Patents by Inventor Masatake Niwa
Masatake Niwa 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).
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Patent number: 5659820Abstract: A camera having a covering member which covers the upper side of the camera and having a projecting portion shaped as a pentagonal reflecting member; a first manually operable portion located at the covering member on one side of the projecting portion for designating one of a plurality of kinds of photographic data; a second manually operable portion located at the covering member on the other side of the projecting portion and adapted for commonly altering any of the plurality of kinds of photographing data to actually alter the designated one thereof in combination with the actual designation by the first manually operable portion; a light measuring device for measuring the luminance of the object to be photographed; a calculator for carrying out an exposure calculation based on the result of the light measuring; a display portion for displaying at least either one of shutter speed and aperture value obtained by the exposure calculation; and a display controller for controlling the display such that, whenType: GrantFiled: October 8, 1993Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 5113217Abstract: A display device for use in a camera comprises a central processing unit and display units to display exposure data and various control modes under the control of the CPU. The display units are arranged to display the exposure data with suitable marks or characters in rows so as to make the operator to read the display easily. The CPU provides control data to deenergize the display unit at the time of initial states of the camera such as at the time of loading a battery in the camera to prevent to display confusing information.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1991Date of Patent: May 12, 1992Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Manabu Inoue, Akihiko Fujino, Kunio Kawamura, Yuji Takarabe, Masatake Niwa
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Patent number: 5111234Abstract: In a camera adapted to function with stored data, aperture value data is stored at a predetermined step in accordance with a manual operation of a manually operable member and digital data, showing a controllable range of an aperture diaphragm of an interchangeable lens, is transmitted from the interchangeable lens and read. The stored aperture value data is detected to determine whether such data is out of the controllable range and the aperture value data to be stored is set to a limited value within the controllable range when the detection of the stored aperture value data is out of the controllable range.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1990Date of Patent: May 5, 1992Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 5075710Abstract: A camera includes a cover for the upper side of the camera body and having a projecting portion shaped as a pentagonal prism with a first manual operable member located at the cover on a first side of the projecting portion for designating one of a plurality of kinds of photographic data. A second manually operable member is located at the cover on a second side of the projecting portion and alters any of the plurality of the kinds of photographic data in combination with the actual designation of the first manually operable member. The designated photographic data is indicated by a display located at the cover on the second side of the projecting portion. A third manually operable member, also located at the cover on the second side of the projecting portion, initiates exposure operation of the camera.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1990Date of Patent: December 24, 1991Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 5041861Abstract: A camera with circuitry, a main power source for supplying electric power to the circuitry, a back-up power source for supplying electric power to the circuitry independently from the main power source, a detector for detecting the condition of the back-up power source to produce a warning signal when the back-up power source can not supply sufficient electric power to the circuitry, starting the operation of the detector when the main power source has recovered, setting data to the circuitry in accordance with a manual operation and interrupting the operation of the warning signal when the data setting is operated.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1990Date of Patent: August 20, 1991Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 5036350Abstract: A camera has an automatic data reading arrangement for reading ISO data provided on a film cartridge. When a main battery is exchanged with an old battery while the film is still loaded in the camera, ISO data is maintained in a memory supported and powered by a back-up battery. If such an ISO data is not available after the exchange of the main battery, ISO data again read from the loaded film cartride is employed. If the film is not the type that can provide an ISO data, the most widely used ISO data will be automatically set for the further exposure calculation.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1990Date of Patent: July 30, 1991Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 5014083Abstract: A display device for use in a camera comprises a central processing unit and display units to display exposure data and various control modes under the control of the CPU. The display units are arranged to display the exposure data with suitable marks or characters in rows so as to make the operator to read the display easily. The CPU provides control data to deenergize the display unit at the time of initial states of the camera such as at the time of loading a battery in the camera to prevent to display confusing information.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1990Date of Patent: May 7, 1991Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishiInventors: Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Manabu Inoue, Akihiko Fujino, Kunio Kawamura, Yuji Takarabe, Masatake Niwa
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Patent number: 4958184Abstract: A display device for use in a camera comprises a central processing unit and display units to display exposure data and various control modes under the control of the CPU. The display units are arranged to display the exposure data with suitable marks or characters in rows so as to make the operator to read the display easily. The CPU provides control data to deenergize the display unit at the time of initial states of the camera such as at the time of loading a battery in the camera to prevent to display confusing information.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1989Date of Patent: September 18, 1990Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Manabu Inoue, Akihiko Fujino, Kunio Kawamura, Yuji Takarabe, Masatake Niwa
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Patent number: 4956661Abstract: In a camera system having a camera body and at least one camera accessory attachable to the camera body, a plurality of circuit elements are provided in the camera body and in the camera accessory for performing predetermined respective operations. Circuitry in the camera controls the plurality of circuit elements and includes a data bus for connecting the control circuitry with the plurality of circuit elements. The data bus serially sends data from the control circuitry to the plurality of circuit elements and from the plurality of circuit elements to the control circuitry. At least one signal line connects the control circuitry with each of the circuit elements, respectively, for sending clock pulses utilized for synchronizing the data sent through the data bus. A plurality of selecting lines selects, by the control circuitry, which circuit element receives the data from the control circuitry and sends the data to the control circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1988Date of Patent: September 11, 1990Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4952959Abstract: In a camera for setting photographic data, a first manually operable means for designating one of a plurality of kinds of photographing data and second manually operable means for adapted for commonly altering any of the plurality of kinds of photographing data to actually alter the designated photographing data in combination with the actual designation by the first manually operable means, and an indicator for indicating the designated one of the photographing data.