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: 4745427
    Abstract: A multi-point photometric apparatus for use in a camera or the like operative to measure the luminance of several divided areas in an objective field. Among the luminance signals produced by the photometric circuit for the several areas, a signal from one area which is used for automatic focus adjustment is designated as a reference value, and the maximum and minimum values of luminance signals and the differences of these from the reference value are evaluated. The reference value and differences in the form of digital data and information on the film latitude are processed with a microprocessor to calculate the exposure value. The exposure value is modified to an extend that the reference remains within the film latitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Akihiko Fujino, Toshio Yamaki, Hiromu Mukai, Nobuyuki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 4734730
    Abstract: In an automatic focus detecting camera of the present invention, a light measuring circuit performs light measuring operation when a light measuring switch is closed, so that an automatic focus controller performs automatic focus detecting and controlling operation. If an in-focus condition is detected by the automatic focus controller when a preview switch is operated, preview control is started. If an in-focus condition is not detected, preview control is forbidden. Thus, automatic focus detecting operation and preview operation can be performed independent of a prescribed aperture value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ootsuka, Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Akihiko Fujino
  • Patent number: 4707104
    Abstract: A motor-driven camera comprising a film winding and rewinding mechanism operable by a starter switch, and a low power consumption type memory unit. The film winding and rewinding mechanism include a transmission changeover gear. For sliding this gear a motor is rotated backward once to eliminate a contact between teeth of the changeover gear and a drive gear operatively connected to the motor. The memory unit includes a flip-flop memory circuit and a switching circuit. The memory circuit shifts from a first state to a second state and remains in the second state when the starter switch is closed. In the second state the memory circuit outputs an operation signal to a transmission mechanism control unit, and returns to the first state upon receipt of a signal output by the control unit when an operation is completed. The switching circuit performs a positive feedback function with respect to the closure of the starter switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Inoue, Akihiko Fujino, Masayasu Hirano, Masaaki Nakai, Fumio Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4705382
    Abstract: A flash photographing apparatus, including a camera and an electronic flash device, comprises a plurality of photoelectric elements for measuring brightness of a main and sub objects to be photographed. A diaphragm aperture value and shutter speed value of the camera are controlled according to the brightness of the sub object. A quantity of flash light emission is controlled according to a difference between the brightness information of the main and sub objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromu Mukai, Toshio Yamaki, Akihiko Fujino, Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Nobuyuki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 4693581
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a camera provided with an automatic focus adjusting apparatus in which, in addition to the function of carrying out an AE lock based on an in-focus detection, an AE lock can be carried out either before or after an AF operation is completed or when an AF operation is impossible. In other words, irrespective of the condition of an automatic focus adjusting means, an AE lock can be accomplished at any desired moment. Therefore, the degree of freedom in a photography operation is expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Yamaki, Hiromu Mukai, Akihiko Fujino, Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Nobuyuki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 4692010
    Abstract: A depth-of-field preview apparatus for a single lens reflex camera is provided with a display circuit responsive to a preview display signal generated by a control circuit with at least one of first and second switches being closed. The first switch is closed when an operating member is operated to an operated position and opened when the operating member is released to return to a non-operated position under a spring bias. In response to the closure of the first switch the control circuit generates the preview display signal and an electromagnetic device causes a diaphragm stop-down mechanism to stop-down a diaphragm. When the diaphragm is stopped-down to a preset aperture size, another electromagnetic device stops the diaphragm stop-down mechanism to set the diaphragm to the preset aperture size and at the same time closes the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Kataoka, Yasuo Hawai, Hidehiko Fujii, Tetsuro Oya, Akihiko Fujino
  • Patent number: 4690536
    Abstract: An exposure control device for a camera in flash photography comprising;first means for measuring light from a central area of an object field; second means for measuring light from another area surrounding the central area; means responsive to said first and second measuring means for detecting a rear light condition; means for controlling exposure in response to said second measuring means to cause an over-exposure by a given value when said detecting means detects the back light condition; means for directing a flash light emission; and means for integrating light reflected from the object field upon the flash light emission to stop the flash light emission when the integrated light reaches a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Nakai, Shuji Izumi, Akihiko Fujino, Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Toshio Yamaki, Hiromu Mukai
  • Patent number: 4690530
    Abstract: A release operation of a camera adapted to be transferred to a normal photographing condition through winding-up of a film by a predetermined length is allowed in conditions before transfer to the normal photographing condition even if a release inhibition signal is being generated. Whether or not the camera is in the normal photographing condition is determined based on the state of a switch which is turned OFF upon transfer of the camera to the normal photographing condition. The turn-OFF of the switch always causes the camera to read a code pattern on a film cartridge to automatically set the film sensitivity represented by the code pattern. The camera is also capable of manual film speed setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Fujino, Manabu Inoue, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida
  • Patent number: 4653893
    Abstract: An exposure calculating device, for use in a camera having a programmed exposure control mode which automatically calculates a shutter speed and a diaphragm aperture value in a programmed manner, is further capable of modifying the combination of calculated shutter speed and aperture value in accordance with the manual operation. The amount of modification value is automatically reset in response to the detection of the operational condition of the camera, such as a detachment of an exchangeable lens, the charging completion of an electronic flash device, the camera exposure control by a camera accessory, and the change of the exposure control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Inoue, Akihiko Fujino, Masaaki Nakai
  • Patent number: 4586800
    Abstract: A data reading device for a camera can provide a data being accurate with high probability through repeated data reading of a code pattern on a film cartridge even in hard conditions, such as a condition where contact between contact terminals of the device and code regions of the code pattern is unstable and a condition where the resistance value of a conductive code region is comparatively high or varies with the area on which the corresponding contact terminal abuts. In one operation example of an embodiment, the device discriminates consistency and inconsistency between the contents of the successively read data bit by bit and substitutes the contents of the later read data discriminated as being inconsistent for those of the previously read data only when the inconsistency discriminated contents of the later read data indicate conduction of the corresponding code regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Tominaga, Masaaki Nakai, Norihiro Inoue, Akihiko Fujino, Manabu Inoue, Nobuyuki Taniguchi