Patents by Inventor Akihiko Fujino

Akihiko Fujino 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: 6738577
    Abstract: A display device 70 having an organic luminescent element arranged at an object image-forming position of a finder optical system. Frames are formed by parts 31b, 32b, 33b of the negative electrode formed of non-transparent material, an organic electroluminescent material is laminated thereon on the eyepiece side, and a positive electrode formed of transparent material is superimposed thereon on the eyepiece side. Since the non-transparent negative electrodes 31b, 32b, 33b shield the light, the frames are recognized as black frames. When the periphery is dark, a voltage is applied between the electrodes causing the organic electroluminescent material to luminesce, such that the frame itself becomes brighter in display and is readily visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Maeda, Akihiko Fujino, Reiji Seki, Noriyuki Ishii, Makoto Akesaka, Satoshi Yokota
  • Patent number: 6456795
    Abstract: In a multifunction camera, an area selector is used both as an operation key in a first selection mode for selecting the focus detection area of the focus detection device, and as an operation key in a second selection mode for selecting the function setting of the camera. A mode selector is provided which is settable at three positions including a local position, wide position, and lock position. The focus detection area selected at the local position is locked when the mode selector is set at the lock position and has been moved from the local position to the lock position, whereas the wide position is locked when the mode selector has been moved from the wide position to the lock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junko Nagahata, Hiroshi Ueda, Akihiko Fujino, Rika Noguchi, Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20020037166
    Abstract: In a multifunction camera, an area selector is used both as an operation key in a first selection mode for selecting the focus detection area of the focus detection device, and as an operation key in a second selection mode for selecting the function setting of the camera. A mode selector is provided which is settable at three positions including a local position, wide position, and lock position. The focus detection area selected at the local position is locked when the mode selector is set at the lock position and has been moved from the local position to the lock position, whereas the wide position is locked when the mode selector has been moved from the wide position to the lock position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Junko Nagahata, Hiroshi Ueda, Akihiko Fujino, Rika Noguchi, Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6185374
    Abstract: A mechanism, of a camera, to let a light adjustment operation for a flash light be performed with a higher precision in a shorter time. The mechanism includes: a first device for taking an image of a region to be photographed and for outputting image process information; a second device for detecting a main subject region and for detecting a background region on the basis of the image process information, in which the second device outputs main subject information upon the main subject region thus detected and outputs background information upon the background region thus detected; a third device for calculating a compensation value for light adjustment on the basis of the main subject information and on the basis of the background information; and a fourth device for controlling an amount of flash light emission at time of taking a photograph with an emission of the flash light on the basis of the compensation value for light adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoshi Yamaguchi, Koutaro Kawabe, Reiji Seki, Akihiko Fujino
  • Patent number: 6167200
    Abstract: A mechanism, of a camera, to let an exposure operation be performed with a higher precision in a shorter time. The mechanism includes: a first device for taking an image of a region to be photographed and for outputting image information; a second device for detecting a subject region on the basis of the image information and for outputting subject region information; a third device for outputting a plurality of photometric values relative to a plurality of divided photometric regions; a fourth device for selecting and outtputting at least one of the photometric values which are output from the third device, on the basis of the subject region information; and a fifth device for calculating an optimal exposure value on the basis of the at least one, selected by the fourth device, of the photometric values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoshi Yamaguchi, Koutaro Kawabe, Reiji Seki, Akihiko Fujino
  • Patent number: 6029017
    Abstract: First, a lens is supplied with a power supply LVDD. Then the state of a chip select signal CSL is input, and the processing waits until chip select signal CSL changes from HIGH.fwdarw.LOW.fwdarw.HIGH, that is, until communication preparation on the lens side is completed. When a microcomputer on the lens side is reset and started, the lens side outputs a communication enable signal and thus the time from mounting of the lens to starting of a communication can be reduced. Thus, a lens-exchangeable camera can be provided capable of starting a BL communication in the shortest time depending on the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Miyazawa, Akihiko Fujino, Sadanobu Ueda
  • Patent number: 5911086
    Abstract: First, a lens is supplied with a power supply LVDD. Then the state of a chip select signal CSL is input, and the processing waits until chip select signal CSL changes from HIGH.fwdarw.LOW.fwdarw.HIGH, that is, until communication preparation on the lens side is completed. When a microcomputer on the lens side is reset and started, the lens side outputs a communication enable signal and thus the time from mounting of the lens to starting of a communication can be reduced. Thus, a lens-exchangeable camera can be provided capable of starting a BL communication in the shortest time depending on the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Miyazawa, Akihiko Fujino, Sadanobu Ueda
  • Patent number: 5832313
    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 3, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ishibashi, Yoshihiro Hara, Kazuhiko Yukawa, Akihiko Fujino, Yasuo Maeda, Shigeto Ohmori, Fumiaki Ishito, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Masayuki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 5822632
    Abstract: When a communication header transmit from the lens side to the body side is input, a reset and start detection signal is checked and if the lens is found to have been reset and started, a body/lens identify signal is communicated to exchange identification signals of each other and the like and resetting of the mechanism is instructed. Thus, malfunction of the lens can be prevented even when the microcomputer for the lens side is reset with the lens mounted on the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Miyazawa, Akihiko Fujino, Sadanobu Ueda
