Patents by Inventor Kazunori Mizokami

Kazunori Mizokami 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: 5993076
    Abstract: When a camera is set in a portable state responsive to a photographing state detection device and a portable state detection device, film is rewound from a take-up spool chamber into a film cartridge and the take-up spool chamber is compressed in the direction of film feed to reduce the size of the camera body in the film feed direction. When the camera is set in a photographing state, the camera body is extended and the film is taken up from the film cartridge into the take-up spool chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Fujii, Kazunori Mizokami, Chiaki Okuhara
  • Patent number: 5805936
    Abstract: A camera according to the present invention has an arrangement that a film is discharged to a side toward a subject after a picture has been taken, the instant camera comprising a grip portion formed on a right portion of a camera body when viewed in a normal photography state and from a position of a photographer operating the camera, an optical system disposed on a left portion of the camera body when viewed from the said position of the photographer and including at least a photographing lens, and a film cartridge loading portion which is capable of loading a film cartridge into a position between the grip portion of the camera body and the optical system in such a manner that an exposure surface of the film accommodated in the film cartridge faces the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Matsuzaki, Kazunori Mizokami, Yuta Sato, Yoshitaka Naito, Fumio Tomikawa, Masaharu Hamada
  • Patent number: 5742860
    Abstract: A camera according to the present invention has an arrangement that a film is discharged to a side toward a subject after a picture has been taken, the instant camera comprising a grip portion formed on a right portion of a camera body when viewed in a normal photography state and from a position of a photographer operating the camera, an optical system disposed on a left portion of the camera body when viewed from the said position of the photographer and including at least a photographing lens, and a film cartridge loading portion which is capable of loading a film cartridge into a position between the grip portion of the camera body and the optical system in such a manner that an exposure surface of the film accommodated in the film cartridge faces the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Minoru Matsuzaki, Kazunori Mizokami, Yuta Sato, Yoshitaka Naito, Fumio Tomikawa, Masaharu Hamada
  • Patent number: 5708860
    Abstract: A CPU causes a Xe tube to emit light by charging a charging capacitor through an emission control circuit. Flash light from the Xe tube is projected toward an object to be measured through a mask, a visible light cutting filter, and a projection lens. Light reflected by the object is incident on a light-receiving element through a light-receiving lens and the visible light cutting filter. An output from the light-receiving element is input to a light position detection circuit. The CPU then calculates the distance to the object in accordance with an output from the light position detection circuit. A camera which can be used in water includes an electronic flash section capable of controlling its light amount. An underwater detection section detects whether the camera is used in water, and sends the detection result to a CPU. A distance measurement section projects a distance measurement light beam onto an object to be photographed, and measures the amount of light reflected by the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Nonaka, Kazunori Mizokami
  • Patent number: 5696997
    Abstract: A camera according to the present invention has an arrangement that a film is discharged to a side toward a subject after a picture has been taken, the instant camera comprising a grip portion formed on a right portion of a camera body when viewed in a normal photography state and from a position of a photographer operating the camera an optical system disposed on a left portion of the camera body when viewed from the said position of the photographer and including at least a photographing lens, and a film cartridge loading portion which is capable of loading a film cartridge into a position between the grip portion of the camera body and the optical system in such a manner that an exposure surface of the film accommodated in the film cartridge faces the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Matsuzaki, Kazunori Mizokami, Yuta Sato, Yoshitaka Naito, Fumio Tomikawa, Masaharu Hamada
  • Patent number: 5687411
    Abstract: A camera according to the present invention has an arrangement that a film is discharged to a side toward a subject after a picture has been taken, the instant camera comprising a grip portion formed on a right portion of a camera body when viewed in a normal photography state and from a position of a photographer operating the camera, an optical system disposed on a left portion of the camera body when viewed from the said position of the photographer and including at least a photographing lens, and a film cartridge loading portion which is capable of loading a film cartridge into a position between the grip portion of the camera body and the optical system in such a manner that an exposure surface of the film accommodated in the film cartridge faces the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Matsuzaki, Kazunori Mizokami, Yuta Sato, Yoshitaka Naito, Fumio Tomikawa, Masaharu Hamada
