Patents by Inventor Kenji Tazaki

Kenji Tazaki 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: 5758201
    Abstract: A camera having a line of sight detecting device, includes a line of sight detection portion for detecting the line of sight position of a photographer, a portion of selection of a line of sight mode for selecting one of a single mode for locking a line of sight position obtained when a plurality of previous detection results of the line of sight detection portion satisfy a predetermined eye-gazing condition and a continuous mode for renewing the line of sight position on the basis of the latest line of sight position from the line of sight detection portion, a control mode setting portion for selecting a control mode for setting a camera phototaking condition, and a phototaking control for setting the camera phototaking condition in accordance with the line of sight position of the photographer when the control mode is selected, wherein when the control mode is selected by the control mode setting portion, the continuous mode is selected by the portion of selection of a line of sight mode, and the camera pho
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimi Watanabe, Isao Kishikawa, Yosuke Kusaka, Shigemasa Sato, Masao Owashi, Kenji Tazaki, Fumio Suzuki, Hiroyuki Iwasaki, Tsutomu Narisawa
  • Patent number: 5745814
    Abstract: A camera lens shutter having separate aperture blades and shutter blades arranged in a manner to provide a shutter unit having decreased thickness. The lens shutter includes a first shading member to expose an exposure aperture when in an open state and to cover the exposure aperture when in a closed state. A first circular cam drives the primary shading member. A second shading member forms a plurality of aperture diameters, and a second circular cam drives the second shading member. The inner diameter of either the first or second cam is made larger than the outer diameter of the other. The lens shutter may also include a shading member to expose an exposure aperture wherein an open state, a first circular cam to drive the first shading member, a second shading member to cover or close the exposure aperture, a second circular cam to drive the second shading member, a third shading member to form a plurality of aperture diameters, and a third circular cam to drive the third shading member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Kanbayashi, Kenji Tazaki, Masanori Hasuda
  • Patent number: 5640610
    Abstract: A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, having a light source illuminating an eye of a photographer with light; a conversion device converting reflected light from the illuminated eye to an output corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light; and an eye gazing point determination system identifying an eye-gazing point of the photographer when an output difference or an output ratio between a peak output and a background output of the conversion device is greater than a predetermined value and when the magnitude of a peak output from the conversion device is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemasa Sato, Toshimi Watanabe, Kenji Tazaki
  • Patent number: 5537181
    Abstract: A camera device comprises an eye-gaze position detecting for detecting a photographer's eye-gaze position in a photographing image field, a starting device responsive to the satisfaction of a predetermined condition indicative of a situation in which the detection of the eye-gaze position should be started to start the operation of the eye-gaze position detecting device, a timer device responsive to the counting of a predetermined time from after the power source of the camera is turned on to stop the operation of the eye-gaze position detecting device, a timer resetting device responsive to the satisfaction of the predetermined condition to initialize the time counting by the timer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Owashi, Shigemasa Sato, Toshimi Watanabe, Kenji Tazaki