Abstract:
A camera lens cover has a phosphorescent symbol on its inner surface so that if it is engaged with the camera to cover the lens, the symbol can be recognized by the camera and a warning generated that the lens cover remains over the lens.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application is directed generally to cameras that provide warnings to users that a lens cover remains over a lens as the user is about to take a picture. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For a photographer with a digital camera, realizing that the lens cover is on can take time, and by the time she manages to remove it, the scene or subject of interest might no longer be within the photographers scope. Or, the photographer might never realize the cover is on at all, only to discover it later when viewing a blacked-out image. In either case, the photographer is frustrated in her desire to take a picture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, a camera has a housing holding a lens and an imager in the housing to receive light from the lens. A processor is also in the housing. A lens cover is removably engageable with the housing to cover and uncover the lens. The lens cover bears a phosphorescent pattern on an inner surface thereof, so that the processor can generate a first signal indicating that the lens cover is engaged with the housing to cover the lens upon recognition of the pattern. The processor does not otherwise generate the first signal. 
     In some embodiments the pattern is established by a sticker. In other embodiments the pattern is established by ink deposited on the inner surface. 
     In examples the processor compares an image represented by signals from the imager to a template to determine whether the lens cover is engaged with the housing. The signal generated by the processor upon recognition of the pattern may establish a visible warning presented on a display associated with the camera, an audio warning presented on a speaker associated with the camera, or a control signal to cause a mechanism on the camera to push the lens cover away from the camera body. 
     In another aspect, an apparatus includes a processor, a lens, and a lens cover movable by a photographer to cover and uncover the lens. The processor is programmed to recognize when the lens cover covers the lens and to generate a signal in response representative thereof. 
     In another aspect, an apparatus includes a camera lens that can be covered by a lens cover even when a photographer intends to take a picture with the camera. To ameliorate this, a processor causes a visible or audible warning to the photographer that the lens cover remains over the lens. 
     The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of an example camera in an exploded relationship with a lens cover; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the inside surface of an example lens cover; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of example logic in accordance with present principles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a camera  10  includes a camera body  12  that defines an open lens periphery  14 . A camera lens  16  is juxtaposed with the lens periphery  14  inside the camera body  12 . A typically plastic lens cover  18  can be engaged in a snapping fit or interface fit or threadably engaged with the lens periphery  14  to substantially block light, debris, etc. from the lens  16 . Other ways to engage the lens cover  18  with the lens periphery  14  may be used. The lens cover  18  typically can be disk-shaped. The cover may be connected to the camera body  12  by a lanyard  20 . 
     When the cover  18  is removed from the lens periphery  14 , light from outside the camera  12  can pass through the lens  16  to be focused by the lens  16  on an imager  22  such as but not limited to a charge-coupled device (CCD). The imager  22  generates an electrical signal representative of the image in front of the camera and sends the image signal to a processor  24  accessing one or more computer readable storage media  26  such as solid state or disk storage, removable memory, etc. 
     The processor  24  may also cause the image to be presented on a visual display  28  on the camera body  12 . The visual display  28  can be viewed by a person to thereby view the image. The image may be a still image or a video image. One or more speakers  28   a  may also be provided on the camera housing or other associated therewith. 
     Imaging may commence when a user manipulates a power button  30 , which energizes the components of the camera  12  typically through one or more DC batteries  32 . This may cause the camera to begin a video image stream which may be presented on the display  28 . To capture an image, a user may manipulate a shutter button  34  on the camera body  12 . The processor  24  receives a signal from the shutter button  34  indicating a desire to take a picture and then captures a still image from the video stream by, e.g., storing the still image to the medium  26 . Operation of the shutter button  34  and/or power button  30  may cause the processor  24  to configure a shutter mechanism  36  as appropriate to permit imaging in accordance with shutter principles known in the art. 
     In some implementations a plunger mechanism  38  may be provided on the camera body  12 . The plunger mechanism  38  may reciprocate from a retracted configuration (shown in solid in  FIG. 1 ) in which the cover  18  can completely engage the lens periphery  14 , and an extended configuration (shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 ), in which the plunger mechanism  38  extends outwardly past the lens periphery  14  to push the lens cover  18  off of the periphery  14 . The plunger mechanism  38  may be moved by a small motor  40  that can be controlled by the processor  24  as described further below. Other structure in lieu of the plunger mechanism  38 /motor  40  may be used to push the lens cover  18  off the periphery  14 , e.g., a spring-loaded mechanism, rotatable mechanism, etc. 
       FIG. 2  shows that in an example embodiment the inside surface of the lens cover  18  bears a pattern  42  such as the Greek letter alpha. The pattern  42  may be established by phosphorescent material such as ink that is deposited directly onto the inside surface of the lens cover  18  as by, e.g., etching, or by a phosphorescent sticker  42   a  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 ) that may be provided to a user, who can then apply the sticker to the inside surface. In other embodiments the pattern may be temporal, e.g., if the processor recognizes a totally blacked-out image for a certain period, it can infer that the lens cover remains on the lens periphery  14 . 
     Regardless of the particular pattern,  FIG. 3  shows example logic that may be used in accordance with present principles. Commencing at block  44 , upon indication from the user that an image is to be taken or captured (by, e.g., manipulation of either button  30  or  34 ), the image through the lens  16  as detected by the imager  22  is received by the processor  24 . It is determined at decision diamond  46  whether the image is recognized as indicating that the lens cover remains in place on the lens periphery. In one example, the processor  24  accesses a template in the storage medium  26  and compares the image to the template. In the present example, the template would be the Greek letter alpha. Thus, the processor software can be upgraded post-sale to execute present principles and a sticker provided to the user to place on the lens cover, or the lens cover can be vended with the pattern pre-sale. 
     If the image does not match the template within a matching criterion, the logic flows to block  48  wherein the camera executes normal photo processing, it being understood that under the “no” branch from decision diamond  46  the lens cover  18  is not detected as being engaged with the lens periphery  14 . On the other hand, if the processor  24  determines that the image from the lens cover  18  matches the template, as it would in the present example when the lens cover  18  covers the lens and the phosphorescent pattern  42  consequently is detected, the logic flows to block  50  in which the processor generates a signal representing that the lens cover remains undesirably engaged with the lens periphery. 
     The signal generated at block  50  may be used to present a visible warning on the display  28 , e.g., a message stating “lens cover still on”. Or, it may be used to generate an audible warning on the speaker  28   a , e.g., a series of rapid warning beeps. Yet again, in addition to or in lieu of the above warnings the signal may be used to actuate the mechanism  38  to push the lens cover  18  away from the lens periphery  14 . Still further, the signal indicating that the lens cover  18  remains engaged with the camera to cover the lens can be used to prevent or otherwise inhibit “auto focus” so that the camera  10  will not attempt to adjust the focus with the lens cover is on, to eliminate unnecessary mechanical work and consequently save battery  32  power. 
     While the particular CAMERA THAT WARNS LENS COVER STILL ATTACHED is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.