Patents by Inventor Tadahisa Ohkura

Tadahisa Ohkura 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: 10341577
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprising an imaging device; a photometry device; first to third exposure factors; first and second operation members for setting the first and second exposure factors; a first-to-third-exposure-factors-calculating-and-setting exposure mode for calculating and setting the first to third exposure factors to the calculated and set ones; a first-exposure-factor-manually-setting exposure mode for manually setting the first exposure factor, and calculating and setting the second and third exposure factors; a second-exposure-factor-manually-setting exposure mode for manually setting the second exposure factor, and calculating and setting the first and third exposure factors; and a first/second-exposure-factors-manually-setting exposure mode for manually setting the first and second exposure factors, and calculating and setting the third exposure factor; the operation of the second operation member changing the first-exposure-factor-manually-setting exposure mode to the first/second-exposure-fa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tadahisa Ohkura
  • Publication number: 20170310902
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprising an imaging device; a photometry device; first to third exposure factors; first and second operation members for setting the first and second exposure factors; a first-to-third-exposure-factors-calculating-and-setting exposure mode for calculating and setting the first to third exposure factors to the calculated and set ones; a first-exposure-factor-manually-setting exposure mode for manually setting the first exposure factor, and calculating and setting the second and third exposure factors; a second-exposure-factor-manually-setting exposure mode for manually setting the second exposure factor, and calculating and setting the first and third exposure factors; and a first/second-exposure-factors-manually-setting exposure mode for manually setting the first and second exposure factors, and calculating and setting the third exposure factor; the operation of the second operation member changing the first-exposure-factor-manually-setting exposure mode to the first/second-exposure-fa
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tadahisa OHKURA
  • Patent number: 8072508
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus comprises an imaging sensor, a controller, and an exposure-mode-selecting device. The controller performs a photometric operation on a photographing subject and obtains a luminance value of the photographing subject based on the photometric operation. The exposure-mode-selecting device is used for selecting an exposure mode of the photographing apparatus that has a shutter speed and aperture priority AE mode. The photographing operation is performed with a shutter speed and an aperture value that are set by a user and a sensitivity of the imaging sensor that is calculated based on the luminance value and the shutter speed and the aperture value, while the photographing apparatus is in the shutter speed and aperture priority AE mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Isamu Hirai, Tadahisa Ohkura
  • Patent number: 7990432
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus comprises an imaging sensor, a controller, and an exposure-mode-selecting device. The controller performs a photometric operation on a photographing subject and obtains a luminance value of the photographing subject based on the photometric operation. The exposure-mode-selecting device is used for selecting an exposure mode of the photographing apparatus that has a shutter speed and aperture priority AE mode. The photographing operation is performed with a shutter speed and an aperture value that are set by a user and a sensitivity of the imaging sensor that is calculated based on the luminance value and the shutter speed and the aperture value, while the photographing apparatus is in the shutter speed and aperture priority AE mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Isamu Hirai, Tadahisa Ohkura
  • Patent number: 7961250
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus comprises an imaging sensor, a controller, and an exposure-mode-selecting device. The controller performs a photometric operation on a photographing subject and obtains a luminance value of the photographing subject based on the photometric operation. The exposure-mode-selecting device is used for selecting an exposure mode of the photographing apparatus that has a sensitivity priority AE mode. The photographing operation is performed with a sensitivity of the imaging sensor that is set by a user and a shutter speed and an aperture value that are calculated based on the luminance value and the sensitivity, while the photographing apparatus is in the sensitivity priority AE mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Isamu Hirai, Tadahisa Ohkura, Toshihiro Hamamura
  • Patent number: 7512332
    Abstract: A camera has a viewfinder that forms a subject image to be observed, a multipoint auto-focus adjuster that focuses the subject image on the basis of multiple focus points defined on the subject image, a superimposer that superimposes an indicator mark on a position of a given focus point, and a focus point luminance detector that detects a luminance of the position. Then, the superimposer superimposes the indicator mark such that a brightness of the indicator mark increases as the luminance of the position increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Masahiro Nakata
  • Publication number: 20080062276
