Patents by Inventor Hideo Kajita

Hideo Kajita 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: 6327440
    Abstract: A camera capable of taking pictures selectively in a standard or full size frame and a panorama frame having a reduced vertical dimension. This camera includes vertically movable light-shielding members for partly light-shielding an exposure range of the standard frame to set an exposure range of the panorama frame. When the panorama frame is selected, a warning is given on a display provided on the camera body to the effect that a date and other photographic information cannot be recorded on pictures taken in the panorama frame. The shutter of the camera includes an electronic device for detecting an amount of light traveling from a photographic object to which light is flashed. Output of this device is used for suitably controlling exposure for photography in the standard and panorama frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Hideo Kajita, Yujiro Mima, Junji Hashimura, Nobuya Miki, Masayuki Ikemura
  • Patent number: 6072956
    Abstract: A focus detector used in an AF-SLR camera has a plurality of focusing sensors disposed not only in the center but also in a region distant from the center of the frame. A first focusing sensor group of the focusing sensors which are disposed in a first region where light flux passing through a pupil of a lens having an F-number larger than a predetermined F-number such as F2.8 is always used without reference to the F-number of the lens. A second focusing sensor group of focusing sensors which are disposed in a second region where light flux passing through a pupil of a lens having an F-number equal to or smaller than the predetermined F-number and having a higher accuracy for focus detection is used only when the F-number of the lens is equal to or smaller than the predetermined F-number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Hamada, Akio Kinba, Hideo Kajita
  • Patent number: 5754899
    Abstract: A camera capable of taking pictures selectively in a standard or full size frame and a panorama frame having a reduced vertical dimension. This camera includes vertically movable light-shielding members for partly light-shielding an exposure range of the standard frame to set an exposure range of the panorama frame. When the panorama frame is selected, a warning is given on a display provided on the camera body to the effect that a date and other photographic information cannot be recorded on pictures taken in the panorama frame. The shutter of the camera includes an electronic device for detecting an amount of light traveling from a photographic object to which light is flashed. Output of this device is used for suitably controlling exposure for photography in the standard and panorama frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Hideo Kajita, Yujiro Mima, Junji Hashimura, Nobuya Miki, Masayuki Ikemura
  • Patent number: 5701518
    Abstract: A waterproof camera to which an interchangeable lens unit having a waterproof construction is mounted. The waterproof camera has a lens mount provided in a camera body and to which the interchangeable lens unit is removably mounted, a ring-shaped flange provided in the lens mount and which positions the interchangeable lens unit relative to the camera camera body, an engaging member provided at an outer circumference of the ring-shaped flange and which engages with the outer circumference of one end of the interchangeable lens unit, and a waterproof member which is in pressing contact with an area of engagement between the engaging member and the outer circumference of one end of the interchangeable lens unit and prevents water from penetrating in the area of engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Honda, Hisanori Itoh, Takuya Ueno, Junji Mori, Hiroyuki Matsumoto, Yasushi Hasegawa, Hideo Kajita
  • Patent number: 5515133
    Abstract: A flash apparatus which allows flashlight photographing of various subjects in a photographing screen in appropriate exposure by simple operation without failure. The flash apparatus comprises a flashlight emitting section having a predetermined irradiation angle with respect to a light emission optical axis, and irradiating direction changing means for automatically changing the direction of the light emission optical axis of the flashlight emitting section in response to subject information such as distribution information of brightness values of or distances to subjects in a photographing screen. Also a camera is disclosed which assures photographing of a main subject with appropriate exposure even when the main subject is in a backlighted condition or when another body is positioned nearer to the camera than the main subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Hideo Kajita, Hiromu Mukai, Takeshi Hashimoto, Yoshinobu Kudo, Yujiro Mima, Takashi Kondo
  • Patent number: 5237363
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to the camera system comprises a photo-taking lens including a lens unit movable in direction other than parallel to an optcical axis of the photo-taking lens and a driver unit for driving the movable lens unit in the direction other thatn parallel to the optical axis of the photo-taking lens during a exposure operation. Therefore the camera system is capable of taking photography with special effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Okada, Hiromu Mukai, Hideo Kajita, Masatoshi Kamitani, Katsumi Kosakai, Hiroshi Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 5081482
