Patents by Inventor Keiji Osawa
Keiji Osawa 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).
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Patent number: 7929858Abstract: An image-capturing element that receives light of a subject image entering within a camera body through an interchangeable photographic lens is packaged and is mounted at the camera body via a holder. A camera-side mounting surface and a holder-side mounting surface are machined in advance and formed respectively relative to the mounting surface for the photographic lens formed at the camera body and the light-receiving surface of the image-capturing element. By mounting the image-capturing apparatus with the camera-side mounting surface and the holder-side mounting surface placed in contact with each other at the camera body using screws, the light-receiving surface is aligned with the image-forming position of the photographic lens.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2004Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Akira Ezawa, Keiji Osawa, Akira Yamamoto, Takayuki Uchiyama, Yousuke Kowno, Katsumasa Nishijima, Tomoyuki Takada
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Patent number: 7075719Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate 1a to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10? and L20? emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L11, L12, L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutilo, Chilean nitrate, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2003Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Keiji Osawa
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Publication number: 20060139752Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate 1a to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10? and L20? emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate id along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L11, L12, L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutile, Chilean nitrate, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2006Publication date: June 29, 2006Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Keiji Osawa, Kiyoshige Shibazaki
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Publication number: 20050041137Abstract: By using a focal plane shutter having one set of shutter blades as a shielding member of an image pick-up element, it is possible to miniaturize the shutter compared to a focal plane shutter having two sets of blades. This enables the operation to be simplified, and also saves space. Furthermore, in an electronic camera having this focal plane shutter, because the shooting lens side of the image pick-up element that is disposed in the main camera body can be disposed protruding into the shutter unit, the length of the main camera body in the direction of the optical path of the shooting lens can be reduced, and it is possible to form the main camera body small compared to a conventional main camera body.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2003Publication date: February 24, 2005Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Akira Ezawa, Keiji Osawa
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Publication number: 20050030421Abstract: An image-capturing element that receives light of a subject image entering within a camera body through an interchangeable photographic lens is packaged and is mounted at the camera body via a holder. A camera-side mounting surface and a holder-side mounting surface are machined in advance and formed respectively relative to the mounting surface for the photographic lens formed at the camera body and the light-receiving surface of the image-capturing element. By mounting the image-capturing apparatus with the camera-side mounting surface and the holder-side mounting surface placed in contact with each other at the camera body using screws, the light-receiving surface is aligned with the image-forming position of the photographic lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Akira Ezawa, Keiji Osawa, Akira Yamamoto, Takayuki Uchiyama, Yousuke Kowno, Katsumasa Nishijima, Tomoyuki Takada
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Patent number: 6803961Abstract: An image-capturing element that receives light of a subject image entering within a camera body through an interchangeable photographic lens is packaged and is mounted at the camera body via a holder. A camera-side mounting surface and a holder-side mounting surface are machined in advance and formed respectively relative to the mounting surface for the photographic lens formed at the camera body and the light-receiving surface of the image-capturing element. By mounting the image-capturing apparatus with the camera-side mounting surface and the holder-side mounting surface placed in contact with each other at the camera body using screws, the light-receiving surface is aligned with the image-forming position of the photographic lens.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2000Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Akira Ezawa, Keiji Osawa, Akira Yamamoto, Takayuki Uchiyama, Yousuke Kowno, Katsumasa Nishijima, Tomoyuki Takada
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Patent number: 6778325Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate 1a to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10′ and L20′ emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L11, L12. L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutile, Chilean nitrate, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2002Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Keiji Osawa
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Publication number: 20040042078Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate la to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate la are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10′ and L20′ emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L11, L12, L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutile, Chilean nitrate, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Applicant: Nikon CorporationInventors: Keiji Osawa, Kiyoshige Shibazaki
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Patent number: 6650474Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate 1a to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10′ and L20′ emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L12, L12, L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutile, Chilean nitrate, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2002Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Keiji Osawa
