Patents by Inventor Norikazu Yokonuma
Norikazu Yokonuma 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: 5502527Abstract: A camera capable of magnetic recording information on a first magnetic recording region and a second magnetic recording region provided on a film, comprises: a signal generating circuit which generates a first recording signal having a first frequency for information which is to be recorded on the first magnetic recording region, and which generates a second recording signal having a second frequency which is lower than the first frequency for information which is to be recorded on the second magnetic recording region; and a recording device which, in synchronization with the feeding of the film, records information using the first recording signal on the first magnetic recording region, and records information using the second recording signal on the second magnetic recording region.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1994Date of Patent: March 26, 1996Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Kazuyuki Kazami, Hideo Hibino, Norikazu Yokonuma, Youichi Yamazaki, Junichi Yanai
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Patent number: 5500709Abstract: A light source color information recording apparatus comprising a recording control device that records light source color information related to the color of the light illuminating the photographic subject detected by a light source color information detection device in a specific information recording medium for each photographic frame, and a prohibiting device that prohibits recording of light source color information that would otherwise be performed by the recording control device, for photographic frames on which flash photographing has been performed.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1994Date of Patent: March 19, 1996Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Kazuyuki Kazami, Norikazu Yokonuma, Youichi Yamazaki, Hideo Hibino
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Patent number: 5485233Abstract: A camera includes a photographic information output circuit section, a CPU, a PPM signal conversion circuit section, a drive section for a plurality of magnetic heads, and a film feeding section. The CPU converts several parallel data items which are output from the photographic information output circuit section into a single serial data item and outputs it to the PPM signal conversion circuit section, which then converts this single serial data item thus output from the CPU into several PPM signals, and then the PPM signal conversion circuit section supplies the PPM signals to the magnetic head drive section.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1994Date of Patent: January 16, 1996Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Norikazu Yokonuma, Kazuyuki Kazami, Hideo Hibino, Youichi Yamazaki
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Patent number: 5475455Abstract: In a camera comprising a CPU, a film feeding section, a serial data clock creating circuit section, a PPM conversion circuit section, a photographic information output circuit section, and a magnetic head drive section, the CPU produces a reference clock CLK depending on a film winding speed in the film feeding section, and the serial data clock creating circuit section creates a serial data clock SCK corresponding to the reference clock CLK. The CPU converts photographic information from the photographic information output circuit section into serial data and outputs the serial data in synchronization with the serial data clock SCK. Based on the serial data and the reference clock CLK both from the CPU, the PPM conversion circuit section converts photographic information into a PPM signal and outputs the PPM signal to the magnetic head drive section for magnetically recording it on a film.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1994Date of Patent: December 12, 1995Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Hideo Hibino, Kazuyuki Kazami, Norikazu Yokonuma, Youichi Yamazaki
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Patent number: 5457510Abstract: A camera according to the present invention comprises: an indicator driving device which drives an indicator of a film cartridge so that the indicator indicates either a film-usable status or a film-unusable status; a film-feeding device; a discriminating function for discriminating whether the sensitivity of the loaded film is equal to that set for exposure calculation so as to output a matching signal when the former sensitivity is equal to the latter and to output a mismatching signal when the former differs from the latter; an instructing function for giving an instruction to rewind a partially-used film; and a control function for, at least on condition that the instruction is given, rewinding the film by the film-feeding device. The control function also controls the indicator driving device so that the indicator indicates the film-usable status when the matching signal is output and so that the indicator indicates the film-unusable status when the mismatching signal is output.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1994Date of Patent: October 10, 1995Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Youichi Yamazaki, Kazuyuki Kazami, Norikazu Yokonuma, Hideo Hibino
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Patent number: 5400113Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 18, 1994Date of Patent: March 21, 1995Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Toshio Sosa, Hachiro Kanai, Norikazu Yokonuma, Daiki Tsukahara, Kiyosada Machida, Noriyasu Kotani, Minoru Kato, Hideya Inoue, Hidenori Miyamoto, Tadashi Otani, Yoshiaki Ohtsubo, Tatsuo Amanuma
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Patent number: 5371568Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention is provided with flashing device for effecting preliminary flashing and main flashing, a split photometry unit for metering reflected light from the area of the object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas, preliminary flashing control unit, a calculation unit and a main flashing control unit. The preliminary flashing control unit causes the flashing device to effect preliminary flashing prior to main flashing, and when in that case, at least one of the photometric outputs from the split photometry unit reaches a predetermined value, causes the flashing device to repeat the preliminary flashing while decreasing the quantity of emitted light thereof, and when the photometric outputs become null before the predetermined value is reached, causes the flashing device to stop the preliminary flashing.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1993Date of Patent: December 6, 1994Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Tadao Takagi, Norikazu Yokonuma