    Abstract: An IC card suitably adapted to a camera as a small size device and a camera to which such IC card can be mounted appropriately. The IC card is formed as a rectangular plate of a size of about 20 mm.times.30 mm to 40 mm.times.60 mm so that it may be mounted on a camera. Contents of the IC card are or can be indicated on a front surface of the IC card. A plurality of connecting terminals for electric connection to a camera are disposed in a row on a rear surface along an edge of the IC card. A camera for use with such IC card has an IC card accommodating means provided thereon. Where the camera is a single lens reflex camera, the means may be located sidewardly of a pentagonal roof prism accommodating section on the top of the camera and include a lid member for opening or closing a card accommodating section thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Miki, Mamoru Katsuragi, Hideo Kajita, Takeshi Matsumoto, Masayasu Hirano, Tetsuro Ohya, Tae Iida, Hidehiko Fujii, Nobuharu Murashima
  • Patent number: 5070234
    Abstract: A connecting device for establishing electric connection between an electronic appliance and an IC card loaded in position in the electronic appliance, which can prevent possible operation in error and breakdown of a component circuit of the IC card when the IC card is loaded into the electronic appliance. The device includes several terminals provided on the IC card, corresponding terminals provided on the electronic appliance, and a pair of switch terminals located on the electronic appliance for contact with the IC card. The terminals of the IC card and/or the electronic appliance are arranged such that, upon loading of the IC card, at first supply of power to the IC card from the electronic appliance and resetting of the IC card may take place. Signals of the switch terminals which are operated at a last stage eby the IC card are applied to cause activation of the electronic appliance and initialization of the IC card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Ishii, Masayasu Hirano, Hideo Kajita, Hirokazu Kuroda, Shuji Izumi, Akihiko Fujino, Toshihiko Ishimura, Reiji Seki
  • Patent number: 5053800
    Abstract: An improved focus detecting apparatus comprises a photographic lens, a focus detecting device for detecting the focusing condition of the photographic lens and a lens driving means for driving the photographic lens based on the focusing condition detected, and the photographic lens is driven, in advance, to a focusing position where a frequently used magnification rate determined in accordance with the focal length of said photographic lens is attained, and then driven to an in-focus position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tokuji Ishida, Masataka Hamada, Toshio Norita, Masayuki Ueyama, Katsumi Kozakai, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Hideo Kajita, Kenji Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 5032857
    Abstract: A camera system wherein a card accommodating device can be mounted on a body of a camera without increasing the overall size of the camera body and without deteriorating the appearance and convenience in use of the camera. The card accommodating device is mounted on the camera body for pivotal motion from and to a position at which it is fitted in a recessed spacing formed rearwardly of a battery accommodating chamber and sidewardly of a take-up spool chamber of the camera body. The card accommodating device at the position forms part of a side wall of the camera body. The card accommodating device comprises an outer lid unit for removably accommodating an IC card therein, and an inner lid unit mounted for movement and releasably arrested on the outer lid unit and having switch elements and electric signal transmitting contacts located thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Miki, Mamoru Katsuragi, Hideo Kajita, Takeshi Matsumoto, Masayasu Hirano, Tetsuro Ohya, Tae Iida, Hidehiko Fujii, Nobuharu Murashima
  • Patent number: 5025239
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator suitable for use in combination with the mechanisms of cameras and the like. The electromagnetic actuator has a single electromagnet, and first and second armatures disposed opposite to the opposite attracting surfaces of the electromagnet, respectively. The first armature actuates a first operating lever for operating the shutter release mechanism of a camera, and the second armature actuates a second operating lever for operating the diaphragm of the camera. The first armature is separated from the attracting surface and the second armature is in contact with the attracting surface while the electromagnet is not energized. When the electromagnet is energized, the first armature is attracted to the attracting surface to actuate the first operating lever for releasing the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuharu Murashima, Hideo Kajita, Yasuo Hawai, Toshihiko Ishimura, Akira Okuno, Junichi Tanii, Reiji Seki
  • Patent number: 5003331
    Abstract: A film winding system of a camera, capable of automatically winding a film roll, comprising, an electric motor driven so as to winding the film roll, a film winding apparatus driven by the motor, a lock mechanism for locking the film winding apparatus, the lock mechanism comprising a film winding controller connected with the film winding apparatus and a lock lever engaging with the film winding controller so as to restrain an operation of the film winding apparatus, a releasing lever for cancelling an engagement of the lock lever to the film winding controller in advance before the film winding apparatus is actuated, and a loosing mechanism driven by the motor for reducing a degree of the engagement between the film winding controller and the lock lever in advance before the releasing lever swings in the cancellation direction of the engagement.The system operates as follows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahisa Shimada, Hideo Kajita, Sueyoshi Okumura, Reiji Seki, Toshihiko Ishimura, Sinji Katayori
  • Patent number: 4956657
