Patents by Inventor Eiri Tsukatani

Eiri Tsukatani 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: 8218066
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens (second interchangeable lens) is disclosed which allows a protruding amount from a mount reference surface of the interchangeable lens to be increased. The second interchangeable lens has a protruding portion protruding from a mount reference surface toward an image plane, has a larger protruding amount than the first interchangeable lens and has the same flange back as the first interchangeable lens. The first camera prevents mounting of the second interchangeable lens by the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens contacting the first wall portion. The second camera includes a second wall portion provided at a position retreated from the protruding portion. The second camera includes a rotatable mirror member, and the rotation center of the mirror member is positioned on the opposite side of a finder optical system with respect to a plane including an in-plane direction of the mirror member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiri Tsukatani, Masahisa Tamura, Jun Sugita, Atsushi Koyama
  • Patent number: 7830441
    Abstract: In order to display help information at the time when each of a self-timer button, an illumination button, AE lock button and the like is operated, an image pickup apparatus displays help information with understandable wording by the use of simple terms in consideration of the possibility that the user is not proficient in camera operations in the case that the apparatus operates in a full-automatic mode or a photographing mode of an image zone, and displays help information with concise and easily recognizable wording inclusive of technical terms in accordance with necessity in consideration of the possibility that the user is proficient in camera operations to a certain extent in the case that the apparatus operates in a photographing mode of a creative zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiri Tsukatani
  • Patent number: 7719612
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image pickup apparatus which includes an optical member that is vibrated in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis to facilitate removal of particles (e.g., dust), where the vibration of the optical member is substantially isolated from an image pickup element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Kaihara, Hiroshi Yoshii, Eiri Tsukatani, Hirokazu Ichiki, Futoshi Hirai, Toshifumi Urakami, Hideaki Yamamoto, Yuuki Niwamae
  • Patent number: 7645079
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an eyepiece unit configured to facilitate viewing an optical image of an object, an image pickup element configured to convert the optical image of an object into an electrical signal, an optical member disposed in front of the image pickup element and in an imaging light axis, an piezoelectric element disposed on the side of the optical member close to the eyepiece unit, where the piezoelectric element vibrates the optical member, a biasing member disposed on the side of the optical member opposite the piezoelectric element, a lowpass filter holding member configured to hold the optical member, the piezoelectric element, and the biasing member, and an image-pickup-apparatus body chassis having a flat surface portion perpendicular to the imaging light axis, where the flat surface portion has an opening therein. The lowpass filter holding member is disposed in the opening of the body chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inukai, Eiri Tsukatani, Kiyokazu Churei, Taro Fuchigami, Takashi Sugie
  • Patent number: 7639301
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of easily removing a foreign matter adhering on an optical filter surface is disclosed. A rubber member holding an optical low pass filter seals an imaging sensor and the optical low pass filter, and a piezoelectric element vibrates an edge portion of the optical low pass filter in the direction of an optical axis, and gives the optical low pass filter a rotational force around an axis orthogonal to an imaging optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuki Niwamae, Shoji Kaihara, Hiroshi Yoshii, Eiri Tsukatani, Hirokazu Ichiki, Futoshi Hirai, Toshifumi Urakami, Hideaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7435017
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a digital single lens reflex camera which includes a motor on a side of a mirror box above a battery storage unit for a detachable battery, such that the motor's output shaft can be substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, which facilitates reduction of the size of the entire camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiri Tsukatani
  • Publication number: 20080019686
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an eyepiece unit configured to facilitate viewing an optical image of an object, an image pickup element configured to convert the optical image of an object into an electrical signal, an optical member disposed in front of the image pickup element and in an imaging light axis, an piezoelectric element disposed on the side of the optical member close to the eyepiece unit, where the piezoelectric element vibrates the optical member, a biasing member disposed on the side of the optical member opposite the piezoelectric element, a lowpass filter holding member configured to hold the optical member, the piezoelectric element, and the biasing member, and an image-pickup-apparatus body chassis having a flat surface portion perpendicular to the imaging light axis, where the flat surface portion has an opening therein. The lowpass filter holding member is disposed in the opening of the body chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inukai, Eiri Tsukatani, Kiyokazu Churei, Taro Fuchigami, Takashi Sugie
  • Publication number: 20070115383
    Abstract: In order to display help information at the time when each of a self-timer button, an illumination button, AE lock button and the like is operated, an image pickup apparatus displays help information with understandable wording in use of simple terms in consideration of a possibility that a user is not proficient in camera operations in case of a full-automatic mode or a photographing mode of an image zone, and displays help information with concise and easily recognizable wording inclusive of technical terms in accordance with necessity in consideration of a possibility that a user is proficient in camera operations to a certain extent in case of a photographing mode of a creative zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eiri Tsukatani
  • Publication number: 20070103554
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image pickup apparatus which includes an optical member that is vibrated in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis to facilitate removal of particles (e.g., dust), where the vibration of the optical member is substantially isolated from an image pickup element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Kaihara, Hiroshi Yoshii, Eiri Tsukatani, Hirokazu Ichiki, Futoshi Hirai, Toshifumi Urakami, Hideaki Yamamoto, Yuuki Niwamae
  • Publication number: 20070103579
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of easily removing a foreign matter adhering on an optical filter surface is disclosed. A rubber member holding an optical low pass filter seals an imaging sensor and the optical low pass filter, and a piezoelectric element vibrates an edge portion of the optical low pass filter in the direction of an optical axis, and gives the optical low pass filter a rotational force around an axis orthogonal to an imaging optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuuki Niwamae, Shoji Kaihara, Hiroshi Yoshii, Eiri Tsukatani, Hirokazu Ichiki, Futoshi Hirai, Toshifumi Urakami, Hideaki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20060177213
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a digital single lens reflex camera which includes a motor on a side of a mirror box above a battery storage unit for a detachable battery, such that the motor's output shaft can be substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, which facilitates reduction of the size of the entire camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiri Tsukatani
  • Publication number: 20050030410
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens (second interchangeable lens) is disclosed which allows a protruding amount from a mount reference surface of the interchangeable lens to be increased. The second interchangeable lens has a protruding portion protruding from a mount reference surface toward an image plane, has a larger protruding amount than the first interchangeable lens and has the same flange back as the first interchangeable lens. The first camera prevents mounting of the second interchangeable lens by the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens contacting the first wall portion. The second camera includes a second wall portion provided at a position retreated from the protruding portion. The second camera includes a rotatable mirror member, and the rotation center of the mirror member is positioned on the opposite side of a finder optical system with respect to a plane including an in-plane direction of the mirror member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Eiri Tsukatani, Masahisa Tamura, Jun Sugita, Atsushi Koyama