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Patent number: 5317361Abstract: 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 the photographing condition is judged that red-eye effect is possible to occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of the photographing object, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1992Date of Patent: May 31, 1994Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Toru Fukuhara, Toshio Sosa, Masaharu Hara, Hachiro Kanai, Norikazu Yokonuma
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Patent number: 5243376Abstract: A photometry apparatus in a camera includes a light receiving portion having a plurality of light receiving elements for flash photographing, and a plurality of amplifiers for amplifying the outputs of the light receiving elements, respectively, and is provided with a push button switch for selecting one or more of the light receiving elements, a photographing data setting dial rotated while the push button switch is pushed, and a display device for displaying the set state of the dial, and is further provided with a central processing unit for converting a digital signal into an analog value through a digital-analog converter and variably controlling the output voltage thereof so that the outputs of the light receiving elements may be the same in order to change the amplification factor or factors of the amplifier or amplifiers corresponding to the selected light receiving element or elements so as to make up for the outputs of the light receiving elements which have not been selected.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1991Date of Patent: September 7, 1993Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Norikazu Yokonuma
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Patent number: 5239336Abstract: A camera system includes a camera having a focal plane shutter and an electronic flash device cooperable with the camera. The flash device, which emits light repetitively, has two operating modes. In a first mode, a light emission start signal is synchronized with the start of the exposure of a film exposure area by a leading curtain of the shutter, and a light emission stop signal is synchronized with the end of the exposure of the film exposure area by a trailing curtain of the shutter. In a second mode, the light emission start signal is synchronized with the full exposure of the film exposure area by the leading curtain, and the light emission stop signal is synchronized with the start of shielding of the film exposure area by the trailing curtain.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1991Date of Patent: August 24, 1993Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Hideki Matsui, Nobuyoshi Hagiuda, Ryotaro Takayanagi, Norikazu Yokonuma, Hiroshi Sakamoto
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Patent number: 5227836Abstract: TTL automatic light controlling camera systems include a camera body and a flashing device. Depending upon the operating mode capabilities of the camera body and the flashing device, different flashing and light control operating modes may be set at the camera body or the flashing device, or both. Camera bodies have the ability to detect the operating capabilities of flashing devices used therewith, and vice versa. Some operating modes are effected automatically or are prohibited depending upon the capabilities of the camera body and the flashing device and depending upon the setting of operating modes at the camera body or the flashing device, or both. Among the possible operating modes are a TTL multicontrol mode, in which the flashing device emits preliminary (previous) light followed by a main light emission, and a TTL normal light control mode, in which the flashing device emits only main light.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1992Date of Patent: July 13, 1993Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Seiichi Yasukawa, Norikazu Yokonuma
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Patent number: 5218398Abstract: A TTL automatic light modulation electronic flash device having transmission means, control means and indication means is combined with a camera. The electronic flash device receives a signal from the camera in the transmission means, and the control means controls the indication means to indicate data concerning an improper exposure amount.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1992Date of Patent: June 8, 1993Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Sakamoto, Nobuyoshi Hagiuda, Norikazu Yokonuma, Hideki Matsui, Ryotaro Takayanagi
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Patent number: 5172031Abstract: A hermetically sealed type electronic flash device comprises an electric circuit device comprising a main capacitor storing light emitting energy therein prior to light emission, a light emission tube for emitting light by the light emitting energy stored in the main capacitor, and a trigger circuit for applying a trigger voltage to the light emission tube prior to the light emission of the light emission tube, a housing having therein a partition wall hermetically separating the interior of the housing to form a battery chamber and an electric circuit chamber there, the battery chamber being capable of being loaded with a battery for driving the electric circuit device, the electric circuit device being provided in the electric circuit chamber, a leak detecting device provided in the battery chamber for detecting the entry of water into the battery chamber and outputting a leak signal, and a control device provided in the electric circuit chamber and capable of receiving as an input the leak signal from theType: GrantFiled: December 16, 1991Date of Patent: December 15, 1992Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Hideki Matsui, Nobuyoshi Hagiuda, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Norikazu Yokonuma