    Abstract: A photographic camera having a manual focusing mechanism, an automatic focusing mechanism for automatically moving a lens with a drive device and a clutch disposed between the drive device and the lens. The clutch is normally urged towards a state of engagement by an urging element. Also, the clutch may be maintained at its disengaged position against the urging force of the urging element by a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is operatively connected with the drive device so as to be automatically released by a drive operation of the drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Dai Shintani, Toshihiko Taniguchi, Yukio Miki, Katsuhito Akagi, Hideo Kajita
  • Patent number: 4952965
    Abstract: An improved focus detecting apparatus comprises a photographic lens, focus adjusting apparatus for driving the photographic lens which has been placed on an initial focusing position to an in-focus position, an auxiliary light emitting apparatus for emitting an auxiliary light and a switch for selecting whether the focus adjustment should be carried out with the auxiliary light emitted or the focus adjustment should be carried out without the auxiliary light. The initial focusing position of the photographic lens can be switched dependent on whether the auxiliary light is emitted or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tokuji Ishida, Masataka Hamada, Toshio Norita, Masayuki Ueyama, Katsumi Kozakai, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Hideo Kajita, Kenji Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 4949109
    Abstract: A film winding system of a camera, comprising: an electrical motor, a film winding device, a cocking device. Both devices are driven by the motor, for winding a film roll and for cocking a predetermined mechanism, through a differential gearing by which one of the devices is driven selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahisa Shimada, Hideo Kajita, Sueyoshi Okumura, Reiji Seki, Toshihiko Ishimura, Sinji Katayori
  • Patent number: 4945370
    Abstract: A film rewinding system, of camera, capable of automatically rewinding a film roll which is wound by film winding apparatus comprising, an electrical motor, a film winding device driven by the motor, a lock mechanism associated with the film winding device, for locking the winding device every time feed of a frame of the film roll is completed, and a dis-lock mechanism having a dis-lock lever for releasing a locked state of the winding device for feeding the film roll, while the dis-lock lever is located at a neutral position during one-frame feeding and a magnet unit for holding the dis-lock lever at the neutral position, the system comprising: a film rewinding device driven by the motor; a switch operating on and off several times during the one-frame feeding, which is associated with the winding device and operates during film travelling; and a controller which controls the film rewinding device and the magnet unit with a predetermined routine.The system operates as follows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahisa Shimada, Hideo Kajita, Sueyoshi Okumura, Reiji Seki, Toshihiko Ishimura, Sinji Katayori
  • Patent number: 4935765
    Abstract: An improved focus detecting apparatus comprises a photographic lens, a focus detecting device for detecting the focusing condition of the photographic lens and a lens driving means for driving the photographic lens based on the focusing condition detected, and the photographic lens is driven, in advance, to a focusing position where a frequently used magnification rate determined in accordance with the focal length of said photographic lens is attained, and then driven to an in-focus position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tokuji Ishida, Masataka Hamada, Toshio Norita, Masayuki Ueyama, Katsumi Kozakai, Hiroshi Ootsuka, Hideo Kajita, Kenji Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 4537732
    Abstract: A system in process for producing an improved plastic molded optical element such as a mirror or lens is provided. The molded optical body has at least a surface portion designed for effective interfacing with incident light by reflection or refraction. Discontinuities form reference points at fixed positions on the molded optical surface. The reference points can include a projection or recess formed at the center of the lens system on the optical axis having a sufficient magnitude in size for measurement to determine a spatial position of the optical element but limited in size to prevent any perceptible aberration to be introduced within the desired application of the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Mitsuru Saito, Hideo Kajita
  • Patent number: 4431285
    Abstract: A movable mirror arrangement for use in a single lens reflex camera, including a main mirror and an auxiliary mirror. The arrangement includes a pivotal shaft about which the auxiliary mirror is pivoted towards the main mirror at the time of photographing an object, a main mirror holder having an opening formed larger in size than the auxiliary mirror, and a masking plate for shielding, at the time of photographing the object, a clearance formed adjacent to the pivotal shaft of the auxiliary mirror between the auxiliary mirror and the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Kajita, Takeshi Egawa, Yukio Miki
  • Patent number: 4173403
    Abstract: A single lens reflex camera is provided with a reflex mirror actuating mechanism and automatic diaphragm control mechanism, with each mechanism being delayed to operate at a proper speed. The diaphragm control mechanism arrests operation of a diaphragm driving means during stopping down of the diaphragm by means of an electromagnet actuated in response to the output of a diaphragm control circuit which compares set exposure factors with the brightness of an object to be photographed, while measuring the brightness through the diaphragm aperture that is being driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1979
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Shigeru Oyokota, Hideo Kajita