Patents by Inventor Tatsuro Izumi

Tatsuro Izumi 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: 6393222
    Abstract: A digital camera comprises an electronic view finder (EVF) for electronically displaying an image of a subject and a movable monitor. The movable monitor is slidable along guide grooves and movable between a first position in which the EVF is covered with the movable monitor and a second position in which the EVF is not covered. By a sensor for position detection, when it is detected that the movable monitor is in the first position, no image is displayed on the EVF but an image is displayed on the movable monitor. When it is detected that the movable monitor is in the second position, no image is displayed on the movable monitor but an image is displayed on the EVF. Consequently, power can be saved, and when the movable monitor is in the first position, adhesion of dusts and dirt onto the display face of the EVF can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Nakagawa, Tatsuro Izumi, Yoshiyuki Inoue, Daigo Yoshioka, Hisanori Itoh, Shoichi Minato
  • Patent number: 5682559
    Abstract: A camera which includes an operation button which is capable of being depressed, a lever which is rotatably mounted around the operation button, a memory which stores the camera condition which is presently set in response to the rotation of the lever in a predetermined direction, and a circuit arrangement which changes over the camera condition to the condition which is stored in the memory in response to the depression of the operation button. When the lever is rotated, the camera condition presently set is stored in the memory. Thereafter, the stored contents are resumed when the operation button is depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshino, Toshihiko Ishimura, Tatsuro Izumi, Keijiro Tsuchihama, Shigeto Ohmori
  • Patent number: 5089834
    Abstract: A mounting device on a camera has a mounting member to fit with an accessory so as to mount the accessory on the camera by sliding it. The mounting member which is molded out of plastic in one piece has eaves-like portions overhanging from an upper portion thereof in opposite directions intersecting perpendicularly to a mounting direction of the accessory, thus having a generally T-shaped cross section. The mounting member has a groove running in the mounting direction at a top central portion for receiving a projecting portion of the accessory so as to determine a horizontal (lateral) position of the accessory relative to the camera. The eaves-like portions receive mating members of the accessory thereunder so as to determine a vertical position of the accessory relative to the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Nakasa, Norio Ishikawa, Hiroshi Hosomizu, Tatsuro Izumi, Keiji Yamazaki, Yukio Miki, Mamoru Katsuragi
  • Patent number: 4890134
    Abstract: A photographic information setting device for a camera of the present invention comprises mode switches for switching a first type exposure mode to a second type exposure mode, and vice versa. The changing rate for altering values relative to exposure in the first type mode is different from that in the second type mode. The changing rate of the second type mode is smaller than that of the first type mode. Values to be set in the second type mode contain values to be set in the first type mode. This device also comprises a microcomputer which shifts a value set under the second type mode to a value set under the first type mode when the second type mode is switched to the first type mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Fujino, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Tatsuro Izumi
  • Patent number: 4812862
    Abstract: A photographic information setting device for a camera according to the present invention includes a film speed reader which reads out a film speed value provided on a film container, a micro computer and three memories. A first memory is for storing a film speed value of a film in use, a second memory is for storing a film speed value of a film used immediately before the film in use, and a third memory is for storing a film speed value to be used in deciding an exposure value for a camera. The micro computer compares the film speed values in the first and second memories and, when the two values are the same, it controls in such a manner that the film speed value in the third memory may not be altered. On the other hand, when the two values are different, the micro computer controls in such a manner that the film speed value in the first memory may be stored in the second and third memories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Fujino, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Tatsuro Izumi
  • Patent number: 4422743
    Abstract: An exposure system for a camera includes a light emitting apparatus for emitting an artificial light toward an object. The light emitting apparatus is capable of selectively emitting a first type of light which flashes instantaneously, and a second type of light which flashes for a prolonged period of time. The intensity is maintained constant during the prolonged period of time. A camera produces a mode signal for switching the light emitting apparatus between a first mode in which the instantaneous flash light is emitted and a second mode in which the prolonged flash light is emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuro Izumi, Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Toshiaki Matsumoto, Masatake Niwa, Tokuji Ishida, Masatoshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 4354751
    Abstract: An exposure system for use in a camera includes a light emitting apparatus which is capable of selectively projecting a first type of light which flashes instantaneously with a predetermined light quantity and a second type of light which flashes for a prolonged period of time with a predetermined constant light intensity, and a selecting circuit for selecting the first type of light when a target object to be photographed is located a predetermined distance away from the camera, and the second type of light when the target object is located closer to the camera than the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuro Izumi, Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Toshiaki Matsumoto, Masatake Niwa, Tokuji Ishida, Masatoshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 4344680
    Abstract: In a photographic system for flash photography, the firing current of an electronic flash tube is selectively restricted in accordance with the detection of whether or not the flash light amount necessary for a flash photograph is below a predetermined level prior to the firing of the flash tube for a photographic exposure. A selection is made between a first mode of flash firing with flash tube current flowing through a switching element and a second mode of flash firing with a flash tube current flowing through an impedance device serially connected with the flash tube. Alternatively, a selection can be made between higher or lower voltage levels to which the main flash firing capacitor is charged. The amount of light required from a flash device can be preparatorily identified and when less than a predetermined light output the flash device is caused to select the second mode of flash firing, or alternatively to select the lower level of the voltage charged by the main capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1982
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tokuji Ishida, Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatoshi Itoh, Toshiaki Matsumoto, Tatsuro Izumi, Masatake Niwa
  • Patent number: D321359
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuro Izumi, Makoto Yanai
  • Patent number: D321525
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuro Izumi, Makoto Yanai
  • Patent number: D322619
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuro Izumi, Tetsuro Ohya