  • Patent number: 5809354
    Abstract: First, a lens is supplied with a power supply LVDD. Then the state of a chip select signal CSL is input, and the processing waits until chip select signal CSL changes from HIGH.fwdarw.LOW.fwdarw.HIGH, that is, until communication preparation on the lens side is completed. When a microcomputer on the lens side is reset and started, the lens side outputs a communication enable signal and thus the time from mounting of the lens to starting of a communication can be reduced. Thus, a lens-exchangeable camera can be provided capable of starting a BL communication in the shortest time depending on the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Miyazawa, Akihiko Fujino, Sadanobu Ueda
  • 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: 5659817
    Abstract: A mode selecting system of a camera which comprises a first mode group which includes a plurality of photo-taking modes, wherein photographing parameters are automatically set by the camera when each one among the modes of the first mode group is selected, and a second mode group which includes a plurality of photo-taking modes, wherein at least one of photographing parameters is manually settable when one among the modes of the second mode group is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Fujino, Shinichi Nishimura, Sadanobu Ueda, Noriyuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 5576791
    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: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Ishibashi, Yoshihiro Hara, Akihiko Fujino, Yasuo Maeda, Shigeto Ohmori, Fumiaki Ishito, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Masayuki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 5386262
    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: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    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: 5384611
    Abstract: A camera system capable of wireless flash photographing, comprising a camera and an external flash unit, wherein the external flash unit transmits a discriminating data such as a synchronized shutter speed with a wireless flash photographing, and the camera receives the discriminating data. According to the received data, a phototaking operation of the camera is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Tsuji, Akihiko Fujino, Tsutomu Ichikawa, Reiji Seki, Hiroyuki Okada
  • Patent number: 5319411
    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 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Ishibashi, Yoshihiro Hara, Kazuhiko Yokawa, Akihiko Fujino, Yasuo Maeda, Shigeto Ohmori, Fumiaki Ishito, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Masayuki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 5311244
    Abstract: An exposure control device for a camera comprising; first means for measuring light from a central area of an object field, said first measuring means including a plurality of means for receiving light from different portions within the central area, respectively; second means for measuring light from a surrounding area other than the central area, the surrounding area being greater than each portion within the central area; means for selecting between a first exposure control mode and a second exposure control mode; and means for controlling exposure in accordance with one of said plurality of receiving means in said first exposure control mode, and in accordance with all of said plurality of receiving means and said second measuring means in said second exposure control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Nakai, Shuji Izumi, Akihiko Fujino, Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Toshio Yamaki, Hiromu Mukai
  • Patent number: 5260735
    Abstract: A camera system being comprised of a camera and an external device is disclosed. The external device is detachably mounted on the camera which memorizes a program or data necessary for executing a program therein.When the external device is mounted on the camera, they are connected electrically with each other and communicate therebetween in order to read a program or data memorized in the external device into a memory means provided in the camera. The camera is controlled according to the program designated by the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norio Ishikawa, Masaaki Nakai, Masayasu Hirano, Akihiko Fujino, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Takeshi Egawa, Kunio Kawamura
  • Patent number: 5233384
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to the flash photographing system having a first exposure controlling mode and a second exposure controlling mode which includes a selecting device for selecting either the first exposure controlling mode or the second exposure controlling mode; a flash emitting device for emitting a flash; a controlling device for deciding whether or not a flash emission is required and allowing the second means to be in the state in which a flash can be emitted when a flash emission is required, and not allowing the second means to be in the state in which a flash can be emitted in the first exposure controlling mode when a flash emission is not required, and allowing the second means to be in the state in which a flash can be emitted every time a photograph is taken in the second exposure controlling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Katoh, Akihiko Fujino, Kenji Tsuji, Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Nobuyuki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 5214465
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an exposure calculation apparatus which includes plural light measuring devices for measuring lights incident on a plurality of regions of a photographing image plane and outputting measured data of the lights; plural devices for detecting the focusing conditions of objects present in a plurality of the regions of the photographing image plane and outputting data on the focusing conditions; a position detecting devices for detecting the position which a main object occupies in the photographing image plane on the data on the focusing condition outputted from the focusing conditions detecting devices; calculation device for making a plurality of calculations each of which is made depending on at least one of the data of measured lighs outputted from the light measuring devices; and selecting devices for selecting one of the plurality of calculations on the position detected by the position detecting devices and the data on the focusing conditions of the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuteru Yamano, Takehiro Katoh, Akihiko Fujino, Kenji Tsuji, Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Nobuyuki Taniguchi