Patents Assigned to Minolta Camera
  • Patent number: 7440195
    Abstract: A zoom lens system for directing an optical image on an electric image sensor that includes a first lens unit disposed on a most object side and having a negative optical power, a second lens unit having a positive optical power, and a third lens unit including a most image side lens unit having at least a positive lens element and a negative lens element, wherein the following condition is satisfied: 3<|fl/fw| where fl is a focal length of the most image side lens unit, and fw is a focal length of the zoom lens system in a shortest focal length condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Camera, Inc.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hagimori, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 7408583
    Abstract: A taking lens apparatus includes a zoom lens system that is composed of a plurality of lens units and that achieves zooming by varying the distances between the lens units and an image sensor that converts the optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal. The zoom lens system has, from the object side,: a first lens unit having a negative optical power, a second lens unit disposed on the image side of the first lens unit and having a negative optical power, a third lens unit disposed on the image side of the second lens unit and having a positive optical power, a fourth lens unit disposed on the image side of the third lens unit and having a positive optical power, and a fifth lens unit disposed on the image side of the fourth lens unit and having a positive optical power. During zooming, the first lens unit remains stationary relative to the image sensor, and the second and third lens units move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Camera, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshito Iwasawa, Takashi Okada, Tetsuo Kohno
  • Patent number: 6167201
    Abstract: A camera is provided with a varifocal lens including a zoom lens system driven by a motor and by a zoom lens drive control section and a focusing lens system driven by a motor and by a focusing lens drive control section for performing focusing before the zoom lens system is driven or while the zoom lens system is being driven. The camera is also provided with a lens switch sensor for determining whether an operation member for starting an exposure operation has been operated and a body control section and a lens control section for halting the driving of the zoom lens system when it is determined that the operation member has been operated by the sensor to re-start the driving of the focusing lens system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hara, Kenji Ishibashi, Kimiharu Akahoshi, Norihiko Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 5933675
    Abstract: A central control system that monitors and remotely controls one or more terminal devices which may be part of an apparatus such as an imaging machine. Each terminal device communicates with the central control system at a predetermined time and relays the operational conditions of the apparatus to which it is associated. Relayed conditions may include information such as the number of imaging operations performed in a period of time. The central control system controls each of the terminal devices in accordance with the information transmitted from each of the terminal devices. The central control system supervises incoming transmissions from the terminal devices and detects when a terminal device has not communicated at its predetermined time. When this condition arises, the identity of the non-reporting terminal, as well as the predetermined time it was to have contacted the central control system, are displayed at the central control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Col., Ltd., Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoji Sawada, Toru Kirimura, Seiji Watanabe, Kazunobu Maekawa, Sumiaki Hirata
  • Patent number: 5883660
    Abstract: A double-side digital copier reads an image on documents fed into an image reading unit in accordance with a predetermined cycle based on copying conditions such as the number of copies to be made and single/double-side copying, and the number of documents and copy sheets temporarily maintained in the respective circulation paths formed therein. Further the image data obtained by that reading are stored in two memories alternately, one of the memories alone, or both the memories in a predetermined order in accordance with the predetermined cycle, and are read out in a corresponding order, optimizing throughput without increasing the manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaishi
    Inventors: Akio Kato, Keichi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 5854692
    Abstract: When a jam occurs in outputting an image to a printer in a facsimile apparatus, it is displayed that the printer is in a state of trouble. If the printer trouble is not solved in a prescribed time period, that one group of original being printed is stored in a compressed data memory (not shown) as a re-recording file. When the trouble is solved, the data of that one group of original stored in the re-recording file is output to the printer. As a result, a facsimile apparatus capable of clarifying the destination of the printed received image data after an interruption can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Munehiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 5798625
    Abstract: A dc motor wherein a driving force thereof can be used effectively with a simple and compact mechanical construction and a motor controlling system which can control such a dc motor to be driven efficiently. The motor comprises at least two coils, and change-over means for changing electric connection of the coils to change over the motor, when power is selectively supplied to the coils, between a first mode in which the torque produced is relatively high and the rotational frequency is relatively low and a second mode in which the torque is relatively low and the rotational frequency is relatively high. The motor controlling system includes selecting means for automatically selecting one of the first and second modes to control the change-over means in response to a given condition of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Tanii, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Toshihiko Taniguchi, Takahisa Shimada, Sadafusa Tsuji
