Patents Examined by Monroe H. Hayes
  • Patent number: 5357300
    Abstract: In a lens holding device, a plurality of protrusions of equal height are provided oppositely at the front and rear of the periphery of a plastic photographic lens. The plurality of protrusions are substantially equidistant. Three sets of stairs, each having a plurality of steps with a predetermined difference in height between adjacent steps, are provided at positions corresponding to the protrusions in a lens receiving member and a lens pressing member, between which the lens is sandwiched. The position of the lens can be adjusted from a most advanced position to a most retreated position along the optical axis by selecting a preferred step of each of the stairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Yanagi, Kiyoaki Hazama, Masayoshi Era
  • Patent number: 5357296
    Abstract: The size along an optical axis of a camera with a built-in magnetic head is reduced by arranging a magnetic head and a pad to be used for writing magnetic information radially externally of a bodytube, the pad being accommodated in a notch formed in the camera body so as to permit the bodytube to be retracted to a position close to a film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Kato
  • Patent number: 5349405
    Abstract: A single lens reflex camera includes a mirror box provided in a camera body to support a mirror located on an optical axis of a photographing lens for up and down movement. The mirror box, together with a mirror driving mechanism, is detachably attachable to the camera body as a unit. A diaphragm control mechanism is provided for controlling a diaphragm, which is mounted to a mounting member separate from the mirror box to form a unit, which can be detachably attached to the camera body. A charge/reset mechanism is provided and is mounted to the camera body and serves to connect the mirror drive mechanism and the diaphragm control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoaki Itabashi, Masayuki Misawa
  • Patent number: 5349406
    Abstract: A method of bypassing film that is inadvertently fogged in a pre-wind camera includes detecting the opening of the camera back, storing the frame number corresponding to the opening of the camera back, determining which frames are fogged, and bypassing these fogged frames during the normal operation of the camera. A camera in accordance with the invention also can take into consideration the ambient light level, the film speed, and the length of time the door was open, and then select the appropriate number of frames to be advanced from a look-up table in order to bypass the fogged frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Glenn W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5345286
    Abstract: A film drive control system includes a light source that directs a beam at a photographic filmstrip and a sensor located such that it detects this light source depending on whether or not the light source is blocked by the passage of the photographic filmstrip. The filmstrip includes perforations that indicate frame exposure areas. The filmstrip is advanced one frame at a time by first moving the film forward at a relatively high velocity until the leading edge of the perforation passes the sensor, then reducing the velocity in the forward direction until the trailing edge of the perforation passes the sensor. The filmstrip is then moved in the film reverse direction at a reduced velocity until the trailing edge again passes by the sensor, at which time the filmstrip is halted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Wayne Stiehler
  • Patent number: 5343269
    Abstract: A method and device for rotating images about an optical axis by changing the direction of a light path by a composite mirror unit having a simple structure. A printing device has a light source for emitting light to an image Xa on a negative film, a printing lens for adjusting the magnification of the light that passes through the image, and a composite mirror unit for reversing the light path to print an image Ya on a printing material. The entire composite mirror unit can be rotated through a predetermined angle about a rotary shaft by a driving motor. The composite mirror unit has two oppositely arranged mirrors which are mounted on separate blocks and so as to be inclined by 45.degree. with respect to the vertical. By turning the unit by .+-.45.degree. from the reference position (0.degree.), the image will rotate by 90.degree. or 270.degree. with respect to the image Xa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yamamoto, Ikuhiro Tamaki
  • Patent number: 5341192
    Abstract: A flow camera equipped with a microprocessor based control system accepts large original documents in continuous, moving fashion and photographs them through a specifically shaped slotted aperture positioned between the original document and an objective lens. The originals are illuminated during exposure simultaneously from the front and the back, recording congruent images from two-sided material such as engineering drawings on translucent media having positionally related information on both sides. The light from the underneath side, opposite the lens, not only reveals and exposes the image on the second side but it enhances the quality and sharpness of the primary image on the side toward the lens. Avoidance of image loss is accomplished by using in the optical system a single mirror which deflects the optical path substantially less than 90.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Black & Veatch Architects, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph H. Wally, Jr., Herbert W. Pace
  • Patent number: 5341241
    Abstract: An electrically actuated trap door system for a projection screen case. The system includes a trap door having first and second opposing edges. The first edge of the trap door is pivotally connected to the case such that the trap door is movable between a closed position in which the trap door is substantially flush with the bottom surface of the case and an open position in which the second edge of the trap door is disposed within the interior of the housing to form an opening in the bottom surface of the case. A motorized roller rotatable in first and second directions about its longitudinal axis is disposed within the case, and a ribbon connects the trap door and the roller to translate the rotation of the roller into movement of the trap door between its closed position and its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Draper Shade & Screen Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A. Shopp
