Patents Represented by Law Firm Robin, Blecker, Daley & Driscoll
  • Patent number: 6108155
    Abstract: A magnetic recording or reproducing apparatus having a rotary drum includes a sensor for detecting dew condensation on the rotary drum, a take-up reel for taking up a recording medium, and a controller for controlling the rotary drum and the take-up reel in accordance with a result of detection provided by the sensor. When dew condensation has been detected by the sensor, the controller causes the rotary drum to rotate in such a way as to release the recording medium from a state of sticking to the rotary drum and, after that, causes the recording medium to be taken up by the take-up reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuya Tanaka, Junji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6072594
    Abstract: An information signal recording apparatus for recording an information signal having a predetermined frequency band onto a recording medium, which comprises signal separating means for receiving said information signal and for separating the received information signal into a first signal having a first frequency band and a second signal having a second frequency band which is higher than said first frequency band and outputting said first and second signals; first recording means for forming a frequency-modulated first signal by frequency-modulating the first signal outputted from said signal separating means and for recording said frequency-modulated first signal onto a first area of said recording medium; and second recording means for forming a frequency-modulated second signal, which is interleaved relatively to said frequency-modulated first signal, by frequency-modulating the second signal outputted from said signal separating means and for recording said frequency-modulated second signal onto a second
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryo Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 6020817
    Abstract: A two-dimensional array of magnetomechanical markers is adhered to a continuous web. A magnetizer element is scanned across the web to magnetize the bias elements in a group of the markers with a first polarity, thereby activating the group of markers. The web is then advanced and the magnetizer is scanned across the web in an opposite direction to the previous scan, to magnetize the bias elements of a second group of the markers with a second polarity, thereby activating the second group of markers. The web is slit in a longitudinal direction to produce web-strips each carrying a column of the activated markers. The web-strips are rolled to form marker roll assemblies each having about half the bias elements magnetized with a first polarity and the remaining bias elements magnetized with an opposite polarity. The roll of activated markers forms no more than a minimal "leakage" magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Copeland, Ming R. Lian
  • Patent number: 6008863
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensor for sensing an optical image and converting the optical image into an electrical signal, and a white balance control circuit for controlling a white balance condition of the electrical signal. A limiting device limits a control range of the white balance control circuit, and a changeover switch changes over the limiting device to selectively change the control range of the white balance control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Jinnai
  • Patent number: 5905597
    Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that when a phototaking lens system forms image information on a image pickup device in which a plurality of light-receiving elements are arranged in a non-square lattice pattern and a signal from the image pickup device is sampled in a square lattice to obtain a two-dimensional digital image, the phototaking lens system forms an image as optically correcting for a distortion of aspect ratio of image caused upon sampling in the square lattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Mizouchi, Tsunefumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5867216
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes a diaphragm for an image sensing optical system, the aperture of the diaphragm being formed in a shape which is substantially asymmetrical in a horizontal or vertical direction, a in-focus detecting circuit for making a decision as to near focus state, in focus and far focus on the basis of a signal waveform which corresponds to an edge portion of a subject image passed through the diaphragm, and a driving circuit for performing focus adjustment of the image sensing optical system on the basis of an output of the in-focus detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiko Yamada, Masahide Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 5838370
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprises an image enlargement circuit for enlarging an image around a viewpoint position in a picture and a control circuit for changing a focus detection area or a photometry area to an area having position and size adaptive to an enlarged image, prior to an enlargement operation by the image enlargement circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Kaji
  • Patent number: 5825157
    Abstract: There is disclosed a camera having a secondary battery charged by a solar battery, an overcharging prevention circuit for preventing overcharging to the secondary battery, and a control circuit for driving the over-charging prevention circuit when the secondary battery is charged, or a charging device for a camera of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5818999
    Abstract: A video signal reproducing apparatus having a video camera part which produces a video signal by picking up an image of an object and is arranged in one unified body at least with a reproducing part which reproduces a video signal from a recording medium is arranged to selectively supply the video signal obtained by picking up the object's image or the reproduced video signal obtained from the recording medium to one and the same signal processing means. The disclosed arrangement not only permits simplification of the apparatus but also enables the apparatus to reproduce a high quality video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroto Yasumura, Masahide Hirasawa, Minoru Noji, Susumu Kozuki, Koji Takahashi, Katsuji Yoshimura, Tomohiko Sasatani
  • Patent number: 5815076
    Abstract: In a pulsed-signal magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system, a single transmit circuit is used to drive two or more parallel-connected interrogation signal transmitting antennas. One or more switchable damping circuits are provided in series with the antennas to promote rapid damping of the interrogation signal at the end of each signal pulse. The damping circuit or circuits are situated to provide damping in the loop or loops formed by the parallel-connected antennas. Each switchable damping circuit is formed of a resistance connected between a respective antenna and a terminal of the transmit circuit, as well as a switching element connected across the resistance. The switching element is maintained in a conducting condition during each signal pulse and is open-circuited at the end of each pulse to bring the resistance into effective damping connection with the transmit antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Richard L. Herring
