Patents by Inventor Masayasu Hirano

Masayasu Hirano 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: 4994844
    Abstract: An camera system includes a body and an accessory which is attachable to the camera body. A controller is provided in the camera body for controlling camera function. And an operable switch is also provided in the camera body. A function data concerning with camera function is sent from the accessory to the camera body. The camera body receives the function data and determines in response to the operation of the operable switch whether or not the controller controls camera function based on the received function data. According to the camera system, it is possible to enable or disable the camera function depending on the accessory by simple operation with the accessory attached to the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Azuma, Takehiro Katoh, Yasuteru Yamano, Masayasu Hirano, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Takeshi Egawa, Masaaki Nakai, Toshihiko Ishimura, Naohiro Kageyama
  • Patent number: 4958181
    Abstract: A camera system being comprised of a camera and an external device is disclosed. The external device is detachably mounted on the camera which memorizes a program or data necessary for executing a program therein.When the external device is mounted on the camera, they are connected electrically with each other and communicate therebetween in order to read a program or data memorized in the external device into a memory means provided in the camera. The camera is controlled according to the program designated by the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norio Ishikawa, Masaaki Nakai, Masayasu Hirano, Akihiko Fujino, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Takeshi Egawa, Kunio Kawamura
  • Patent number: 4937601
    Abstract: A winding and rewinding apparatus for a camera comprises a winding mechanism, a detector, a rewinding mechanism, a selector and a controller. The winding mechanism winds the film frame by frame, and the detector detects the completion of exposure of the roll of film which is wound by the winding mechanism. The rewinding mechanism rewinds the film automatically in response to the detection of the detecting means. The selector includes a selecting switch which is operable manually, for selecting in response to the operation of the selecting switch one of a first mode in which the operation of the rewinding mechanism is permitted and a second mode in which the operation of the rewinding mechanism is inhibited irrespective of the detection of the detector. The controller controls the rewinding mechanism in accordance with the mode selected by the selecting switch. According to such arrangement, the user can select a manual rewinding mode or an automatic rewinding mode by a simple operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Azuma, Takehiro Katoh, Yasuteru Yamano, Masayasu Hirano, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Takeshi Egawa, Masaaki Nakai, Toshihiko Ishimura, Naohiro Kageyama
  • Patent number: 4855779
    Abstract: A camera system being comprised of a camera and an external device is disclosed. The external device is detachably mounted on the camera which memorizes a program or data necessary for executing a program therein.When the external device is mounted on the camera, they are connected electrically with each other and communicate therebetween in order to read a program or data memorized in the external device into a memory means provided in the camera. The camera is controlled according to the program designated by the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kubushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norio Ishikawa, Masaaki Nakai, Masayasu Hirano, Akihiko Fujino, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Takeshi Egawa, Kunio Kawamura
  • Patent number: 4707104
    Abstract: A motor-driven camera comprising a film winding and rewinding mechanism operable by a starter switch, and a low power consumption type memory unit. The film winding and rewinding mechanism include a transmission changeover gear. For sliding this gear a motor is rotated backward once to eliminate a contact between teeth of the changeover gear and a drive gear operatively connected to the motor. The memory unit includes a flip-flop memory circuit and a switching circuit. The memory circuit shifts from a first state to a second state and remains in the second state when the starter switch is closed. In the second state the memory circuit outputs an operation signal to a transmission mechanism control unit, and returns to the first state upon receipt of a signal output by the control unit when an operation is completed. The switching circuit performs a positive feedback function with respect to the closure of the starter switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Inoue, Akihiko Fujino, Masayasu Hirano, Masaaki Nakai, Fumio Yoshida