  • Patent number: 5339123
    Abstract: An optical piece for a data imprinting device for a camera having beam incident and beam emerging areas. Beam incident and beam emerging areas have an effective aperture for passing a main beam of light and a peripheral beam refracting surface around and defining the effective aperture. This structure eliminates ghosts or flares generated by light rays passing through the peripheral portion of the optical piece. The peripheral beam refracting surface is equivalent to the surface of a lens having a negative index of refraction or one of the bilateral plane surfaces of a triangular prism with its apex pointing toward the optical axis of the optical piece. The lens geometry is controlled by a set of four inequalities. The effective aperture may use convex, planar or concave shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Soshi, Motoyuki Ohtake, Hidenori Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 5339126
    Abstract: A lens system for controlling an exposure value through the lens system at variable focal lengths. The lens system includes a base; a front lens unit which is movably mounted on the base; a rear lens unit which is also movably mounted on the base; a lens mover for moving the front and the rear lens units; a guide shaft member for guiding the front and the rear lens units along the axial direction of the lens system; a operational shaft member which is disposed parallel to the axial direction of the lens system; a cam to rotate the operational shaft member; and a controller, to control the exposure vale, which is slidably connected to the operational shaft member along the shaft in accordance with the movement of the front and the rear lens units, and the controller is rotated in accordance with a rotation of the operational shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Shimose
  • Patent number: 5337118
    Abstract: A photographic copying apparatus for the processing of lengths of copy masters adhesively bonded into long strips, in particular negative film strips that may be wound onto film spools, comprises an exposure station located along a transport path of the negative film strip, wherein the negative film strip is exposed master by master onto an unexposed photographic copy material, in particular unexposed photographic paper, passed along a paper path extending within the copy apparatus, preferably under the film transport path, through the exposure station. The copy apparatus is equipped with two supply spools located on the inlet side of the photographic copy apparatus from which the negative film strip may be wound off selectively, and with two winding spools located on the outlet side of the copy apparatus onto which the negative film strip may be selectively wound after each passage through the copy apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Gretag Imaging AG
    Inventor: Heinrich Haller
  • Patent number: 5337098
    Abstract: A camera-shake preventing device for preventing an image deflection due to a camera-shake by driving a part of an optical system on detecting the camera-shake, device being capable of restraining a futile consumption of a battery and previously confirming an effect to compensate the camera-shake.The device has a camera-shake detector, a computing unit, a camera-shake compensating lens, a lens driving unit and a compensating mode selecting unit. The camera-shake detector detects the camera-shake caused by a hand movement. The computing unit computes a proper camera-shake compensation quantity from the detected camera-shake. The camera-shake compensating lens is drivable for compensating the camera-shake. The lens driving unit drives the camera-shake compensating lens in such a direction as to cause no image deflection in accordance with the compensation quantity computed by the computing unit. The compensating mode selecting unit selects any one of camera-shake compensating modes, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Nobuhiko Terui
  • Patent number: 5335044
    Abstract: A projection type exposure apparatus comprises:a light source for radiating illumination light for exposure;an illumination optical system for irradiating with the illumination light a mask having a first pattern and a second pattern extending perpendicular to each other;the illumination optical system having a fly eye type integrator for forming a plurality of images of the light source on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of the mask;a projection optical system for projecting an image of the patterns of the mask on a photosensitive substrate; anda stop member for restricting passage of the illumination light through the Fourier transform plane to an annular zone with center on an optical axis of the illumination optical system and for partially shielding or reducing the plurality of images of the light source such that a number of images of the light source contributing to a resolution of the first pattern is substantially identical with that of images of the light source contributing t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Naomasa Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 5335033
    Abstract: A dual function viewfinder presents to a photographer the frame of a picture being taken by the camera having the viewfinder and enables the photographer to point the camera to the center of the frame. The frame is outlined by the front perimeter of an opening which extends between the rear and the front of the camera. Centered within the opening is a tubular member which blocks a portion of the field of view except when the camera is pointed so that the pupil of the photographer's eye is centered. The line of sight from the pupil to the center of the framed field of view is then along the axis of the tubular member. This condition is indicated by the walls of the member becoming virtually imperceptible to the photographer. No refracting optical elements, such as lenses, are required in the viewfinder; making the viewfinder low in cost and, therefore, especially suitable for single use cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Paul L. Ruben, William L. Burnham
  • Patent number: 5331371
    Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing exposure method for exposing different portions of a semiconductor wafer with radiation in a step-and-repeat manner includes the steps of: placing the wafer on a wafer chuck; detecting a first mark of the wafer, whereby a wafer mark signal is produced; controlling a rotational position of the wafer chuck on the basis of the wafer mark signal; printing an image of a second mark of a mask on a portion of a photosensitive material layer provided on a portion of the wafer chuck outside the wafer; photoelectrically detecting the image of the second mark of the mask printed on the photosensitive layer, whereby a mask mark signal is produced; producing data necessary for control of movement of the wafer chuck through a stage, by using the mask mark signal; effecting step-and-repeat exposure of the different portions of the wafer by using a radiation beam while controlling the movement of the wafer chuck through the stage on the basis of the produced data; and blocking a portion o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Mori, Akiyoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5331362
    Abstract: A photographic camera comprises a camera body, and an electronic flash unit having a flash lens and light-emitting means capable of being separated to change the illumination angle of the flash unit. According to the invention, the flash unit is supported to permit the flash unit to be increasingly extended from the camera body, and regulating means connects the camera body with one of the flash lens and the light-emitting means for continuously separating the flash lens and the light-emitting means to vary the illumination angle of the flash unit as the flash unit is increasingly extended from the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Anthony DiRisio
  • Patent number: 5329334
    Abstract: A test reticle and alignment mark optimization method is provided for determining the optimal alignment mark size for the efficient and accurate alignment of process layers during integrated circuit manufacture. The test reticle includes a number of orthogonally arranged alignment marks of various types and sizes and one or more registration structures. The method involves the steps of determining an initial expected range of alignment mark sizes on the test reticle which are suitable for a particular application; applying the test reticle pattern to test wafers; further processing the test wafers; measuring the alignment signals produced by scanning the alignment marks in the initial expected range; quantifying the alignment signal quality; and fitting the quantified alignment signal quality to a statistical model to determine a range of optimal alignment signal dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Yim, Christopher Neville
  • Patent number: 5329337
    Abstract: A lens loading apparatus for loading a lens held by a holding member into a lens loading unit disposed in the center of a support plate which extends substantially in a horizontal direction. The lens loading apparatus has a first reference surface formed in the upper surface of the support plate along a lens insertion direction and used for placing the holding member thereon. A second reference surface is formed on the support plate along the lens insertion direction and against which one end surface of the holding member, which extends along the lens insertion direction, abuts. The holding member, which is inserted from a horizontally-extending one end, is guided along the second reference surface by a first pressing member. Further, the holding member is guided along the first reference surface by a second pressing member, thereby making it possible to stably position the lens in a predetermined place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yamamoto, Nobuo Watasa, Yoshio Ozawa
  • Patent number: 5325140
    Abstract: A camera wherein the photographed picture size can be switched and is formed mostly of a magnification variable finder optical system, a photographed picture size switching mechanism and a finder visual field frame switching mechanism. When the picture size is switched by operating the photographed picture size switching mechanism, the finder magnification will be altered to a magnification corresponding to the picture size through a finder cam as operatively connected with the operation and at the same time the finder visual field frame will be also altered in conformity with the finder magnification and picture size. According to this camera, for example, even if the picture frame becomes narrow, the finder magnification will be elevated by switching the picture size and further the image will be made easy to observe by expanding the finder visual field frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Torikoshi, Goichi Hiratsuka, Hideki Okubo, Takashi Suzuki, Hideaki Kume
  • Patent number: 5323208
    Abstract: In a reduction-type projection exposure apparatus provided by the present invention, a spatial filter having a predetermined complex amplitude-transmission distribution is fixed approximately at the pupil position of a projection lens thereof or at such a position that the spatial filter conjugates with the pupil. The complex amplitude transmittance of the spatial filter is controlled by a multiple-interference effect of the multi-layer coating forming the spatial filter or by the surface reflection occurring on the surface of the film which constitutes the spatial filter and has an index of refraction different from the air. The filter can thus be prevented from absorbing light, incurring neither thermal damage nor damage due to dissipated heat. As a result, the reduction-type projection exposure apparatus offers excellent resolution and an outstanding depth of focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukuda, Tsutomu Tawa, Toshihide Dohi