  • Patent number: 5765170
    Abstract: An electronic mail system in which a mail management method is improved in order to reduce the complexity and labour of handling transmitted information so that its convenience is increased. In an electronic mail system in which a plurality of data processing systems exchange messages through mailboxes MB utilizing the stored and forward system, the data processing system which receives a mail M transferred from the mailbox MB is provided with an electronic mail terminal utility. When the data processing system receives the mail M, the electronic mail terminal utility classifies a data file written in the mail M according to specific data contained in the mail M and stores the data file in an appropriate folder based on a result of the classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Morikawa
  • Patent number: 5749569
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a forwarding device for successively forwarding a plurality of sheets accommodated in a state of stacked layer one by one. The forwarding device is movable between a sheet forwarding position where the forwarding device is brought in contact with the leading end of a sheet for forwarding the sheet and a retracted position where the forwarding device is separated away from the sheet. The apparatus includes a transport device for receiving a sheet forwarded by the forwarding device and transporting the sheet in a predetermined direction of transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Atsumi, Yuusuke Morigami, Hirokazu Matsuo
  • Patent number: 5745253
    Abstract: The invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading images of original documents by moving the original relative to a stationary image reader. A single image reader is used in a first embodiment. When reading the image of a first side, the single image reader is stationary at a first position to read the original. When reading the image of a second side, the single image reader is moved to a second position corresponding to the size of the original, and reads the image of the second side while said image reader is stationary at the second position. The image reading apparatus of the second embodiment uses a stationary first reader for reading a first side of an original, and a movable second image reader for reading a second side of an original. The image reading apparatus of the second embodiment changes the position of the image reader in accordance with the size of the original.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Muramatsu, Munehiro Nakatani, Akio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5731864
    Abstract: A camera includes a CCD line sensor divided into a plurality of blocks and a plurality of monitors provided near each of the divided blocks and sensing the amount of received light corresponding to each block. The storage of charge in each block of the CCD is controlled based on the amount of the light received by the monitor. Each block corresponds to each part of an object in a finder of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka Hamada, Kazuhiko Yukawa, Tokuji Ishida, Toshio Norita
  • Patent number: 5697009
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus by which a first image corresponding to first image information and a second image corresponding to second image information are superimposed one on the top of the other, the apparatus having a scanning device for scanning a document line by line to output the first image information; a composing device for composing the first and second image information so that the first and second images are superimposed one on the top of the other; a detecting device for detecting changes of the scanning speed in a direction perpendicular to the lines; and a controlling device for so controlling the composing device that the relative position of the second and first images in the direction are adjusted line by line in accordance with the results detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Muroki, Shoji Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 5696531
    Abstract: An image display apparatus according to the present invention includes an image data memory for storing image data to be displayed, an image plane for displaying an image, a low resolution image display unit for displaying an image based on image data on the image plane with low resolution, a mouse for designating a position in a particular region in the image plane, and a high resolution image display unit for displaying an image based on image data of the particular region designated by the mouse on the image plane with high resolution of a resolution level higher than the resolution level of the low resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Suzuki, Toshihiko Kumon, Yoshikazu Ikenoue
  • Patent number: 5697000
    Abstract: A camera is provided with a varifocal lens including a zoom lens system driven by a motor and by a zoom lens drive control section and a focusing lens system driven by a motor and by a focusing lens drive control section for performing focusing before the zoom lens system is driven or while the zoom lens system is being driven. The camera is also provided with a lens switch sensor for determining whether an operation member for starting an exposure operation has been operated or not and a body control section and a lens control section for halting the driving of the zoom lens system when it is determined that the operation member has been operated by the sensor to re-start the driving of the focusing lens system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hara, Kenji Ishibashi, Kimiharu Akahoshi, Norihiko Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 5692741
