Patents by Inventor Kazuharu Imafuji

Kazuharu Imafuji 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).

  • Publication number: 20230273507
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens that is detachably attached to a camera body and that includes a holding unit at which a plurality of contacts is arranged, includes: a first contact group that includes a plurality of the contacts, arranged at the holding unit, through which a first data communication is performed with the camera body in a first period; a second contact group that includes a plurality of the contacts, arranged at the holding unit, through which a second data communication is performed with the camera body in a second period that is shorter than the first period; and a power source contact arranged at the holding unit, through which operation voltages for the first and second data communications are supplied to the interchangeable lens from the camera body. The first contact group is arranged at a position closer to the power source contact than the second contact group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Masafumi OIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11650483
    Abstract: An accessary that is attachable to a camera body, includes a first power terminal to which a first drive power is supplied from the camera body; a second power terminal to which a second drive power is supplied from the camera body; a first ground terminal that is a ground terminal corresponding to the first drive power; a second ground terminal that is a ground terminal corresponding to the second drive power; and a communication terminal group consisting of a plurality of terminals used for a first data communication with the camera body and a second data communication with the camera body, the second data communication being independent of the first data communication. The plurality of terminals of the communication terminal group are arranged directly adjacent to each other, and the first ground terminal is arranged between the first power terminal and the communication terminal group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20220210315
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi OIKAWA, Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Shigeo TAKAHASHI, Shunji NAGAYA
  • Patent number: 11317012
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi Oikawa, Kazuharu Imafuji, Shigeo Takahashi, Shunji Nagaya
  • Publication number: 20220011652
    Abstract: An accessary that is attachable to a camera body, includes a first power terminal to which a first drive power is supplied from the camera body; a second power terminal to which a second drive power is supplied from the camera body; a first ground terminal that is a ground terminal corresponding to the first drive power; a second ground terminal that is a ground terminal corresponding to the second drive power; and a communication terminal group consisting of a plurality of terminals used for a first data communication with the camera body and a second data communication with the camera body, the second data communication being independent of the first data communication. The plurality of terminals of the communication terminal group are arranged directly adjacent to each other, and the first ground terminal is arranged between the first power terminal and the communication terminal group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Masafumi OIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11163217
    Abstract: An interchangeable device that is attachable to an electronic device includes a first communication unit communicating with the electronic device via a first path; and a second communication unit communicating with the electronic device via a second path. The first path includes a first contact that outputs to the electronic device a signal indicating whether it is possible to perform communication via the first path, a second contact that communicates a first clock signal with the electronic device, a third contact to which a signal is input from the electronic device synchronized with the first clock signal, and a fourth contact that outputs a signal to the electronic device synchronized with the first clock signal. The second path includes a seventh contact communicating a second clock signal with the electronic device, and an eighth contact that outputs to the electronic device a signal synchronized with the second clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20210203834
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi OIKAWA, Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Shigeo TAKAHASHI, Shunji NAGAYA
  • Patent number: 10979618
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi Oikawa, Kazuharu Imafuji, Shigeo Takahashi, Shunji Nagaya
  • Publication number: 20200252538
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi OIKAWA, Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Shigeo TAKAHASHI, Shunji NAGAYA
  • Publication number: 20200183256
    Abstract: An interchangeable device that is attachable to an electronic device includes a first communication unit communicating with the electronic device via a first path; and a second communication unit communicating with the electronic device via a second path. The first path includes a first contact that outputs to the electronic device a signal indicating whether it is possible to perform communication via the first path, a second contact that communicates a first clock signal with the electronic device, a third contact to which a signal is input from the electronic device synchronized with the first clock signal, and a fourth contact that outputs a signal to the electronic device synchronized with the first clock signal. The second path includes a seventh contact communicating a second clock signal with the electronic device, and an eighth contact that outputs to the electronic device a signal synchronized with the second clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Masafumi OIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10674065
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi Oikawa, Kazuharu Imafuji, Shigeo Takahashi, Shunji Nagaya
  • Patent number: 10599017
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens to be detachably attached to a camera body, that includes a holding unit at which a plurality of contacts is arranged, the interchangeable lens includes: a first communication contact system arranged at the holding unit; and a second communication contact system different from the first communication contact system, arranged at the holding unit at a position different from a position at which the first communication contact system is arranged. The fourth contact is arranged at a position closer to the second communication contact system than the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact are, and the seventh contact and the eighth contact are arranged at positions closer to the first communication contact system than the fifth contact and the sixth contact are.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20180367724
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi OIKAWA, Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Shigeo TAKAHASHI, Shunji NAGAYA
  • Patent number: 10091407
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi Oikawa, Kazuharu Imafuji, Shigeo Takahashi, Shunji Nagaya
  • Publication number: 20180046066
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens to be detachably attached to a camera body, that includes a holding unit at which a plurality of contacts is arranged, the interchangeable lens includes: a first communication contact system arranged at the holding unit; and a second communication contact system different from the first communication contact system, arranged at the holding unit at a position different from a position at which the first communication contact system is arranged. The fourth contact is arranged at a position closer to the second communication contact system than the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact are, and the seventh contact and the eighth contact are arranged at positions closer to the first communication contact system than the fifth contact and the sixth contact are.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Masafumi OIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20170366734
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi OIKAWA, Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Shigeo TAKAHASHI, Shunji NAGAYA
  • Patent number: 9823548
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens to be detachably attached to a camera body, that includes a holding unit at which a plurality of contacts is arranged, the interchangeable lens includes: a first communication contact system arranged at the holding unit; and a second communication contact system different from the first communication contact system, arranged at the holding unit at a position different from a position at which the first communication contact system is arranged. The fourth contact is arranged at a position closer to the second communication contact system than the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact are, and the seventh contact and the eighth contact are arranged at positions closer to the first communication contact system than the fifth contact and the sixth contact are.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 9774777
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi Oikawa, Kazuharu Imafuji, Shigeo Takahashi, Shunji Nagaya
  • Publication number: 20170034420
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi OIKAWA, Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Shigeo TAKAHASHI, Shunji NAGAYA
  • Patent number: 9507121
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes: an attachment section to which a camera body is to be attached; a photographic optical system that includes a plurality of driven members whose driven state changes; a driven information transmission unit that transmits a plurality of items of driven information to the camera body according to a clock signal outputted from the camera body, the plurality of items of driven information being related to positions of the plurality of driven members; and a type information transmission unit that transmits type information via a first transmission unit, the type information representing a type of driven information which can be transmitted by the driven information transmission unit; wherein the driven information transmission unit transmits the driven information for each of the plurality of driven members via a second transmission unit that is different from the first transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuharu Imafuji