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Patent number: 5111233Abstract: An electronic flashing device comprises a flashing discharge tube for emitting light by a charge stored in a main capacitor, a voltage controlled switching device driven by a voltage applied to a control terminal thereof for controlling the light emission of the flashing discharge tube, a voltage application circuit for applying a voltage higher than the charge voltage of the main capacitor across the flashing discharge tube prior to the light emission of the flashing discharge tube, and a control voltage generation circuit for generating a voltage to be applied to the control terminal of the voltage controlled switching device in accordance with the voltage generated by the voltage application circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1991Date of Patent: May 5, 1992Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Norikazu Yokonuma, Nobuyoshi Hagiuda, Hideki Matsui, Hiroshi Sakamoto
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Patent number: 5075714Abstract: An electronic flash apparatus uses a voltage-controlled switching device, such as an insulated gate bipolar transistor, for controlling the start and termination of flash emission from a flash discharge tube. A peak voltage of an oscillation generated in a resonant circuit, produced in response to a flash emission start command, is clamped by a clamping circuit and is used to turn on the voltage-controlled switching device. Another resonant circuit may be used for doubling the voltage between the anode and cathode of the flash discharge tube when the flash discharge tube is triggered.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1991Date of Patent: December 24, 1991Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Nobuyoshi Hagiuda, Hideki Matsui, Norikazu Yokonuma, Yoshikazu Iida, Hiroshi Sakamoto
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Patent number: 5063403Abstract: An electronic flash apparatus is capable of discriminating the presence or absence of connection to a camera, and also the state of a connected camera. When the flash apparatus is connected to a camera capable of information transfer, the time required to transfer information is minimal. At least some of the terminals that connect the flash apparatus to the camera perform multiple functions. Different currents are supplied to certain terminals depending upon whether a connected camera is in an information transfer state or a flash photographing state. Terminal voltage detection controls certain functions, including varying certain terminal voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1991Date of Patent: November 5, 1991Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Norikazu Yokonuma, Nobuyoshi Hagiuda, Yoshikazu Iida, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Hideki Matsui
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Patent number: 5049917Abstract: There is disclosed a camera system consisting of accessories such as a speed light, a data back etc. and a camera capable of mounting these accessories, and capable of data communication between the camera and the accessory. When the power supply of the camera is turned off, a power supply activating signal is sent as a hardware signal from the accessory to the camera by the manipulation of the accessory. When the power supply of the camera is turned on, a power supply extending signal is sent as a software signal from the accessory to the camera by the manipulation of the accessory. The camera holds the operation of the power supply for a predetermined period from the latest entry of the power supply activation signal or the power supply extending signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1989Date of Patent: September 17, 1991Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Seiichi Yasukawa, Tetsuro Goto, Takashi Saegusa, Tsutomu Wakabayashi, Norikazu Yokonuma
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Patent number: 4996550Abstract: In a camera system comprising a camera and a flash device, a first synchronizing signal is generated when the camera shutter starts an exposure, and a second synchronizing signal is generated when the exposure is about to be terminated. First and second synchro control modes may be selected. A light emission control is responsive to the first synchronizing signal to drive the flash device when the first synchro control mode is selected and is responsive to the second synchronizing signal to drive the flash device when the second synchro control mode is selected. A shutter control makes possible the driving of the shutter at shutter speeds up to a first limit speed when the first synchro control mode is selected and makes possible the driving of the shutter at shutter speeds up to a second limit speed when the second synchro control is selected, the second limit speed being lower than the first limit speed.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1989Date of Patent: February 26, 1991Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Hideki Matsui, Nobuyoshi Hagiuda, Norikazu Yokonuma, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Yoshikazu Iida
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Patent number: 4951080Abstract: A light emission controlling device for an electronic flash apparatus includes a first photometric unit for metering a first region of an object field in a weighted manner and outputting first photometric informaiton with a lapse of time; a second photometric unit for metering a second region of the object field in a weighted manner and outputting second photometric information with a lapse of time; a comparing unit for comparing the first photometric information with the second photometric information; and a controlling unit for determining timing for outputting a light emission stop signal on the basis of the relationships between the first photometric information and the second photometric information.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1989Date of Patent: August 21, 1990Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Sakamoto, Norikazu Yokonuma
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Patent number: 4924252Abstract: An electronic flash device is detachably mountable on a camera and capable of data communication with said camera. The electronic flash device comprises a display unit for automatically setting photographing information upon receiving relevant data from the camera or manually setting photographing information. The display unit is set in a first display state when the device is mounted on a camera capable of data communication and data are transmitted therefrom, or is set in a different display unit when the device is mounted on a camera incapable of data communication and no data are transmitted therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1989Date of Patent: May 8, 1990Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Yoshikazu Iida, Nobuyoshi Hagiuda, Norikazu Yokonuma, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Hideki Matsui