  • Patent number: 5337116
    Abstract: A distance measurement apparatus for use in a camera having a CPU. The apparatus has no analog distance-measuring IC and can yet perform active distance measuring. It comprises an infrared-emitting diode (IRED), a light-receiving element and an integration circuit, both connected to the ports of the CPU. In operation, the IRED emits an infrared beam toward an object. The light-receiving element receives the beam reflected form the object and stationary light and converts the beam and the light into an electric signal. The integration circuit integrates the electric signal. The CPU measures a first period of time lapsing from the time when the the integration circuit is initialized to the time when the output of the integration circuit increases over a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Nonaka, Takeshi Kindaichi, Kazunori Mizokami
  • Patent number: 5335029
    Abstract: In a magnetic recording apparatus for a camera using a film having a magnetic recording portion, a magnetic recording device records photographic data on the magnetic recording portion while the film is wound after a photographic operation corresponding to one frame is completed. An electrically erasable nonvolatile storage device stores the photographic data after the photographic operation corresponding to one frame is completed. A magnetic reproducing device reproduces the photographic data recorded on the magnetic recording portion while the film is rewound. A determining device determines whether the photographic data reproduced by the magnetic reproducing device coincides with the photographic data stored in the storage device. When the determining device determines that the two photographic data do not coincide with each other, a re-recording device causes the magnetic recording device to re-record the photographic data stored in the storage device on the magnetic recording portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Itoh, Masahiro Dai, Yasushi Toizumi, Kazunori Mizokami, Yoji Watanabe, Ayumu Midorikawa
  • Patent number: 4584610
    Abstract: An electronic photographing apparatus including a photosensor for converting an optical image, which enters through an objective lens, to an electric signal, and two comparators to which a video signal obtained by signal-processing the electric signal is supplied. Supplied to the comparators, respectively, are a reference voltage slightly lower than the saturation level of the video signal and a reference voltage slightly higher than the black level of the video signal. The comparators convert the video signal to a binary signal according to the reference voltages. The binary signals are supplied to a video signal processing circuit and are converted to a binary video signal. When the binary video signal is supplied to the display of an electric finder, an image which is over- or/and underexposed is displayed on the display. When the binary signal is supplied to an automatic exposure unit, the exposure of the scene is automatically controlled according to the over- or/and underexposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Mizokami, Tadashi Kimura, Juro Kikuchi, Akira Tamagawa, Yutaka Yunoki, Kazuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4571630
    Abstract: An electronic camera has a solid-state image pick-up device for picking up an image incident thereon through an imaging lens. The camera has a half mirror interposed between the lens and the image pick-up device, and, at its lower portion, a screen and a lamp for generating an information image. The half mirror transmits the incident image through the lens, and reflects the information image. Both images are synthesized, and a superposed image becomes incident on the image pick-up device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tamagawa, Tadashi Kimura, Kazunori Mizokami, Juro Kikuchi, Yutaka Yunoki, Kazuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4518237
    Abstract: An indicator for proper or improper exposure provided by automatic electronic flash includes a first decision circuit having a first decision level lower than a proper level of exposure, and a second decision circuit having a second decision level higher than the proper level of exposure. Thus, a given film latitude is allowed for the overexposure and the underexposure in determining and displaying the overexposure, the underexposure or proper exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Mizokami
  • Patent number: 4514074
    Abstract: An exposure control circuit associated with TTL automatic electronic flash includes a diaphragm control circuit. When the electronic flash is mounted on a TTL direct photometry camera capable of photometry of reflection from a film surface in order to take a picture with the aid of the electronic flash, the diaphragm control circuit assures the emission of light from the electronic flash in a reliable manner, by automatically establishing a diaphragm value between a given diaphragm value and a minimum diaphragm value, the established diaphragm value assuring a proper exposure with an exposure period which is closely synchronized with the operation of the electronic flash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Mizokami
  • Patent number: 4512648
    Abstract: A program type automatic exposure controller produces a selection signal in each of the film sensitivity information regions in response to information for a film sensitivity in said each of regions and changes a program constant in the aperture controller by the selection signal so that an aperture control for opening and closing a shutter may be conducted by a photometry operation of light reflected by the film surface after an aperture operation is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Mizokami
  • Patent number: 4509845
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the emission of an electronic flash is provided, which is used with a photographic camera of the type in which the photometry of reflection from a film surface is effected. The apparatus calculates an exposure period on the basis of TTL photometric value which prevails before shutter release, displays such exposure period, compares it against a synchronized period, and causes an integrating operation of a photocurrent to be delayed a given time interval if it is decided that the calculated period is greater than the synchronized period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Mizokami
  • Patent number: 4498753
    Abstract: A photometric apparatus for a camera comprises a reference voltage circuit; an operational amplifier including a photoelectromotive element for photometry, an output terminal of said reference voltage circuit and an input terminal of said amplifier being connected through an impedeance element to a voltage divider tap of a battery; and a switching circuit for switching said reference voltage circuit to an operable condition as well as for changing set resistors which apply a bias current to said operational amplifier, in synchronism with a shutter releasing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Mizokami
  • Patent number: 4492858
    Abstract: A photometric circuit comprises an operational amplifier including a plurality of differential amplifiers, a constant current bias circuit for supplying a constant current bias to the differential amplifiers, and a bias control switching circuit which selectively connects the constant current bias circuit to one of the plurality of differential amplifiers in response to an external signal. A plurality of photoelectric transducer elements, used for purpose of photometry, are connected to differential inputs corresponding to the plurality of differential amplifiers, and the transducer element is selectively enabled for photometry in accordance with the external signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Mizokami
  • Patent number: 4474451
    Abstract: A diaphragm control circuit associated with TTL automatic electronic flash is adapted to be used in a camera of the TTL direct photometry type and capable of photometry of light reflection from film surface. When the electronic flash is mounted on the camera for cooperation therewith, the diaphragm control circuit responds to a brightness of an object being photographed by automatically establishing an aperture value which produces an exposure period synchronized with the operation of the electronic flash. The diaphragm control circuit also assures that the aperture controlling operation takes place reliably over a given time interval so that an aperture value which is less by a given number of steps than the open value is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Mizokami
  • Patent number: 4473744
    Abstract: A photometric apparatus for a camera includes a diode for logarithmic compression and a semiconductor analog switch in series connection between an output terminal of a first operational amplifier and a second operational amplifier forming an integration circuit by connecting a photoelectric transducer element for a photometry purpose. A logarithimic compression signal for an exposure display and a photocurrent integration signal for an exposure control are derived from the first and the second operational amplifier, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Mizokami
  • Patent number: 4460262
    Abstract: An automatic exposure control circuit for a TTL automatic electronic flash for use with a camera having an electronic flash controlling capability and capable of photometry of reflection from a film surface performs photometry of stationary light until a shutter is fully open and then controls an emission of flashlight when the shutter is fully open and subsequently controls again photometry of stationary light after termination of the flashlight so that a ratio of the stationary light to the flashlight in light quantity can be an appropriate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1984
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Mizokami
  • Patent number: 4459007
    Abstract: An apparatus for reflection photometry of a single lens reflex camera includes a first shutter blind, the surface of which exhibits a reflectivity which is nearly one-half the reflectivity of a film surface. During the time a photoelectric transducer element, used for photometry, receives light reflection from the surface of the first blind, an output from a photometric circuit is doubled so as to be substantially equal to the output produced when the transducer element receives light reflection from the film surface during the running of the first blind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Nemoto, Kazunori Mizokami