Patents by Inventor Katsuyuki Nanba

Katsuyuki Nanba has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5835675
    Abstract: A photographed image reproducing apparatus is used to reproduce photographic images recorded on successive frames of a film having magnetic tracks on which information is writable for each frame. The apparatus includes a read/write device for reading or writing frame information on the magnetic track. The frame information is read or written in one transporting direction while the image is sensed in the other transporting direction. Also, an information reader is provided at an upstream portion while the information writer is provided at a downstream portion to enable the reading and writing to be executed at the same time. The apparatus considerably reduces the reproduction time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Inoue, Hirokazu Yagura, Kouji Hamaguchi, Shigeru Wada, Hiroyuki Matsumoto, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5825410
    Abstract: In still frame images from a film, the first frame of an image block is produced in a fade-in manner for gradually outputting a picture. If the end of a beginning part of a theme block is detected from information for a next frame, the process is advanced to a step to select a production method including relevantly large movement on the assumption that the scene is moved to an intermediate part of the theme block. If the intermediate part is ended, a different production method including relevantly small movement is selected on the assumption that the scene is moved to an end part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishibe, Manabu Inoue, Hirokazu Yagura, Takehiro Katoh, Tetsuo Yamada, Kyoko Kakudo, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5742857
    Abstract: A mechanism, for reproducing images of a developed film, which reads film information recorded in a magnetic track formed along a pair of edges extending longitudinally of a leader of the film. The reading of the magnetic track is carried out by pressing a magnetic head against the magnetic track of the film leader at the time of rewinding into a cartridge case the film which is once fed out a predetermined length from the cartridge case. When the film is rewound into the cartridge case at the time of reading the film information, the surface of the film leader is pressed by the magnetic head uniformly because the film leader is tightened even and flat by a tension working between the cartridge case and the magnetic head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Nanba, Hirokazu Yagura
  • Patent number: 5742334
    Abstract: A film image reproducing apparatus for reproducing a film image of each frame of a film, includes: an image pick up device which picks up a film image; a reproducer which is operable to reproduce specified areas of the picked up film image; an information reader which reads information recorded on the film concerning the orientation of the film image; a reproducing direction designator which designates a reproducing direction of images in the areas; and a controller which controls the reproducer based on the read information and the designated reproducing direction so as to reproduce the image areas in the designated reproducing direction while keeping an image in each image area in a specified reference orientation irrespective of the direction of the film image on the film. This apparatus can constantly move an image in a designated direction regardless of the orientation of the film image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Yagura, Toshiyuki Tanaka, Takeshi Ono, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5721610
    Abstract: A film image pickup device uses a cartridge in which film is fed out of the cartridge by causing a spool around which the film is wound to rotate. The film image pickup device includes a drive roller and a driven roller that are located near the film outlet of the cartridge and that are used for the conveyance of the film. The drive roller and driven roller are constructed such that either roller can come into contact with or retract from the other roller. Either of the drive roller and the driven roller has a barrel-shaped cross-sectional configuration while the other has a bobbin-shaped cross-sectional configuration, to impart a curvature to the film as it is pulled out of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kiten, Manabu Inoue, Shigeru Nagata, Hirokazu Yagura, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5652618
    Abstract: An image reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image recorded on successive frames of a film having a storage medium which information for each frame is readable from and writable on, the reproducing apparatus includes a pick-up device for picking up the image from the film; a read and write device for reading and writing frame information from and on the storage medium in a specified relative movement to the film; a drive device for rendering the specified relative movement and such special relative movement as fast transporting, rewinding; a directing device for directing the special relative movement; and a controller for keeping the drive device from rendering the special relative movement when the information reading and writing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5633977
    Abstract: A photographed image reproducing apparatus is used to reproduce photographic images recorded on successive frames of a film having magnetic tracks on which information is writable for each frame. The apparatus includes a read/write device for reading or writing frame information on the magnetic track. The frame information is read or written in one transporting direction while the image is sensed in the other transporting direction. Also, an information reader is provided at an upstream portion while the information writer is provided at a downstream portion to enable the reading and writing to be executed at the same time. The apparatus considerably reduces the reproduction time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Inoue, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5623303
    Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing images recorded on successive frames of a film recorded with information, the apparatus includes a film feeder which feeds the film in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction; an information reader which reads the recorded information; a density detector which detects a density of each image; and a controller which controls the film feeder, information reader, and density detector. The information reader is worked when the film is fed in the first direction, the density detector is worked when the film is fed in the second direction. A detected image density is adapted for determining an exposure value at which each image is picked up to reproduce the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Inoue, Hirokazu Yagura, Katsuyuki Nanba, Tsutomu Honda, Toru Ishii, Hideki Nagata, Hiroaki Kubo, Gen Sasaki, Hiroshi Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 5606420
    Abstract: A camera system has a camera section, a reproduction section and a printer section, the printer section being separably attachable to either the camera section or the reproduction section to form an integral body. The camera system has photoelectric conversion elements and picks up an image of an object to produce image data. The reproduction section processes the image data so as to reproduce the picked-up image on a display screen, and the printer section prints the picked-up image on printing paper based on the image data. The reproduction section may include an output device which transmits the processed image data to a television set having a display screen, and it may also be integrally provided with a monitor having a display screen. The camera system further includes a recording portion electrically connected with the camera section and which records the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Maeda, Yasuhiro Kyoden, Hirokazu Naruto, Yoshito Tanaka, Dai Shintani, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5541644
    Abstract: An image reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image recorded on successive frames of a film having a storage medium which information for each frame is readable from and writable on, the reproducing apparatus includes a pick-up device for picking up the image from the film; a read and write device for reading and writing frame information from and on the storage medium in a specified relative movement to the film; a drive device for rendering the specified relative movement and such special relative movement as fast transporting, rewinding; a directing device for directing the special relative movement; and a controller for keeping the drive device from rendering the special relative movement when the information reading and writing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5493409
    Abstract: A still video camera includes a photographing device for photographing an object and a printer for printing a photographed image on print paper. The printer has a plurality of printing modes which can be desirably selected. A plurality of sorts of image data for the photographed image are produced. The sort of image data suitable for a selected printing mode is sent to the printer. The print paper is fed under a feeding condition suitable for a selected printing mode. The printing mode is selected in accordance with attachment of an ink ribbon and print paper to the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Maeda, Yasuhiro Kyoden, Hirokazu Naruto, Yoshito Tanaka, Dai Shintani, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5452047
    Abstract: A device determines an aperture value Av and a time value Tv for controlling exposure, on the basis of the detected focal length, the detected image magnification and brightness of an object. First, a type of photography is determined according to the focal length (f) and a image magnification .beta., on the basis of fuzzy logic. Then, a combination of an aperture value Av and a time value Tv which are proper for the so-determined type of photography is automatically determined. The combination can be changed by a manual operation. If the combination is changed, a display showing a depth of field corresponding to the changed aperture value Av is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehiko Fujii, Kenji Tsuji, Kenji Ishibashi, Tatsuya Suzuki, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5448331
    Abstract: Camera comprises a focus detecting section for performing an object distance measurement, a flash for illuminating the object and controller for control the camera. The flash is activated to emit auxiliary light so as to assist a focus detection when a focus detection is performed by the focus detecting section, and is activated to emit light for illuminating the object during an exposure of photographing. Also, camera is capable of a self-timer photographing, and indicates the self-timer photographing by emitting the flash light during the self-timer operation. The flash light is used both as the auxiliary light for a focus detection and light for indication of the self-timer operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka Hamada, Katsuyuki Nanba, Hiroshi Ueda, Reiji Seki, Hidehiko Fujii, Jun Ishihara, Kotomi Murakami
  • Patent number: 5359385
    Abstract: A camera having a learning function which automatically sets data for current photographing in accordance with a tendency of data set in the past (learned data) and takes a photograph in accordance with the data thus set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ishida, Koji Hata, Kohtaro Hayashi, Akuhiko Fujino, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5335072