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Publication number: 20020149847Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate 1a to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10′ and L20′ emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L11, L12. L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutile, Chilean nitrate, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2002Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Keiji Osawa, Kiyoshige Shibazaki
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Publication number: 20020145802Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate 1a to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10′ and L20′ emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L12, L12, L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutile, Chilean nitrate, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2002Publication date: October 10, 2002Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Keiji Osawa
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Patent number: 6392803Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate la to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10′ and L20′ emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L11, L12, L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutile. Chilean nitrate, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Keiji Osawa
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Patent number: 6327085Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate 1a to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1. The two light fluxes L10′ and L20′ emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L11, L12, L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1999Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Keiji Osawa, Kiyoshige Shibazaki
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Patent number: 6272292Abstract: An electronic flash unit is caused to perform a pre-flash immediately before a photographing operation, and the quantity of light reflected by the subject during the pre-flash is measured by a flash metering unit. Based upon the output from the flash metering unit, a decision is made as to whether or not another pre-flash is to be implemented. Based upon the results of the decision-making, another pre-flash is performed if necessary. Thus, if the quantity of light measured by the flash metering unit during the pre-flash is too small or too large and a sufficient degree of accuracy is not achieved in the measurement, another pre-flash is performed to assure a high degree of accuracy in metering.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1999Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Iwasaki, Keiji Osawa
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Publication number: 20010005283Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate la to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10′ and L20′ emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L11, L12, L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutile. Chilean nitrate, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2001Publication date: June 28, 2001Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Keiji Osawa, Kiyoshige Shibazaki
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Patent number: 5875360Abstract: A focus detection device that is capable of performing focus detection in several focus detection areas within a photographic image plane using, for example, a phase difference method and that uses an auxiliary illumination light with at least one of the areas also includes infrared light cut filters that block the transmission of light above predetermined wavelengths. In particular, the maximum wavelength of the light transmitted by the infrared cut filter for one of the focus detection areas is different than the maximum wavelength of the light transmitted by the infrared cut filter for another one of the focus detection areas.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1997Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Keiji Osawa
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Patent number: 5678074Abstract: A power focus device for a camera provides a user-friendly lever interface allowing efficient camera operation. A lever, located outside a camera cover, is movable in two opposing directions but is biased to remain at a neutral position between two extremes of movement. Moving the lever from the neutral position initiates driving the camera lens to focus in either a first or a second direction according to a direction of a displacement of the lever from the neutral position. A speed of focusing is proportional to an amount of displacement of the lever from the neutral position, thus permitting variable high and low speed focusing in both directions for rapid and accurate close-up and infinity focussing. Incorporating a seal into the device permits use in underwater camera applications.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1996Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Ryuichi Mori, Keiji Osawa
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Patent number: 5498864Abstract: A focus detection apparatus that detects focusing conditions among multiple viewing areas within an image plane of a camera in order to guarantee equal focusing precision among the multiple viewing areas. The focus detection apparatus includes an aperture mask, a secondary imaging lens, and a line sensor which are assembled as a sub-unit. Each area of a multitude of viewing areas is provided with such a sub-unit to perform cross-eye adjustments. Finally, each sub-unit is aligned for installation on a main unit that is equipped with a field lens in order to perform pupil exit adjustments independently for each of the aforementioned viewing areas.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1995Date of Patent: March 12, 1996Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Keiji Osawa
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Patent number: 5412445Abstract: A power focus device for a camera provides a user-friendly lever interface allowing efficient camera operation. A lever, located outside a camera cover, is movable in two opposing directions but is biased to remain at a neutral position between two extremes of movement. Moving the lever from the neutral position initiates driving the camera lens to focus in either a first or a second direction according to a direction of a displacement of the lever from the neutral position. A speed of focusing is proportional to an amount of displacement of the lever from the neutral position, thus permitting variable high and low speed focusing in both directions for rapid and accurate close-up and infinity focussing. Incorporating a seal into the device permits use in underwater camera applications.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1993Date of Patent: May 2, 1995Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Ryuichi Mori, Keiji Osawa