Patents by Inventor Nobuhiko Matsudo

Nobuhiko Matsudo 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: 6118944
    Abstract: A flashlight control apparatus having a device for emitting flashlight towards a subject and a device for receiving the light reflected from the subject through a photographing lens. An output is generated which corresponds to the received light which is time-integrated in order to calculate the amount of light received. An optimum integration level is calculated which is to be integrated. This optimum integration level corresponds to an optimum quantity of flashlight to be emitted by the emitting means, based on film speed information. A time limit is also calculated, which is shorter, by a predetermined length of time, than an optimum emission time of the emitting device. This optimum emission time is based on aperture value information and object distance information. The emitting device is controlled to stop emitting flashlight when the time limit elapses, in the case where a quantity of light received by the light receiving devices has reached an optimum quantity before the time limit elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Sato, Nobuhiko Matsudo
  • Patent number: 5822628
    Abstract: A flashlight control apparatus having a device for emitting flashlight towards a subject and a device for receiving the light reflected from the subject through a photographing lens. An output is generated which corresponds to the received light which is time-integrated in order to calculate the amount of light received. An optimum integration level is calculated which is to be integrated. This optimum integration level corresponds to an optimum quantity of flashlight to be emitted by the emitting means, based on film speed information. A time limit is also calculated, which is shorter, by a predetermined length of time, than an optimum emission time of the emitting device. This optimum emission time is based on aperture value information and object distance information. The emitting device is controlled to stop emitting flashlight when the time limit elapses, in the case where a quantity of light received by the light receiving devices has reached an optimum quantity before the time limit elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Sato, Nobuhiko Matsudo
  • Patent number: 5729772
    Abstract: A flashlight control apparatus having a device for emitting flashlight towards a subject and a device for receiving the light reflected from the subject through a photographing lens. An output is generated which corresponds to the received light which is time-integrated in order to calculate the amount of light received. An optimum integration level is calculated which is to be integrated. This optimum integration level corresponds to an optimum quantity of flashlight to be emitted by the emitting means, based on film speed information. A time limit is also calculated, which is shorter, by a predetermined length of time, than an optimum emission time of the emitting device. This optimum emission time is based on aperture value information and object distance information. The emitting device is controlled to stop emitting flashlight when the time limit elapses, in the case where a quantity of light received by the light receiving devices has reached an optimum quantity before the time limit elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Sato, Nobuhiko Matsudo
  • Patent number: 5602616
    Abstract: A camera having a manually actuable switch for temporarily shifting the camera to an optimum exposure value so that exposure factors, based upon a manually set shutter speed and a manually set aperture value, are replaced by optimum exposure factors based upon a metered brightness of the object to be photographed when the camera is set to a non-program exposure mode. A clear button associated with the camera functions as a manually actuable switch for temporarily shifting an exposure mode of the camera to another exposure mode when the camera is set to a hyper-manual exposure mode. In the hyper-manual exposure mode, a photographer sets exposure factors by actuating a Tv electronic dial and an Av electronic dial. Actuation of the clear button when the camera is set to the hyper-manual exposure mode causes the set exposure factors to be replaced with optimum exposure factors that are automatically calculated in accordance with an object brightness Bv.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Sato, Satoshi Nakano, Isamu Hirai, Toshiyuki Kitazawa, Takayuki Sensui, Masato Yamamoto, Toshimasa Yamanaka, Takenao Shishikura, Akio Takahashi, Nobuhiko Matsudo
  • Patent number: 5382997
    Abstract: An exposure control apparatus of a camera, wherein a pair of exposure factors that include a shutter speed and a diaphragm value can be manually and independently set. Furthermore, in the exposure control apparatus, an exposure value determined in accordance with the exposure factors can be locked, and one of the exposure factors can be varied, based on the locked exposure value, when the other exposure factor is varied by the associated manual setting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Sato, Satoshi Nakano, Isamu Hirai, Toshiyuki Kitazawa, Takayuki Sensui, Masato Yamamoto, Toshimasa Yamanaka, Takenao Shishikura, Akio Takahashi, Nobuhiko Matsudo
  • Patent number: 5325147
    Abstract: An exposure control apparatus of a camera having a photometer, a film sensitivity detector, a calculator which calculates an exposure value, a diaphragm value and a shutter speed in accordance with a measurement by the photometer and the film sensitivity, an object distance detector, a strobe, a limit diaphragm value calculator that calculates a first limit diaphragm value, which varies with the film sensitivity, and a second limit diaphragm value, which varies with the object distance, when strobe light is emitted, and a minimum limit diaphragm value setting device which compares the first and second limit diaphragm values and selects the larger diaphragm value as the minimum limit diaphragm value to be used in the exposure control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadayuki Kirigaya, Isamu Hirai, Hideaki Tsuji, Nobuhiko Matsudo