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus comprises an imaging sensor, a controller, and an exposure-mode-selecting device. The controller performs a photometric operation on a photographing subject and obtains a luminance value of the photographing subject based on the photometric operation. The exposure-mode-selecting device is used for selecting an exposure mode of the photographing apparatus that has a sensitivity priority AE mode. The photographing operation is performed with a sensitivity of the imaging sensor that is set by a user and a shutter speed and an aperture value that are calculated based on the luminance value and the sensitivity, while the photographing apparatus is in the sensitivity priority AE mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: PENTAX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isamu HIRAI, Tadahisa OHKURA, Toshihiro HAMAMURA
  • Publication number: 20080062277
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus comprises an imaging sensor, a controller, and an exposure-mode-selecting device. The controller performs a photometric operation on a photographing subject and obtains a luminance value of the photographing subject based on the photometric operation. The exposure-mode-selecting device is used for selecting an exposure mode of the photographing apparatus that has a shutter speed and aperture priority AE mode. The photographing operation is performed with a shutter speed and an aperture value that are set by a user and a sensitivity of the imaging sensor that is calculated based on the luminance value and the shutter speed and the aperture value, while the photographing apparatus is in the shutter speed and aperture priority AE mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: PENTAX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isamu HIRAI, Tadahisa OHKURA
  • Patent number: 7313323
    Abstract: A camera system includes a camera body including a photometering device and an external operating device, and a photographing lens which is detachably attached to the camera body, the photographing lens including an aperture setting device for selecting an auto aperture setting and at least one fixed aperture setting. A full-aperture photometering operation is performed when the aperture setting device is positioned at the auto aperture setting, and a stop-down photometering operation is performed in response to an operation of the external operating device when the aperture setting device is positioned at the fixed aperture setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahisa Ohkura, Yutaka Ohsawa, Shigeru Iwamoto, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7035536
    Abstract: A flash case, in which a flash is provided, is automatically moved to an up position, when a user selects a flash mode in a state where the flash case is at a down position, when a user begins to forcibly raise the flash case by hand in a state where the flash case is at the down position, or when the flash case is at the down position in a state where a photometric operation starts in an auto-flash mode. The flash case is automatically moved to the down position, when an external force is added to the flash case at the up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahisa Ohkura, Yutaka Ohsawa, Shigeru Iwamoto, Takuya Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20050286882
    Abstract: A camera has a viewfinder that forms a subject image to be observed, a multipoint auto-focus adjuster that focuses the subject image on the basis of multiple focus points defined on the subject image, a superimposer that superimposes an indicator mark on a position of a given focus point, and a focus point luminance detector that detects a luminance of the position. Then, the superimposer superimposes the indicator mark such that a brightness of the indicator mark increases as the luminance of the position increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Masahiro Nakata
  • Publication number: 20050141890
    Abstract: A camera system includes a camera body including a photometering device and an external operating device, and a photographing lens which is detachably attached to the camera body, the photographing lens including an aperture setting device for selecting an auto aperture setting and at least one fixed aperture setting. A full-aperture photometering operation is performed when the aperture setting device is positioned at the auto aperture setting, and a stop-down photometering operation is performed in response to an operation of the external operating device when the aperture setting device is positioned at the fixed aperture setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahisa Ohkura, Yutaka Ohsawa, Shigeru Iwamoto, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6826364
    Abstract: A zoom flash includes a light emitter, a zoom driver which moves the light emitter along an axis to vary an illumination angle, a detecting device which detects a zoom position of the light emitter, a calculation device which calculates a pre-flash emission level according to the detected zoom position so that illuminance on an object at a predetermined distance is substantially constant regardless of a variation of the illumination angle, and a control device which activates the light emitter to emit a preliminary flash emission, before a main flash emission, by supplying a voltage corresponding to the pre-flash emission level for the light emitter. A flash photography system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Publication number: 20040218915
    Abstract: A flash case, in which a flash is provided, is automatically moved to an up position, when a user selects a flash mode in a state where the flash case is at a down position, when a user begins to forcibly raise the flash case by hand in a state where the flash case is at the down position, or when the flash case is at the down position in a state where a photometric operation starts in an auto-flash mode. The flash case is automatically moved to the down position, when an external force is added to the flash case at the up position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahisa Ohkura, Yutaka Ohsawa, Shigeru Iwamoto, Takuya Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6718135