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1988Date of Patent: August 28, 1990Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Kakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4947203Abstract: In a camera adapted to function with stored data, the exposure time data, aperture value data and override data are stored and the stored aperture value data is normally indicated with provision for indication of the stored override data in place of the aperture value data. The stored exposure time data may be indicated by additional indicating means which can be disabled while the stored override data is being indicated.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1989Date of Patent: August 7, 1990Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4939534Abstract: A flash photography system which comprises a photographic camera and an electronic flash device;said photographic camera comprisingaperture value output means for producing aperture value under the flash light photographing,flash light stop signal output means for integrating output value of a light value of a photographing object and for producing a signal for stopping emission of a flash light when the integrated value reaches a predetermined value,said flash device comprisingcalculating means for calculating a maximum photographing distance which is covered by the flash light for effecting a correct exposure on the photographing object on the basis of a maximum light value of the flash light and the aperture value fed from the aperture value output means, anddisplay means for displaying the maximum photographing distance on the basis of the output of the calculating means.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1988Date of Patent: July 3, 1990Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masaaki Nakai, Takanobu Omaki, Hiroshi Hosomizu, Masatake Niwa, Toru Inoue, Minoru Sekida
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Patent number: 4933697Abstract: This invention is directed to a camera which has an information setting device including an information setting member rotatable around a display device. The information setting member is provided with a window member which covers the display device and through which the indiciation displayed on the display device can be seen. The display device is supported on a frame which defines a camera body in association with a cover member surrounding the frame, while the information setting device is supported on the cover member. Accordingly, the size of both devices can be made large without necessity of enlarging the camera body in proportion to the size of the devices. Further, both devices can be assembled independently from each other. Namely, the information setting device is mounted on the cover member which is still separated from the frame. Meanwhile, the display device is mounted on the frame. Finally, the cover member with the information setting device and frame with the display device are assembled.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 1989Date of Patent: June 12, 1990Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kunio Kawamura, Toshihiko Taniguchi, Tetsuro Oya, Masatake Niwa, Masaaki Nakai, Akihiko Fujino
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Patent number: 4866467Abstract: A camera is adapted to operate with stored data by sensing the film speed data prepared on the surface of a film cartridge loaded in the camera to produce a data reading signal and reading the sensed film speed data in response to the data reading signal and detecting whether or not the the film loaded in the camera includes film speed data to provide a warning when a determination is made that the film speed data is not on the film cartridge. Film speed data may be loaded in the camera manually and the warning is interrupted in response to the manual setting of the film speed. At least one of the film speed data and the manually set film speed data is stored and the exposure data is calculated on the basis of the stored film speed data.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1988Date of Patent: September 12, 1989Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4864341Abstract: A mount arrangement for a photographic camera which is capable of automatic diaphragm control and automatic focusing includes electrical contacts for transmission of electrical signals between a camera body and an interchangeable lens unit, and mechanical transmission members for the automatic diaphragm control and the automatic focusing and positioning member and recess on and at inner periphery of mount members of the camera body and the lens unit so as not to interfere with each other during the start and the course of the mounting of the lens unit onto the camera body through a bayonet mount device.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1988Date of Patent: September 5, 1989Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yukio Maekawa, Tsuneyo Metabi, Masatake Niwa
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Patent number: 4860046Abstract: A camera in which the film speed data and exposure time data are selectively indicated by a first indicator and aperture value data and override data are also selectively indicated by a second indicator.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1988Date of Patent: August 22, 1989Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4857953Abstract: A camera in which both a light measuring operation and an exposure data calculating operation are made operative in response to either a manual exposure operation of a shutter release member or a manual operation of a manually operable means to be operated for altering data stored in a storing means which is co-acting in the exposure data calculating operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1988Date of Patent: August 15, 1989Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4853726Abstract: This invention is directed to a camera which has an information setting device including an information setting member rotatable around a display device. The information setting member is provided with a window member which covers the display device and through which the indication displayed on the display device can be seen. The display device is supported on a frame which defines a camera body in association with a cover member surrounding the frame, while the information setting device is supported on the cover member. Accordingly, the size of both devices can be made large without necessity of enlarging the camera body in proportion to the size of the devices. Further, both devices can be assembled independently from each other. Namely, the information setting device is mounted on the cover member which is still separated from the frame. Meanwhile, the display device is mounted on the frame. Finally, the cover member with the information setting device and frame with the display device are assembled.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 1986Date of Patent: August 1, 1989Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kunio Kawamura, Toshihiko Taniguchi, Tetsuro Oya, Masatake Niwa, Masaaki Nakai, Akihiko Fujino
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Patent number: 4847651Abstract: A display device for use in a camera comprises a central processing unit and display units to display exposure data and various control modes under the control of the CPU. The display units are arranged to display the exposure data with suitable marks or characters in rows so as to make the operator to read the display easily. The CPU provides control data to deenergize the display unit at the time of initial states of the camera such as at the time of loading a battery in the camera to prevent to display confusing information.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1985Date of Patent: July 11, 1989Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Manabu Inoue, Akihiko Fujino, Kunio Kawamura, Yuji Takarabe, Masatake Niwa
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Patent number: 4839687Abstract: A flash photography system which comprises a photographic camera and an electronic flash device;said photographic camera comprisingaperture value output means for producing aperture value under the flash light photographing,flash light stop signal output means for integrating output value of a light value of a photographing object and for producing a signal for stopping emission of a flash light when the integrated value reaches a predetermined value,said flash device comprisingcalculating means for calculating a maximum photographing distance which is covered by the flash light for effecting a correct exposure on the photographing object on the basis of a maximum light value of the flash light and the aperture value fed from the aperture value output means, anddisplay means for displaying the maximum photographing distance on the basis of the output of the calculating means.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1987Date of Patent: June 13, 1989Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masaaki Nakai, Takanobu Omaki, Hiroshi Hosomizu, Masatake Niwa, Toru Inoue, Minoru Sekida