    Abstract: A photographic system includes a photographing device for photographing subjects to generate respective image data of the subjects, the photographing device having an image information production device for producing image information concerning the photography for each of the subjects, and a storage device for storing the produced image information, and a reproduction device for reproducing the image data, the reproduction device having a retrieval condition input device for inputting a retrieval condition, a retrieval device responsive to the retrieval condition input device for retrieving image data having a connection with the input retrieval condition by inference, and a reproducing device for reproducing the retrieved image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshito Tanaka, Dai Shintani, Hirokazu Naruto, Katsuyuki Nanba, Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Hiroshi Ishibe, Yoshihiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5293189
    Abstract: A photographic system comprises a camera and a film structure which can be loaded in the camera and in which photographing data can be recorded. The film structure has an image recording section in which a photographed image is recorded and a memory means for storing therein identification data peculiar to the film structure. And the camera inputs the identification data stored in the film structure into the camera and judges according to the inputted identification data whether the film structure is fit for the camera or not. Thereby, the photographing data can be recorded or read only when the film structure is fit for the camera.Further, the present invention also relates to a film structure which can be loaded in a camera having peculiar identification data so that it is judged whether the film structure is fit for the camera or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Manabu Inoue, Reiji Seki, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5218399
    Abstract: A display system for a camera that includes both a segment display portion and a dot matrix display portion. The two different display systems are driven by different duty ratios for assuring clearer presentation and quicker recognition by the photographer. The disclosure also includes an energy-saving control system for such a combination display system where the more energy-consuming dot matrix portion is stopped operating while the less energy-consuming segment portion remains operation after a predetermined time since the last operation of any switch of the camera. The disclosure further includes an elaborate analog display that clearly shows exposure parameters of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Izumi, Toshihiko Ishimura, Tatsuya Ishida, Noriyuki Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshino, Katsuyuki Nanba, Hirokazu Kuroda
  • Patent number: 5208621
    Abstract: A photographic system comprises a camera and a film structure which can be loaded in the camera and in which photographing data can be recorded. The film structure has an image recording section in which a photographed image is recorded and a memory means for storing therein identification data peculiar to the film structure. And the camera inputs the identification data stored in the film structure into the camera and judges according to the inputted identification data whether the film structure is fit for the camera or not. Thereby, the photographing data can be recorded or read only when the film structure is fit for the camera.Further, the present invention also relates to a film structure which can be loaded in a camera having peculiar identification data so that it is judged whether the film structure is fit for the camera or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Manabu Inoue, Reiji Seki, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5138354
    Abstract: A camera equipped with detectors for detecting: a) the photographer is holding the camera grip, and b) the photographer is looking into the viewfinder of the camera. When both are detected, which can be assumed that he is taking a photograph in the near future, a predetermined operation of the camera (e.g., an automatic program zooming, an autofocusing, a photometering, etc.) is started. The detectors can also be used for ending a predetermined operation of the camera. When the photographer no longer holds the grip or when he no longer looks into the viewfinder, it is assumed that he is not going to take a photograph and hence it is better not to continue some proper operation for conserving the battery power. For confirming the judgment, it is preferred to check the detection twice in any case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okada, Masayuki Ikemura, Yukari Maeda, Koh Hayama, Takeshi Hashimoto, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5117250
    Abstract: A flashlight photographing device wherein the possibility of missing a shutter chance is minimized, a shutter speed can be set appropriately upon trailing shutter blind synchronized photographing, and an interval of time is minimized until a subsequent photographing operation is permitted. The flashlight includes a plurality of flash devices which are controlled such that one of them which has been charged up at the earliest is caused to emit flashlight. After the charged voltage of a main capacitor of one of the flash devices becomes higher than a second predetermined value but lower than a first predetermined value at which the flash device can operate to emit light, operation of an automatic focusing motor or a film winding motor of a camera is started. When trailing shutter blind synchronized photographing is to be performed in an exposure mode wherein a shutter speed is to be automatically set, exposure of the camera is controlled in accordance with a predetermined exposure time as in bulb exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Fujino, Tsutomu Ichikawa, Katsuyuki Nanba, Nobuyuki Taniguchi