Patents by Inventor Masaharu Hara

Masaharu Hara 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: 8644694
    Abstract: To provide a camera that can perform a removal operation for particles adherent to a surface upon which light is incident, of a pickup device and a transmitting member disposed on an optical path of the pickup device in such a condition that the particles are properly removed. According to the present invention, a camera comprises a driving mechanism section to drop and remove particles on a cleaning target that is a surface of an image pickup device and/or a surface of a low-pass filter provided closer to a side of a subject in an optical path than the image pickup device, the subject light passing through the low-pass filter, which is provided with: a tilt sensor to detect an orientation of the camera; and a control section to judge whether a removal operation for the particles by the driving mechanism section should be carried out or not in accordance with the detected value from the tilt sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Narihiro Yasuda, Masaharu Hara
  • Publication number: 20130142501
    Abstract: To provide a camera that can perform a removal operation for particles adherent to a surface upon which light is incident, of a pickup device and a transmitting member disposed on an optical path of the pickup device in such a condition that the particles are properly removed. According to the present invention, a camera comprises a driving mechanism section to drop and remove particles on a cleaning target that is a surface of an image pickup device and/or a surface of a low-pass filter provided closer to a side of a subject in an optical path than the image pickup device, the subject light passing through the low-pass filter, which is provided with: a tilt sensor to detect an orientation of the camera; and a control section to judge whether a removal operation for the particles by the driving mechanism section should be carried out or not in accordance with the detected value from the tilt sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Narihiro YASUDA, Masaharu HARA
  • Publication number: 20110255849
    Abstract: To provide a camera that can perform a removal operation for particles adherent to a surface upon which light is incident, of a pickup device and a transmitting member disposed on an optical path of the pickup device in such a condition that the particles are properly removed. According to the present invention, a camera comprises a driving mechanism section to drop and remove particles on a cleaning target that is a surface of an image pickup device and/or a surface of a low-pass filter provided closer to a side of a subject in an optical path than the image pickup device, the subject light passing through the low-pass filter, which is provided with: a tilt sensor to detect an orientation of the camera; and a control section to judge whether a removal operation for the particles by the driving mechanism section should be carried out or not in accordance with the detected value from the tilt sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Narihiro Yasuda, Masaharu Hara
  • Publication number: 20080166113
    Abstract: To provide a camera that can perform a removal operation for particles adherent to a surface upon which light is incident, of a pickup device and a transmitting member disposed on an optical path of the pickup device in such a condition that the particles are properly removed. According to the present invention, a camera comprises a driving mechanism section to drop and remove particles on a cleaning target that is a surface of an image pickup device and/or a surface of a low-pass filter provided closer to a side of a subject in an optical path than the image pickup device, the subject light passing through the low-pass filter, which is provided with: a tilt sensor to detect an orientation of the camera; and a control section to judge whether a removal operation for the particles by the driving mechanism section should be carried out or not in accordance with the detected value from the tilt sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Narihiro Yasuda, Masaharu Hara
  • Publication number: 20040060743
    Abstract: In the case of playing cards such as playing cards and the like, the switching of cards have been conventionally performed using automatic switching apparatuses in a place such as a casino where there are many participants. Many of such conventional apparatuses, however, need a technical skill in operation of the apparatuses themselves, or have a complicated structure themselves. In such conventional apparatuses, moreover, there has been no switching apparatus which is enjoyable to game participants when they see the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Masaharu Hara
  • Patent number: 6621533
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polarization separation element comprising a first array of prisms having a wedge-shaped cross-section, and a second array of prisms also having a wedge-shaped cross section. One of the prism arrays is an array of birefringent prisms. The present invention also provides a polarization conversion system having a polarization separation element of the above type for directing light having a first polarization in a first direction and for directing light having a second polarization different from the first polarization in a second direction different from the first direction; and one or more polarization conversion elements for converting light having the first and second polarizations to light having a substantially common output polarization. The polarization conversion system of the invention is suitable for use in a projection display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jason Kempton Slack, Marina Vladimirovna Khazova, Tamotsu Takatsuka, Keisuke Mitani, Kazuhiro Inoko, Graham John Woodgate, Masaharu Hara, Grant Bourhill, Emma Walton
  • Publication number: 20020093718
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polarization separation element comprising a first array of prisms having a wedge-shaped cross-section, and a second array of prisms also having a wedge-shaped cross section. One of the prism arrays is an array of birefringent prisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Jason Kempton Slack, Marina Vladimirovna Khazova, Tamotsu Takatsuka, Keisuke Mitani, Kazuhiro Inoko, Graham John Woodgate, Masaharu Hara, Grant Bourhill, Emma Walton
  • Patent number: 5950023
    Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masaharu Hara, Norikazu Yokonuma, Hidenori Miyamoto, Hideya Inoue, Toshio Sosa
  • Patent number: 5822624
    Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition is judged that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Fukuhara, Toshio Sosa, Toshio Dobashi, Nobuaki Sasagaki, Masaharu Hara
  • Patent number: 5720038
    Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Fukuhara, Toshio Sosa, Toshio Dobashi, Nobuaki Sasagaki, Masaharu Hara
  • Patent number: 5715485
    Abstract: A photographing information setting apparatus for a camera has a capability of improving the operativity in setting photographing information by displaying all of the photographing information or a part thereof contained in a photographing information group when such a group is selected by an information group selecting device. In selecting photographing information, a photographing information group containing exposing modes, shutter speeds, and others is selected by the information group selecting device and at least two pieces of photographing information contained in this photographing information group are displayed in a display. For example, when a photographing information group regarding exposing modes is selected, the exposing modes PM, P, S, A and M are displayed in the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Murakami, Kimio Uematsu, Nobuaki Sasagaki, Masaharu Hara
  • Patent number: 5701519
    Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Fukuhara, Toshio Sosa, Toshio Dobashi, Nobuaki Sasagaki, Masaharu Hara
  • Patent number: 5697002
    Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judge from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hachiro Kanai, Toru Fukuhara, Toshio Sosa, Norikazu Yokonuma, Masaharu Hara
  • Patent number: 5687406
    Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Fukuhara, Toshio Sosa, Toshio Dobashi, Nobuaki Sasagaki, Masaharu Hara
  • Patent number: 5682560
    Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masaharu Hara, Norikazu Yokonuma, Hidenori Miyamoto, Hideya Inoue, Toshio Sosa
  • Patent number: 5682561
    Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Fukuhara, Toshio Sosa, Toshio Dobashi, Nobuaki Sasagaki, Masaharu Hara
  • Patent number: 5664241
    Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hachiro Kanai, Toru Fukuhara, Toshio Sosa, Norikazu Yokonuma, Masaharu Hara
  • Patent number: 5640621
    Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed object, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Fukuhara, Toshio Sosa, Toshio Dobashi, Nobuaki Sasagaki, Masaharu Hara
  • Patent number: 5630182
    Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Fukuhara, Toshio Sosa, Toshio Dobashi, Nobuaki Sasagaki, Masaharu Hara
  • Patent number: 5583594
    Abstract: A shooting size switching camera has a mechanism for varying the size of the shooting field, for example between a standard size and a panorama size. The camera is structured to have an operation member to conduct the switching of shooting size, at least one light shielding member which interlocks with the operation member and which moves with movement of the operation member to switch shooting size, a support member to support the light shielding member in such a manner that the light shielding member is allowed to move, and a first regulation structure to regulate the movement range of the operation member relative to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Suminori Watanabe, Masaharu Hara, Nobuaki Sasagaki