  • Patent number: 5809350
    Abstract: There is provided a flash device to which a construction for starting a flash emission without depending on the turning-on of an X-sync contact is added without increasing the number of interfaces between a camera body and the flash device. In the flash device, a change of a clock signal inputted next to emission mode data communicated to the flash device through a serial communication line between the camera body and the flash device is detected and recognized as a flash emission start signal, so that flash emission start control is performed without depending on the turning-on of the X-sync contact and without setting a special interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hajime Fukui
  • Patent number: 5805202
    Abstract: A video surveillance system includes a remotely controllable video camera which generates a video signal, a video switch, a cable for transmitting the video signal from the video camera to the video switch, a control circuit connected to the cable for generating control signals to be transmitted to the video camera via the cable, and a control signal receiver associated with the camera and connected to the cable for receiving the control signals transmitted via the cable. The control signal receiver includes a detection circuit for automatically detecting the length of the cable and generating an adjustment signal indicative of the detected length of the cable. The control signal receiver also includes an adjustable circuit element which is adjusted on the basis of the adjustment signal so as to compensate for the detected length of the cable. The automatic cable compensation in the control signal receiver provides reliable detection of the camera control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher M. Mullins, Thomas J. Ray, John P. McDonough
  • Patent number: 5802408
    Abstract: A camera has a movable mirror arranged to permit its position to be switched between a first position in which an image light flux is guided to a viewfinder optical system and a second position in which an exposure can be carried out by an image pickup part, a display device arranged to make a display by superimposing a light from a light source on an image obtained within a viewfinder, and a control circuit arranged to cause the light source to begin to light up either while the movable mirror is in process of moving from the second position to the first position or within a period of time during which the movable mirror stabilizes in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Suda
  • Patent number: 5796339
    Abstract: A deactivation device for use in an EAS system and comprising a detection transmit means operable to transmit a detection field into a detection/deactivation area, a detecting means operable to sense a signal from an EAS tag responsive to the detection field, and a deactivating means for transmitting a deactivating field into the detection/deactivation area operable to deactivate said active EAS tag, and wherein said detection transmit means and said deactivating means use a common coil to transmit the respective fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas A. Drew, Joerg W. Zschirnt
  • Patent number: 5784105
    Abstract: A video camera comprises a built-in secondary battery, a terminal used for connection with an external power source, and a main switch for controlling the supply of electric power to a circuit part provided for a control system and a signal processing system. The video camera is arranged such that the circuit part is connected to the built-in secondary battery or to the external power source when the main switch is closed and that the built-in secondary battery can be connected to the external power source when the main switch is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaharu Kawamura
  • Patent number: 5774355
    Abstract: In a programmable controller system, a sequence program, an operation sequence control program module and a plurality of I/O control program modules including interlock control are independently provided. In the interlock control of the start condition and the operation end condition of an actuator, an interlock condition set program is separated from the operation sequence control program, and the interlock condition is described in a table, thereby easily setting the interlock condition in the form of a table. As described above, when the operation sequence control program executed by a programmable controller and the input/output control program including the interlock control are independently provided, the number of steps in programming can be decreased, and reliability and maintenance performance of the program can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Mizuno, Ryohei Inaba, Hideki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5767770
    Abstract: A semi-hard magnetic element is formed by at least partially crystallizing an amorphous soft iron-metalloid material. The heating process used to achieve crystallization includes a controlled oxidation stage to increase the level of remanent flux that is provided when the processed magnetic element is placed in a fully magnetized state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis Michael Gadonniex
  • Patent number: 5761556
    Abstract: An optical apparatus having a movable lens barrier and a lens movable in the direction of an optical axis is provided with a barrier moving mechanism for moving the lens barrier in the direction of opening or closing. The barrier moving mechanism includes a moving member which is arranged to move in the direction of the optical axis and also around the optical axis in association with a movement of the lens. The lens barrier is arranged to be move in the direction of opening or closing by a movement of the moving member based on the movement of the lens to a specific position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushi Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazushige Ichino
  • Patent number: 5755659
    Abstract: The invention concerns a vascular prosthesis for the replacement of blood vessels in the human or animal body, consisting of a section of a replacement blood vessel (3) which has been taken from a human or animal body and a fibro-elastic tube (2) which is drawn over this vascular section, whose intersecting threads (1) which form the tube wind in spiral form around the longitudinal axis of the tube, wherein the fibro-elastic tube (2) is extended pointwise in the longitudinal direction with alteration of the diameter or is compressed and thereby is caused to contact the replacement vessel evenly over its total area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Heinz Robert Zurbrugg
  • Patent number: 5754900
    Abstract: An intra-viewfinder display device includes an optical system having a light splitting surface and arranged to guide light coming from an object to a viewer, and a display element for displaying information by using light of a predetermined wavelength. The information displayed by the display element is transmitted to the viewer by utilizing the light splitting surface. The light splitting surface has respective different spectral characteristics with respect to light of a wavelength band including the predetermined wavelength and light of wavelengths not included in the wavelength band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Suda