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: 20130010134
    Abstract: An accessory capable of communicating with a camera, includes a terminal section having a plurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals include a startup state providing terminal that provides, to the camera, a detection level by which the camera detects that the accessory is capable of being started up, a data signal terminal that outputs a data signal including information regarding the accessory to the camera, and a first reference potential terminal having a reference potential of the detection level and the data signal. The startup state providing terminal is disposed adjacent to the data signal terminal, and the first reference potential terminal is adjacent to the data signal terminal, and is disposed with the data signal terminal interposed between the startup state providing terminal and the first reference potential terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki MOTOKI, Akihiro OZONE, Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Akihiro SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20130010185
    Abstract: An accessory communicates with a camera. The accessory includes a terminal section which has a plurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals includes a startup state providing terminal that supplies, to the camera, a detection level in order for the camera to detect that the accessory is capable of being started up, a data signal terminal that outputs a data signal, which includes information regarding the accessory, to the camera, and a first reference potential terminal which becomes a reference potential of the detection level and the data signal. The startup state providing terminal is arranged side by side with the data signal terminal, and the first reference potential terminal is arranged side by side with the data signal terminal such that the data signal terminal is disposed between the startup state providing terminal and the first reference potential terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki MOTOKI, Akihiro OZONE, Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Akihiro SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20130002942
    Abstract: An accessory which is controlled by a control signal supplied from a camera, includes: a terminal section having a plurality of terminals located adjacent to each other in an array that extends in an array direction, the plurality of terminals including at least a power terminal to which power is supplied from the camera and a signal input terminal to which the control signal is input from the camera; and a ground portion corresponding to the power terminal. The power terminal is disposed at a first end of the array the signal input terminal is disposed near a second end of the array opposite the first end, and the ground portion is disposed in a position further away from the power terminal than is the signal input terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki MOTOKI, Akihiro OZONE, Akihiro SUGIYAMA, Kazuharu IMAFUJI
  • Publication number: 20130002944
    Abstract: An accessory is an accessory supplied with power from a camera. The accessory includes an accumulation section that accumulates power, a receiving section that receives a control command, for instructing a charging operation on the accumulation section, from the camera, a charging section that charges the accumulation section with the power supplied from the camera in accordance with the control command, and an accessory control section that outputs, to the camera, a charging request that requests to output the control command from the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Akihiro OZONE, Keiko TSUCHIYA, Izumi KUMAZAWA, Yasuyuki MOTOKI, Akihiro SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20130004152
    Abstract: An accessory controlled by a camera, includes: a storage section that stores information regarding an accessory function of the accessory; and an accessory control section that transmits the information stored in the storage section to the camera, wherein the storage section stores first information by which the camera determines whether the accessory has an extended function and second information indicating characteristics of the accessory function, and the accessory control section transmits the first information, and then transmits the second information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Akihiro OZONE, Keiko TSUCHIYA, Izumi KUMAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20130002943
    Abstract: An accessory is an accessary controlled by a camera. The accessory includes an information holding section that holds predetermined information by which the camera determines whether or not the accessary requests a supply of power consumed in the accessory to the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Akihiro OZONE, Keiko TSUCHIYA, Izumi KUMAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20130002897
    Abstract: An accessory is supplied with power from a camera, and includes an accessory control section that controls a process executed in the accessory in accordance with an image capture mode of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Akihiro OZONE, Keiko TSUCHIYA, Izumi KUMAZAWA, Yasuyuki MOTOKI
  • Patent number: 8342760
    Abstract: A camera accessory is detachably mounted at a camera body that includes a first body contact point, a second body contact point, a third body contact point, a fourth body contact point and a fifth body contact point and detects disengagement of the camera accessory when the fifth body contact point sustains a signal level corresponding to a first truth value continuously over a length of time equal to or greater than a predetermined time length. In the camera accessory, the accessory-side communication control device executes control so as to ensure that the signal assuming a level corresponding to the first truth value is not continuously output from the fifth accessory contact point any longer than the predetermined time length while the operating voltage supply from the camera body is provided via the first accessory contact point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20120301126
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens to be removably attached to a camera body, includes: a receiving device that receives predetermined control data from the camera body through a first transmission path; a control device that executes predetermined control processing based upon the control data upon reception of the control data by the receiving device; a generation device that executes at predetermined intervals generation processing for generating predetermined lens data which indicates an operating state of the interchangeable lens; a transmission device that transmits the lens data to the camera body through a second transmission path, which is different from the first transmission path, upon generation of the lens data by the generation device; and a prioritizing device that gives priority to the generation processing by the generation device over the control processing by the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuharu IMAFUJI
  • Publication number: 20120294598
    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: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi OIKAWA, Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Shigeo TAKAHASHI, Shunji NAGAYA
  • Publication number: 20120219281