    Abstract: A flash photography system includes a camera body, a main flash device and at least one sub-flash device, wherein the main flash device emits at least one low flash emission serving as a main-flash emission command signal to transmit the main-flash emission command signal to the sub-flash device, the sub-flash device emitting a flash emission in accordance with the main-flash emission command signal. The flash photography system includes a designating device for designating a flash emission mode of a main-flash emission, and a command device which activates the main flash device to emit the low flash emission serving as the main-flash emission command signal to transmit the main-flash emission command signal to the sub-flash device in a manner corresponding to the designated flash emission mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Patent number: 6571061
    Abstract: A uniform flash-emission controller which controls an intensity of a light emission of a flashtube, the uniform flash-emission controller includes an IGBT which causes the flashtube to emit a rapid series of short flash pulses; an IGBT controller which switches the IGBT ON and OFF so as to maintain the intensity at a substantially constant level; and a latch for holding an ON state and an OFF state of the IGBT until a predetermined period of time elapses from a time the IGBT controller switches the IGBT ON and OFF, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Patent number: 6512890
    Abstract: A flash photography system having a camera body and external flash devices includes a designating device for designating a sync flash mode for a main flash emission; a first pre-flash emission mode in which the external flash devices are activated to emit a preliminary flash emission at the same time; a second pre-flash emission mode in which the plurality of external flash devices are activated to emit the preliminary flash emission in a predetermined order; a pre-flash emission mode selecting device which selects the first or second pre-flash emission mode in accordance with the designated sync flash mode; and a pre-flash emission command device which transmits a command signal to the external flash devices to emit the preliminary flash emission in the first or second pre-flash emission mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Patent number: 6498901
    Abstract: A flash photography system includes a first photometering device including a multi-segment photometering sensor having a plurality of zone sensors for measuring a pre-flash emission; a second photometering device including a single-segment direct photometering sensor for measuring a main flash emission; a weighting device which assigns a weighting factor to an output of each of the plurality of zone sensors; a calculation device which calculates a correction value based on each photometering value and the weighting factor of each zone sensor of the first photometering device, wherein an appropriate receiving light amount of the second photometering device is calculated in order to attain a compensation exposure for the main flash emission based on the correction value; and a controller which terminates the main flash emission after the light amount measured by the second photometering device reaches the appropriate receiving light amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Patent number: 6427051
    Abstract: A camera includes a built-in flash and a controller for controlling the camera. The controller includes different photographic modes; an auto-exposure-mode selecting mode in which an appropriate photographic mode is automatically selected from the different photographic modes based on photographic conditions, the controller allowing the built-in flash to discharge automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode when the built-in flash discharges at a most appropriate time of exposure; and a flash-prohibiting/auto-exposure-mode selecting mode in which an appropriate photographic mode is automatically selected from the different photographic modes based on photographic conditions, the controller prohibiting the built-in flash from discharging automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode at a time of exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hosokawa, Toshihiro Hamamura, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Hidefumi Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20020064383
    Abstract: A flash photography system includes a first photometering device including a multi-segment photometering sensor having a plurality of zone sensors for measuring a pre-flash emission; a second photometering device including a single-segment direct photometering sensor for measuring a main flash emission; a weighting device which assigns a weighting factor to an output of each of the plurality of zone sensors; a calculation device which calculates a correction value based on each photometering value and the weighting factor of each zone sensor of the first photometering device, wherein an appropriate receiving light amount of the second photometering device is calculated in order to attain a compensation exposure for the main flash emission based on the correction value; and a controller which terminates the main flash emission after the light amount measured by the second photometering device reaches the appropriate receiving light amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigero Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka