Diaphragm Function Only Patents (Class 396/257)
  • Patent number: 11852954
    Abstract: A blade open-close device retains a blade at a predetermined position under an external load. A blade open-close device includes a base, a cover plate covering part of the base, and a blade located between the base and the cover plate. The blade is movable between a closing position to cover an opening in the cover plate and an opening position to uncover the opening. The blade open-close device further includes an actuator that moves the blade between the opening position and the closing position, a stopper movable between a lock position at which a protrusion on the stopper is on a path of the blade and an unlock position at which the stopper is entirely retracted from the path when the blade is at the opening position and when the blade is at the closing position, and a voice coil motor that moves the stopper from the lock position toward the unlock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Sawanobori
  • Patent number: 11785349
    Abstract: [Object] To quickly and correctly reproduce an image intended by a photographer, a cinematographer, and the like on the occasion of post-production. [Solving Means] The development apparatus includes: an imaging unit that performs shooting and generates RAW data; a first conversion unit that converts the generated RAW data into image data by interpolation; an acquisition unit that acquires an exposure index value corresponding to an illuminance of a shooting environment; a first correction unit that corrects a value of the image data based on the exposure index value; and an output unit that associates the RAW data and the acquired exposure index value with each other and outputs the associated RAW data and exposure index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Ogikubo
  • Patent number: 11729494
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes one or more processors that function as a first acquisition unit configured to acquire information about an image-capturing environment including a physical relationship between an imaging apparatus and an object plane, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire information indicating a condition about image quality of an image to be captured by the imaging apparatus, a decision unit configured to decide an image-capturing parameter with which the object plane is fit in a depth of field in a case where the image-capturing parameter is set in the imaging apparatus, based on the information acquired by the first acquisition unit, and a presentation unit configured to present to a user a range on the object plane in which an image obtained by image capturing with the image capturing apparatus in which the decided image-capturing parameter is set satisfies the condition about image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Iwabuchi, Yuuichi Nitto
  • Patent number: 11637966
    Abstract: An object is to improve accuracy of autofocus control. Accordingly, an imaging device according to the present technology includes an autofocus control unit that performs operation of autofocus according to a predetermined manipulation, and a diaphragm mechanism control unit that performs opening and closing control of a diaphragm mechanism according to an amplification factor of a distance measurement signal during the operation of autofocus. Thus, during the operation of autofocus, control different from control of the diaphragm mechanism based on an imaging setting is performed, and accuracy of the autofocus control is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikara Ohishi, Yoshinori Yamatsuta
  • Patent number: 11567392
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus including a mode setting unit that sets a diaphragm driving mode out of a plurality of diaphragm driving modes including a first diaphragm driving mode and a second diaphragm driving mode in which diaphragm driving is more limited than in the first diaphragm driving mode, and a diaphragm control unit that controls diaphragm driving in accordance with brightness of an imaging target in a case where the mode setting unit sets the second diaphragm driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Doi, Jun Aoyama, Kazunari Konishi, Shun Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11106112
    Abstract: Provided is a diaphragm sheet transfer device, which is used for a handheld electronic device. Diaphragm sheets include different sizes of a plurality of light through holes. By controlling the positions of the diaphragm sheets, the light through holes with different sizes respectively pass through the incident light paths so that the amount of the light incident to the lens device is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Intelligent Mechatronics Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Wei Chiu, Yung-Yun Chen
  • Patent number: 10418701
    Abstract: An antenna device including a ground conductor and first and second antennas. The first and second antennas are linear antennas and have respective feeding points at ends on a side of the ground conductor. The first and second antennas perform transmission/reception at first and second frequencies that are adjacent to each other, respectively. Moreover, the first antenna includes a first monopole antenna and a loop antenna branched off from the first monopole antenna. An end of the loop antenna opposing a branching point at which the loop antenna is branched off from the first monopole antenna is short-circuited between the feeding points of the first and second antennas on the ground conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Izawa
  • Patent number: 9014549
    Abstract: A dome-type camera includes a camera lens capable of rotating in a tilt direction, a dome cover for covering the camera lens, and an aperture control unit for controlling the amount of aperture of the camera lens. The amount of aperture is set to become smaller from an open value toward a closed value in accordance with the tilt angle of the camera lens becoming smaller from a zenith direction of the dome cover toward a horizontal direction. According to this dome-type camera, a desirable low tilt angle image with a reduced blur may be obtained even with a megapixel dome camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Aoki, Daisuke Hara, Yasuji Nakamura, Ryoko Kato
  • Patent number: 8855477
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel capable of decreasing a distance between a lens and a diaphragm in an optical axis direction to thereby increase the photographing magnification and at the same time to reduce the lens barrel size, and capable of changing a diaphragm aperture diameter according to zoom control. The lens barrel has a lens relatively movable toward and away from an iris diaphragm in the optical axis direction with a change in the photographing magnification. An operation of the iris diaphragm is controlled in such a manner that a minimum diameter of an aperture of diaphragm blades of the iris diaphragm changes according to an amount of intrusion of a part of the lens into the aperture of the diaphragm blades in a range where the diaphragm blades do not interfere with the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudoh
  • Patent number: 8639107
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a diaphragm, a driving unit for driving thereof, an operation member for setting an aperture value thereof, a switching unit for switching the operation member between permission and inhibition, and a control unit for operating, when the interchangeable lens is mounted on a camera main body including no recognition unit to recognize information on the aperture value set by the operation member, the driving unit according to a diaphragm driving command from the camera main body if the switching unit is in a state of inhibiting the operation of the operation member, and operate the driving unit according to the aperture value set by the operation member if the switching unit is in a state of permitting the operation of the operation member, and giving a response to the camera main body in a form of operating the driving unit according to the diaphragm driving command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Hirai
  • Publication number: 20130272690
    Abstract: A dome-type camera includes a camera lens capable of rotating in a tilt direction, a dome cover for covering the camera lens, and an aperture control unit for controlling the amount of aperture of the camera lens. The amount of aperture is set to become smaller from an open value toward a closed value in accordance with the tilt angle of the camera lens becoming smaller from a zenith direction of the dome cover toward a horizontal direction. According to this dome-type camera, a desirable low tilt angle image with a reduced blur may be obtained even with a megapixel dome camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei Aoki, Daisuke Hara, Yasuji Nakamura, Ryoko Kato
  • Patent number: 8422879
    Abstract: A camera body includes an imaging unit for generating image data from an optical signal incident via the interchangeable lens, a detector for detecting a light quantity of the optical signal, a controller for setting an aperture value of a diaphragm of the interchangeable lens and an exposure condition which is a setting relating to exposure other than a setting of the diaphragm, a sending unit for sending a control signal for control with the set aperture value to the interchangeable lens, and a mode setting unit for selecting one from a plurality of operating modes. The plurality of operating modes includes a first mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value of the diaphragm and the exposure condition according to the detected light quantity during capturing of a moving image, and a second mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value with the exposure condition being fixed according to the detected light quantity during capturing of the moving image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Hashigami, Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20120308219
    Abstract: A camera is provided which is adapted to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a detection unit configured to execute electric charge accumulation for detecting a defocus amount when the diaphragm is in a state having a first aperture value, and a controller configured to, when causing the diaphragm to perform an aperture reducing operation from the first aperture value to a second aperture value, cause the diaphragm to start the aperture reducing operation without waiting for completion of the electric charge accumulation for detecting the defocus amount by the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomokazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8269882
    Abstract: A method for determining the current camera aperture (working aperture) of lenses on digital cameras having a viewfinder eyepiece and internal exposure measurement through the lens is wherein a further external exposure measurement is carried out past the lens and the value of the working aperture is determined from a reference table stored in the digital camera from the difference ?BV between the two measured exposure values BV(int) and BV(ext). A digital camera suitable for carrying out the method wherein outside the region covered by the lens tube, the housing of the digital camera has an additional window for a further exposure meter with an upstream optics that is directed onto the subject and serves to restrict the shooting angle, and includes a memory for a reference table for determining the aperture value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Kranz, Oliver Zielberg, Ulrich Lies, Robert Denk
  • Patent number: 8175447
    Abstract: The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element including first pixels for photoelectrically converting an object image formed by a light flux from an image taking optical system and second pixels for photoelectrically converting optical images formed by light fluxes divided form the light flux from the image taking optical system, and a controller performing focus detection based on a phase difference of the optical images, control of an aperture stop included in the image taking optical system and an image capturing operation for generating a captured image by using signals obtained from the first pixels. The controller increases, when an image capturing aperture size of the aperture stop is smaller than a focus detecting aperture size in a case of performing the focus detection between the image capturing operations in continuous image capturing, the aperture size to the focus detecting aperture size in the focus detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kan Takaiwa
  • Patent number: 8145052
    Abstract: An aperture controlling system includes a CMOS image sensor, a brightness encoder, an aperture and an aperture driving circuit. The brightness encoder is used for extracting brightness information sensed by the CMOS image sensor and converting the brightness information into digital codes. The aperture driving circuit includes a D/A converter, a motor coil driving circuit, an environment sensing module, a benchmark voltage generator and a motor. The motor is mechanically connected to the aperture. The motor coil driving circuit includes a voltage comparator. The input and the output of the D/A converter are respectively coupled to the brightness encoder and the inverting input of the voltage comparator. The input and the output of the benchmark voltage generator are respectively coupled to the environment sensing module and the non-inverting input of the voltage comparator. The output of voltage comparator is connected to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Chih Hsieh, Lien-Hsun Chen
  • Patent number: 8081874
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens which is mountable to a camera body and operates according to a command from the camera body includes a diaphragm operable to regulate an amount of light from a subject by changing an aperture, a drive unit operable to change the aperture of the diaphragm, and a lens controller operable to control the drive unit to change the aperture of the diaphragm according to an instruction received from the camera body. When the lens controller receives a new instruction from the camera body while changing the aperture of the diaphragm, the lens controller controls the drive unit to change the aperture of the diaphragm based on the new instruction without waiting for completion of the change of the aperture according to a previous instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Koji Shibuno, Koji Hashigami
  • Publication number: 20110299844
    Abstract: An aperture controlling system includes a CMOS image sensor, a brightness encoder, an aperture and an aperture driving circuit. The brightness encoder is used for extracting brightness information sensed by the CMOS image sensor and converting the brightness information into digital codes. The aperture driving circuit includes a D/A converter, a motor coil driving circuit, an environment sensing module, a benchmark voltage generator and a motor. The motor is mechanically connected to the aperture. The motor coil driving circuit includes a voltage comparator. The input and the output of the D/A converter are respectively coupled to the brightness encoder and the inverting input of the voltage comparator. The input and the output of the benchmark voltage generator are respectively coupled to the environment sensing module and the non-inverting input of the voltage comparator. The output of voltage comparator is connected to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MING-CHIH HSIEH, LIEN-HSUN CHEN
  • Patent number: 8064762
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: continuous imaging mode setting means for setting a continuous imaging mode in which a plurality of captured images including first and second captured images are continuously acquired; and diaphragm control means for controlling a diaphragm in an imaging optical system, wherein in the continuous imaging mode, the diaphragm control means does not drive the diaphragm during a first period from the time of exposure for the first captured image to the time of exposure for the second captured image but maintains the state of the diaphragm at the time of exposure for the first captured image until the time of exposure for the second captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akifumi Mizukami, Hisamo Sogawa, Norihiko Akamatsu, Akio Kimba
  • Publication number: 20110229117
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a diaphragm, a driving unit for driving thereof, an operation member for setting an aperture value thereof, a switching unit for switching the operation member between permission and inhibition, and a control unit for operating, when the interchangeable lens is mounted on a camera main body including no recognition unit to recognize information on the aperture value set by the operation member, the driving unit according to a diaphragm driving command from the camera main body if the switching unit is in a state of inhibiting the operation of the operation member, and operate the driving unit according to the aperture value set by the operation member if the switching unit is in a state of permitting the operation of the operation member, and giving a response to the camera main body in a form of operating the driving unit according to the diaphragm driving command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Hirai
  • Patent number: 8000596
    Abstract: A camera body includes an imaging unit for generating image data from an optical signal incident via the interchangeable lens, a detector for detecting a light quantity of the optical signal, a controller for setting an aperture value of a diaphragm of the interchangeable lens and an exposure condition which is a setting relating to exposure other than a setting of the diaphragm, a sending unit for sending a control signal for control with the set aperture value to the interchangeable lens, and a mode setting unit for selecting one from a plurality of operating modes. The plurality of operating modes includes a first mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value of the diaphragm and the exposure condition according to the detected light quantity during capturing of a moving image, and a second mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value with the exposure condition being fixed according to the detected light quantity during capturing of the moving image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Hashigami, Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20110052176
    Abstract: A camera is provided which is adapted to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a detection unit configured to execute electric charge accumulation for detecting a defocus amount when the diaphragm is in a state having a first aperture value, and a controller configured to, when causing the diaphragm to perform an aperture reducing operation from the first aperture value to a second aperture value, cause the diaphragm to start the aperture reducing operation without waiting for completion of the electric charge accumulation for detecting the defocus amount by the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomokazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7885534
    Abstract: The light-amount adjusting system includes a light-amount adjusting unit that changes a size of an aperture through which light passes, an actuator that drives the light-amount adjusting unit, and a detector that detects an aperture state of the light-amount adjusting unit. The system further includes a deviation signal generator that generates a signal corresponding to a deviation between a target aperture state of the light-amount adjusting unit and an aperture state thereof detected by the detector, a driving signal generator that provides an offset to the signal corresponding to the deviation to generate a driving signal for driving the actuator, and a filter which perform a low-pass-filter processing on the driving signal. An output from the filter is used as the offset. The system can control the light-amount adjusting unit with high stability and accuracy at any position and in any driving direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20100310246
    Abstract: In a camera system with a variable aperture, variations can be used to tune a variety of optical parameters otherwise incapable of being tuned within the structural limitations of the camera system or to optimize tradeoffs between competing factors such as diffraction limits and lens aberrations. For example, the variable aperture can be used to avoid overexposure or underexposure of an image due to improper illumination of an object. The variable aperture can be used to tune hyperfocal distance, enabling an accurate focus of an object to be obtained even if the camera lens is incapable of auto-focusing. In a camera with a lens having a focal length that varies with radial position from the lens center, the variable aperture can achieve the effect of auto-focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Scott P. Campbell
  • Publication number: 20100284679
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: continuous imaging mode setting means for setting a continuous imaging mode in which a plurality of captured images including first and second captured images are continuously acquired; and diaphragm control means for controlling a diaphragm in an imaging optical system, wherein in the continuous imaging mode, the diaphragm control means does not drive the diaphragm during a first period from the time of exposure for the first captured image to the time of exposure for the second captured image but maintains the state of the diaphragm at the time of exposure for the first captured image until the time of exposure for the second captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akifumi MIZUKAMI, Hisamo Sogawa, Norihiko Akamatsu, Akio Kimba
  • Patent number: 7809261
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus to which a detachable lens unit (102) is attached, is provided with an image sensor (106) that converts light beams entering through the attached lens unit into electrical signals, and a display unit (107), including an electronic viewfinder mode to continuously display on the display unit images based on the electrical signals obtained by the image sensor. The image sensing apparatus has a control unit (135) that causes an aperture unit (104) included in the attached lens unit to stop down, when there is an instruction to display on the display unit an image other than the image based on the electrical signals obtained by the image sensor while in the electronic viewfinder mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20100232779
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens which is mountable to a camera body and operates according to a command from the camera body includes a diaphragm operable to regulate an amount of light from a subject by changing an aperture, a drive unit operable to change the aperture of the diaphragm, and a lens controller operable to control the drive unit to change the aperture of the diaphragm according to an instruction received from the camera body. When the lens controller receives a new instruction from the camera body while changing the aperture of the diaphragm, the lens controller controls the drive unit to change the aperture of the diaphragm based on the new instruction without waiting for completion of the change of the aperture according to a previous instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO, KOJI SHIBUNO, KOJI HASHIGAMI
  • Publication number: 20100220989
    Abstract: A camera body includes an imaging unit for generating image data from an optical signal incident via the interchangeable lens, a detector for detecting a light quantity of the optical signal, a controller for setting an aperture value of a diaphragm of the interchangeable lens and an exposure condition which is a setting relating to exposure other than a setting of the diaphragm, a sending unit for sending a control signal for control with the set aperture value to the interchangeable lens, and a mode setting unit for selecting one from a plurality of operating modes. The plurality of operating modes includes a first mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value of the diaphragm and the exposure condition according to the detected light quantity during capturing of a moving image, and a second mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value with the exposure condition being fixed according to the detected light quantity during capturing of the moving image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: KOJI HASHIGAMI, KOJI SHIBUNO
  • Patent number: 7729609
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus is provided with an aperture unit (104), an image sensor (106) that converts light beams entering through a photographing lens (103) and the aperture unit into electrical signals, and a display unit (107), including an electronic viewfinder mode to continuously display on the display unit images based on the electrical signals obtained by the image sensor. The image sensing apparatus has a control unit (135) that causes the aperture unit to stop down, when there is an instruction to display on the display unit an image other than the image based on the electrical signals obtained by the image sensor while in the electronic viewfinder mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7675568
    Abstract: When a difference between a diaphragm target position and a detected state of a diaphragm is less than a neutral zone width, a driving control operation of the diaphragm is prohibited. The neutral zone width can be changed depending on the state of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20090310955
    Abstract: An exposure control method adjusts an exposure setting used for capturing an image including a foreground object and a background. The foreground object is extracted from the image by an object detection procedure. If the area of the foreground object is greater than a predetermined area value, the brightness of both the foreground object and the background is analyzed. On the contrary, if the area of the foreground object is not greater than the predetermined area value, only the brightness of the background is analyzed. The exposure setting is adjusted according to the analysis result. Accordingly, greater brightness stability is provided during the capture of the following images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Kuo-Chin Lien, Chun-Hung Shen
  • Publication number: 20090290862
    Abstract: A camera body is provided, to which an interchangeable lens is mountable, the interchangeable lens including a diaphragm and capable of sending driving speed information of the diaphragm. The camera body has a receiving unit operable to receive the driving speed information of the diaphragm from the interchangeable lens, an imaging unit operable to capture a subject image formed by the interchangeable lens to generate image data, a controller operable to set an imaging condition for the imaging unit, and a sending unit operable to send a control signal for changing brightness information of the interchangeable lens to the interchangeable lens. The controller sets the imaging condition for a period from a start to an end of a driving of the diaphragm according to the received driving speed information of the diaphragm when the sending unit sends the control signal to the interchangeable lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Koji SHIBUNO
  • Patent number: 7623775
    Abstract: Maximum and minimum aperture sizes are regulated with regard to a diaphragm in order to secure predetermined optical capability in an optical unit which includes a taking lens and the diaphragm. In a normal taking, the diaphragm is used within a normal taking range from the maximum to the minimum aperture sizes. In the present invention, an aperture size which is larger than the maximum size and a size which is smaller than the minimum size (extra aperture size or extra small size) are respectively set at outside the range that secures the capability. The aperture sizes of the diaphragm at outside the specified range are used at least for one of the following: automatic exposure (AE) adjustment, auto focus (AF) adjustment, electronic zoom, displaying a moving image, taking for recording the moving image, and taking under a low resolution by thinning out pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Yamazaki, Atsushi Misawa, Shigeru Kondo, Michitaka Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20090284612
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens mountable to a camera body includes an optical system operable to collect light from a subject to form a subject image, a diaphragm operable to adjust an amount of light of the subject image to be collected by the optical system, a driving unit operable to drive the diaphragm based upon an aperture value within a predetermined range, a storage unit operable to store speed information relating to a speed at which the driving unit can be set to drive the diaphragm, and a transmitting unit operable to transmit the speed information stored in the storage unit to the camera body. The speed information is provided for each of a plurality of aperture value ranges which are obtained by dividing the predetermined range of the aperture value, and relates to the speed indicating a settable rate of change in the light amount which changes as the driving unit drives the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi ABE, Koji SHIBUNO
  • Patent number: 7593634
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a digital camera having a live view mode for continuously capturing and displaying a series of subject images, in which when the live view mode is selected, a computation part initializes an aperture mechanism based on photographing lens-specific information. Since the aperture mechanism is controlled based on the photographing lens-specific information in a live-view initialization process, the possibility of damaging an imager while a photographer is framing a picture can be reduced. The photographing lens-specific information includes, for example, focal length information and maximum aperture value information. The computation part can be configured, for example, to initialize the aperture mechanism in such a manner that the amount of light from the sun per unit area, or the total amount of light from the sun, will always become almost equal regardless of the kind of photographing lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Terada
  • Patent number: 7561792
    Abstract: Maximum and minimum aperture sizes are regulated with regard to a diaphragm in order to secure predetermined optical capability in an optical unit which includes a taking lens and the diaphragm. In a normal taking, the diaphragm is used within a normal taking range from the maximum to the minimum aperture sizes. In the present invention, an aperture size which is larger than the maximum size and a size which is smaller than the minimum size (extra aperture size or extra small size) are respectively set at outside the range that secures the capability. The aperture sizes of the diaphragm at outside the specified range are used at least for one of the following: automatic exposure (AE) adjustment, auto focus (AF) adjustment, electronic zoom, displaying a moving image, taking for recording the moving image, and taking under a low resolution by thinning out pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Yamazaki, Atsushi Misawa, Shigeru Kondo, Michitaka Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20090147122
    Abstract: The invention is provided to perform exposure control that uses a diagram for monitor-through in a shooting waiting state in which the output frame rate of an image sensor is set into 30 fps and that for high-speed movie recording is performed during move images shooting with the high-speed movie mode in which the output frame rate is set into 300 fps. Upon shifting to exposure control at the high-speed movie mode, the aperture value to be first set is determined uniquely from the current LV value by using a program diagram for preparing to start high-speed movie recording in which the space scale of the program diagram for monitor-through is converted into a space scale similar to that of the diagram for high-speed movie recording. Then, the exposure adjustment that sets the determined aperture value, and the shutter speed and the gain corresponding to thereof as exposure control values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki KATO
  • Patent number: 7539408
    Abstract: The single-lens reflex camera body is provided with: a detector that detects which of a first lens unit or a second lens unit is attached; a rotation operator which accepts a rotating operation to adjust a diaphragm value of the lens unit attached to the camera body; and a controller which transmits the diaphragm value that is adjusted at the rotation operator to the lens unit attached to the single-lens reflex camera body, and having a configuration where an operating direction of the diaphragm ring when a rotating operation is performed at the diaphragm ring to adjust the diaphragm value is the same as an operating direction of the rotation operator when the rotating operation is performed at the rotation operator. Thereby, the diaphragm value can be set easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Makoto Azuma, Kaoru Mokunaka
  • Patent number: 7499641
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a mechanical shutter in addition to a mechanical diaphragm. The optical apparatus obtains a shutter shifting amount based on acceleration data of the shutter, obtains a total light exposure in a period of time required for the shutter to completely close an aperture of the diaphragm having a predetermined F-number, and calculates an actual exposure time by dividing the total light exposure by a light exposure per unit time calculated from an aperture area of the diaphragm having the predetermined F-number in an opened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20080199174
    Abstract: A camera is provided which is adapted to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a detection unit configured to execute electric charge accumulation for detecting a defocus amount when the diaphragm is in a state having a first aperture value, and a controller configured to, when causing the diaphragm to perform an aperture reducing operation from the first aperture value to a second aperture value, cause the diaphragm to start the aperture reducing operation without waiting for completion of the electric charge accumulation for detecting the defocus amount by the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomokazu Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20070212055
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus is disclosed that includes an aperture having an adjustable aperture value, an image capturing element, and a drive unit that drives the image capturing element to operate in video image capturing mode and still image capturing mode. The aperture has at least a dedicated aperture value for the still image capturing mode or a dedicated aperture value for the video image capturing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventor: Akihiro YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 6744981
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera that can take a bright photograph in a dark place. If a light value is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, an aperture regulation for a diaphragm is cleared, and the aperture of the diaphragm is set at a value within a range between a first maximum value and a second maximum value smaller than the first maximum value depending on the light value measured by a photometric section, the range including the first maximum value itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyotaka Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6701078
    Abstract: A camera includes a movable aperture stop plate, which changes over a light path of object light between plural stop states. A depressible shutter release button is provided. A shutter mechanism is released in response to depression of the shutter release button after a charging operation and changing over the movable aperture stop plate, to provide an exposure to the photo film. A photometric circuit including a CdS element measures object brightness adapted for changing over the movable aperture stop plate. A photometric switch includes first and second switch segments, is turned on when pressed, to supply the photometric circuit with power. A blocking pin blocks and turns off the first and second switch segments upon completion of the charging operation of the shutter mechanism, and comes away from the photometric switch when the shutter release button is depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Noguchi, Yuji Mikami
  • Publication number: 20030206738