    Abstract: A camera accessory is detachably mounted at a camera body that includes a first body contact point, a second body contact point, a third body contact point, a fourth body contact point and a fifth body contact point and detects disengagement of the camera accessory when the fifth body contact point sustains a signal level corresponding to a first truth value continuously over a length of time equal to or greater than a predetermined time length. In the camera accessory, the accessory-side communication control device executes control so as to ensure that the signal assuming a level corresponding to the first truth value is not continuously output from the fifth accessory contact point any longer than the predetermined time length while the operating voltage supply from the camera body is provided via the first accessory contact point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Masafumi OIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120063016
    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: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Masafumi OIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120063020
    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, in the interchangeable lens, the first contact is arranged on one end and the eleventh contact is arranged on another end of the arrangement of the twelve contacts; the second contact is arranged next to the first contact in the arrangement of the twelve contacts; and the twelfth contact is arranged next to the eleventh contact in the arrangement of the twelve contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Masafumi OIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8130280
    Abstract: An electronic camera includes: an imaging device that captures a subject image and outputs image signals; an image synthesizing device that performs image synthesis to generate a single image by using a plurality of sets of image signals obtained on different imaging conditions by the imaging device; and a control device that determines whether or not to perform the image synthesis with the image synthesizing device based on a predetermined determination condition, and, when it is determined to perform the image synthesis, controls the image synthesizing device so as to perform the image synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Toshiharu Matsuda, Kimio Uematsu
  • Publication number: 20110317061
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens that is detachably mounted at a camera body includes: a photographic optical system that includes a first drive target member and a second drive target member, a drive condition of each of which changes; and a drive condition information transmission unit that transmits to the camera body first drive condition information pertaining to the drive condition of the first drive target member and second drive condition information pertaining to the drive condition of the second optical member. The drive condition information transmission unit transmits the first drive condition information with a first frequency and transmits the second drive condition information with a second frequency lower than the first frequency by attaching the second drive condition information to the first drive condition information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Masafumi OIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20110317990
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens that is detachably fitted to a camera body includes: a photographic optical system including a plurality of driven members whose driven state changes; a driven position information transmission unit that transmits driven position information to the camera body via a first transmission unit according to a clock signal input from the camera body, the driven position information being relates to a position of at least one driven member among the plurality of driven members; and a type information transmission unit that transmits type information to the camera body via a second transmission unit that is different from the first transmission unit, the type information specifying a type of driven position information that can be transmitted from the driven position information transmission unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuharu IMAFUJI
  • Publication number: 20110267511
    Abstract: A camera includes an image sensor that includes a first pixel row at which a plurality of first pixels that output focus adjustment signals are disposed, and second pixel rows each made up exclusively with a plurality of second pixels that output image data generation signals; and an interpolation processing device that executes, when outputs from a plurality of pixel rows are provided as a combined output according to a predetermined combination rule, interpolation processing for an output from a specific second pixel row which would be combined with an output from the first pixel row according to the predetermined combination rule, by using the output of the specific second pixel row and a combined output of second pixel rows present around the specific second pixel row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuharu IMAFUJI
  • Publication number: 20110229118
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens to be removably attached to a camera body, includes: a receiving device that receives predetermined control data from the camera body through a first transmission path; a control device that executes predetermined control processing based upon the control data upon reception of the control data by the receiving device; a generation device that executes at predetermined intervals generation processing for generating predetermined lens data which indicates an operating state of the interchangeable lens; a transmission device that transmits the lens data to the camera body through a second transmission path, which is different from the first transmission path, upon generation of the lens data by the generation device; and a prioritizing device that gives priority to the generation processing by the generation device over the control processing by the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuharu IMAFUJI
  • Publication number: 20090096896
    Abstract: An electronic camera includes: an imaging device that captures a subject image and outputs image signals; an image synthesizing device that performs image synthesis to generate a single image by using a plurality of sets of image signals obtained on different imaging conditions by the imaging device; and a control device that determines whether or not to perform the image synthesis with the image synthesizing device based on a predetermined determination condition, and, when it is determined to perform the image synthesis, controls the image synthesizing device so as to perform the image synthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Toshiharu Matsuda, Kimio Uematsu
  • Patent number: 6049676
    Abstract: A motion compensation system for a camera including a detachable lens barrel and a camera body. The motion compensation system identifies whether the detection of motion compensation is possible within the camera body. In response to a lens status command to the lens barrel from camera body, the lens barrel transmits to the camera body data indicating whether the detection of motion by a motion sensor or a sensor circuit is possible. Upon receiving the data, the camera body identifies whether the detection of motion is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Nobuhiko Terui