    Abstract: In an operation for transporting a sheet by a first roller to a second roller pair downstream of the first roller, and further transporting the sheet by the second roller pair, the time during which the sheet is transported by the first roller is controlled, responsive to a comparison of a reference time and the actual time required for a sheet to be transported from the first roller to a predetermined position in the sheet transport path, to suppress disadvantages such as jamming and deformation into a Z-form, which may be caused by reduction of a transporting performance due to wear of the rollers and adhesion of paper powder to the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenobu Nakamura, Koji Naito, Yoshiaki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5687965
    Abstract: A sheet supply device supplying sheets from a magazine thereof to an image forming apparatus and a mechanism for setting the magazine to a body of the image forming apparatus. The magazine storing stacked sheets is provided with reinforcing members which are disposed at side walls of the magazine to form convex portions relative thereto so as to reinforce the side walls and regulate the position of the stacked sheets in a sheet width direction. A projecting portion having an inclined surface is provided in either the magazine or a receiving portion in the image forming apparatus body to which the magazine is set. When the magazine is slid on an upper surface of the receiving portion for being set to the image forming apparatus body, a leading end of the magazine in a magazine setting direction is lifted by use of the inclined surface of the projecting portion so as to be accurately and smoothly set to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoyuki Matsuda, Hajime Takei, Homare Sano, Richard R. Lemberger, Stuart J. Wyman
  • Patent number: 5687404
    Abstract: A single-lens reflex camera comprises a taking lens having a zooming optical system, a finder whose angle of view is determined according to a focal length of the taking lens, and an operation member which is manually operated. In the single-lens reflex camera, the focal length of the taking lens is changed by driving the zooming optical system, and the zooming operation is controlled in response to an operation of the operation member so that the focal length of the taking lens is changed in the wide-angle direction by a predetermined amount. An angle of view corresponding to that which is seen before the focal length is changed is displayed within the finder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Ishibashi, Yoshihiro Hara, Kazuhiko Yukawa, Akihiko Fujino, Yasuo Maeda, Shigeto Ohmori, Fumiaki Ishito, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Masayuki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 5682583
    Abstract: A developing device having a developing sleeve opposed to a photoreceptor, and a developer transport portion adjacent to the sleeve. The developer transport portion is divided into first and second portions by a partition, and the developer is circulated between the first and second portions. A fresh toner is supplied to the developer in the second portion to be transported to the first portion while being mixed, and thereafter is supplied to the sleeve along an axial direction of the sleeve in the first portion. The second portion is provided with a transport member by which the developer is transported at an upstream side of the second portion with respect to the developer transport direction in the second portion with a speed faster than the toner supply speed and the transport speed of the developer at a downstream side of the first portion with respect to the developer transport direction in the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Ito, Yoshihiro Shojo, Katsuhiko Takeda
  • Patent number: 5673116
    Abstract: In the electronic sort of a digital copying machine, image data of a document consisting of a plurality of sheets are read and compressed to bi-level data in a memory. The compressed image data are recovered to multi-level data successively. When a plurality of copies of the document are produced, the recovery action is repeated by the number of the copies. In a facsimile machine combined with a digital copying machine, bi-level image data for the automatic reduction transmission are recovered first to multi-level image data, and the density of the multi-level image data is changed for the reduction. Then, the multi-level data are converted to bi-level data for facsimile transmission. In a digital two-color copying machine, multi-level image data of the second color of the two colors to be recorded later has to be synchronized to those of the other in correspondence to the delay of the recording time between the two colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigenobu Fukushima
  • Patent number: 5671277
    Abstract: Additional data useful for the management of copies of a document for an image forming apparatus is embedded in a hard copy of the document. The additional data is embedded in an inherent image of a document as pixels arranged in a prescribed format, and, preferably, the size of the pixels is such as to not be easily recognized with the naked eye. The image data for embedding the additional data can be obtained by reading a document, or by receiving data sent from a computer or read from a floppy disk. Additional data embedded in a hard copy can be extracted from the image data on the hard copy, and the production of a copy according to the image data can be controlled according to the extracted additional data. For example, if the additional data means that the source of the hard copy is a secret document, copying thereof is allowed only for a legitimate user. Additional data generated for each copy is compiled and is used to manage copies of various sources systematically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Ikenoue, Hideo Kumashiro, Munehiro Nakatani