    Abstract: A camera includes a movable aperture stop plate, which changes over a light path of object light between plural stop states. A depressible shutter release button is provided. A shutter mechanism is released in response to depression of the shutter release button after a charging operation and changing over the movable aperture stop plate, to provide an exposure to the photo film. A photometric circuit including a CdS element measures object brightness adapted for changing over the movable aperture stop plate. A photometric switch includes first and second switch segments, is turned on when pressed, to supply the photometric circuit with power. A blocking pin blocks and turns off the first and second switch segments upon completion of the charging operation of the shutter mechanism, and comes away from the photometric switch when the shutter release button is depressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Noguchi, Yuji Mikami
  • Patent number: 6621988
    Abstract: A camera includes a lens barrel capable of extending and collapsing in which when the lens barrel is extended, exposures are possible. The camera includes an aperture member in which any one of a plurality of aperture values can be selected, an aperture set up handler varying a position based on the aperture value, and a coupling member for mechanically coupling the aperture member with the aperture set up handler to transmit the position of the aperture set up handler to the aperture member so that said aperture member is set up to an aperture value according to the position of the aperture set up handler. The aperture member returns to an original setting when the lens barrel is collapsed. The aperture set up handler returns to a position to set up the aperture member to the original setting in accordance with the collapse operation of the lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Takagi
  • Patent number: 6618561
    Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is provided with a movable stop plate formed with small and middle stop apertures. The small stop aperture has a smaller diameter, and the middle stop aperture is larger than the small stop aperture. A fixed large stop aperture, which is larger than the middle stop aperture, is disposed behind the movable stop plate. The movable stop plate is moved to position the small stop aperture at a photographic optical axis when subject brightness is a predetermined reference value or more. Similarly, the middle stop aperture is positioned at the optical axis when the subject brightness is less than the reference value and a flash switch is turned off. Further, the fixed large stop aperture is set to the optical axis when the subject brightness is less than the reference value and the flash switch is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Kamata
  • Patent number: 6539176
    Abstract: In a photometry device, a pair of transistors having the same properties. The first transistor is connected at its base to the CdS photo sensor, and at its collector to a resistor. The second transistor is connected at its base to the resistor, and at its collector to the photoconductive element. When a subject brightness is below a reference level that is defined by a resistance of the resistor, the CdS photo sensor has a smaller resistance than the resistance of the resistor, so a smaller current flows into a base of the first transistor than a current flowing into a base of the second transistor. Consequently, the first transistor is turned off, and the second transistor is turned on, conducting current through a solenoid. Thereby, a stop blade is switched over to change the stop size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Motomura, Kiyoshi Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20020186973
    Abstract: A camera includes a movable aperture stop plate, which changes over a light path of object light between plural stop states. A depressible shutter release button is provided. A shutter mechanism is released in response to depression of the shutter release button after a charging operation and changing over the movable aperture stop plate, to provide an exposure to the photo film. A photometric circuit including a CdS element measures object brightness adapted for changing over the movable aperture stop plate. A photometric switch includes first and second switch segments, is turned on when pressed, to supply the photometric circuit with power. A blocking pin blocks and turns off the first and second switch segments upon completion of the charging operation of the shutter mechanism, and comes away from the photometric switch when the shutter release button is depressed. A shifting projection presses and turns on the photometric switch after the blocking pin comes away from the photometric switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Noguchi, Yuji Mikami
  • Patent number: 6493513
    Abstract: A shutter device for a camera includes a shutter blade for providing an exposure by opening/shutting a photographic light path, and a shutter drive lever for driving the shutter blade. The shutter device includes a shutter release button. A photometric switch is turned on in response to depression of the shutter release button. A photometric circuit is operated by turning on of the photometric switch, for measuring object brightness. An aperture stop changeover mechanism changes over an aperture stop of the photographic light path according to the photographic light path. A delay structure such as a delay lever detects completion of actuation of the aperture stop changeover mechanism and responsively moves the shutter drive lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Noguchi, Hirokazu Yokoo, Takashi Imamura, Yuji Mikami
  • Patent number: 6456786
    Abstract: A lens-equipped film unit comprises a photographing mechanism including a photographic lens, a shutter of a fixed speed, an aperture and a strobe, and an unexposed photographic film has being charged therein. The photographing mechanism satisfying the relationship: 7.0≦log2(G2)+log2(1/T)≦12.5, wherein T represents shutter speed (sec) of the shutter and G represents guide number (ISO 100.m) of the strobe. The film unit further comprises a photometer to measure a subject light quantity and to output light quantity signal corresponding to the subject light quantity, and an exposure quantity controller toward the charged photographic film in accordance with the light quantity signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Uchida, Kazumi Koike