational modes to take photographs, the camera capable of being off such that the camera is incapable of functioning in the plurality of operational modes, the camera comprising:a power supply; a microcontroller electrically connected to the power supply, the microcontroller having a timer for determining a time; and a button electrically connected to the microcontroller, the button capable of being actuated for an actuation time, the button when actuated sending a button signal to the microcontroller; wherein when the camera is off and the button is actuated, the microcontroller turns the camera on; when the camera is on and the button is actuated so the actuation time is shorter than a threshold time, the microcontroller changes the mode of the camera; and when the camera is on and the button is actuated so the actuation time is not shorter than the threshold time, the microcontroller turns the camera off.