Patents by Inventor Minoru Sekida
Minoru Sekida 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: 5659820Abstract: A camera having a covering member which covers the upper side of the camera and having a projecting portion shaped as a pentagonal reflecting member; a first manually operable portion located at the covering member on one side of the projecting portion for designating one of a plurality of kinds of photographic data; a second manually operable portion located at the covering member on the other side of the projecting portion and adapted for commonly altering any of the plurality of kinds of photographing data to actually alter the designated one thereof in combination with the actual designation by the first manually operable portion; a light measuring device for measuring the luminance of the object to be photographed; a calculator for carrying out an exposure calculation based on the result of the light measuring; a display portion for displaying at least either one of shutter speed and aperture value obtained by the exposure calculation; and a display controller for controlling the display such that, whenType: GrantFiled: October 8, 1993Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 5164760Abstract: A camera exposure data setting device for setting exposure data in digital form in response to on or off of switches. A first switch actuating member is manually operable for changing mainly an exposure time value and is located at or about the position where a shutter speed setting dial is located conventional cameras, and a second switch actuating member is manually operable for changing mainly a diaphragm aperture value and is located at a position of the camera opposite from the position of the first switch member with respect to the vertical plane passing the optical axis of an objective lens.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1991Date of Patent: November 17, 1992Assignee: Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Fujino, Manabu Inoue, Takanobu Omaki, Masaaki Nakai, Akira Fujii, Minoru Sekida
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Patent number: 5111234Abstract: In a camera adapted to function with stored data, aperture value data is stored at a predetermined step in accordance with a manual operation of a manually operable member and digital data, showing a controllable range of an aperture diaphragm of an interchangeable lens, is transmitted from the interchangeable lens and read. The stored aperture value data is detected to determine whether such data is out of the controllable range and the aperture value data to be stored is set to a limited value within the controllable range when the detection of the stored aperture value data is out of the controllable range.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1990Date of Patent: May 5, 1992Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 5075710Abstract: A camera includes a cover for the upper side of the camera body and having a projecting portion shaped as a pentagonal prism with a first manual operable member located at the cover on a first side of the projecting portion for designating one of a plurality of kinds of photographic data. A second manually operable member is located at the cover on a second side of the projecting portion and alters any of the plurality of the kinds of photographic data in combination with the actual designation of the first manually operable member. The designated photographic data is indicated by a display located at the cover on the second side of the projecting portion. A third manually operable member, also located at the cover on the second side of the projecting portion, initiates exposure operation of the camera.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1990Date of Patent: December 24, 1991Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 5041861Abstract: A camera with circuitry, a main power source for supplying electric power to the circuitry, a back-up power source for supplying electric power to the circuitry independently from the main power source, a detector for detecting the condition of the back-up power source to produce a warning signal when the back-up power source can not supply sufficient electric power to the circuitry, starting the operation of the detector when the main power source has recovered, setting data to the circuitry in accordance with a manual operation and interrupting the operation of the warning signal when the data setting is operated.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1990Date of Patent: August 20, 1991Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 5036350Abstract: A camera has an automatic data reading arrangement for reading ISO data provided on a film cartridge. When a main battery is exchanged with an old battery while the film is still loaded in the camera, ISO data is maintained in a memory supported and powered by a back-up battery. If such an ISO data is not available after the exchange of the main battery, ISO data again read from the loaded film cartride is employed. If the film is not the type that can provide an ISO data, the most widely used ISO data will be automatically set for the further exposure calculation.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1990Date of Patent: July 30, 1991Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 5005047Abstract: A camera exposure data setting device for setting exposure data in digital form in response to [on or off] of switches. A first switch actuating member is manually operable for changing mainly an exposure time value and is located at or about the position where a shutter speed setting dial is located in conventional cameras, and a second switch actuating member is manually operable for changing mainly a diaphragm aperture value and is located at a position of the camera opposite from the position of the first switch member with respect to the vertical plane passing through the optical axis of an objective lens.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1990Date of Patent: April 2, 1991Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiko Fujino, Manabu Inoue, Takanobu Omaki, Masaaki Nakai, Akira Fujii, Minoru Sekida
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Patent number: 4956661Abstract: In a camera system having a camera body and at least one camera accessory attachable to the camera body, a plurality of circuit elements are provided in the camera body and in the camera accessory for performing predetermined respective operations. Circuitry in the camera controls the plurality of circuit elements and includes a data bus for connecting the control circuitry with the plurality of circuit elements. The data bus serially sends data from the control circuitry to the plurality of circuit elements and from the plurality of circuit elements to the control circuitry. At least one signal line connects the control circuitry with each of the circuit elements, respectively, for sending clock pulses utilized for synchronizing the data sent through the data bus. A plurality of selecting lines selects, by the control circuitry, which circuit element receives the data from the control circuitry and sends the data to the control circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1988Date of Patent: September 11, 1990Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4952959Abstract: In a camera for setting photographic data, a first manually operable means for designating one of a plurality of kinds of photographing data and second manually operable means for adapted for commonly altering any of the plurality of kinds of photographing data to actually alter the designated photographing data in combination with the actual designation by the first manually operable means, and an indicator for indicating the designated one of the photographing data.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1988Date of Patent: August 28, 1990Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Kakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4947203Abstract: In a camera adapted to function with stored data, the exposure time data, aperture value data and override data are stored and the stored aperture value data is normally indicated with provision for indication of the stored override data in place of the aperture value data. The stored exposure time data may be indicated by additional indicating means which can be disabled while the stored override data is being indicated.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1989Date of Patent: August 7, 1990Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4939534Abstract: A flash photography system which comprises a photographic camera and an electronic flash device;said photographic camera comprisingaperture value output means for producing aperture value under the flash light photographing,flash light stop signal output means for integrating output value of a light value of a photographing object and for producing a signal for stopping emission of a flash light when the integrated value reaches a predetermined value,said flash device comprisingcalculating means for calculating a maximum photographing distance which is covered by the flash light for effecting a correct exposure on the photographing object on the basis of a maximum light value of the flash light and the aperture value fed from the aperture value output means, anddisplay means for displaying the maximum photographing distance on the basis of the output of the calculating means.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1988Date of Patent: July 3, 1990Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masaaki Nakai, Takanobu Omaki, Hiroshi Hosomizu, Masatake Niwa, Toru Inoue, Minoru Sekida
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Patent number: 4866467Abstract: A camera is adapted to operate with stored data by sensing the film speed data prepared on the surface of a film cartridge loaded in the camera to produce a data reading signal and reading the sensed film speed data in response to the data reading signal and detecting whether or not the the film loaded in the camera includes film speed data to provide a warning when a determination is made that the film speed data is not on the film cartridge. Film speed data may be loaded in the camera manually and the warning is interrupted in response to the manual setting of the film speed. At least one of the film speed data and the manually set film speed data is stored and the exposure data is calculated on the basis of the stored film speed data.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1988Date of Patent: September 12, 1989Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4860046Abstract: A camera in which the film speed data and exposure time data are selectively indicated by a first indicator and aperture value data and override data are also selectively indicated by a second indicator.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1988Date of Patent: August 22, 1989Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4857953Abstract: A camera in which both a light measuring operation and an exposure data calculating operation are made operative in response to either a manual exposure operation of a shutter release member or a manual operation of a manually operable means to be operated for altering data stored in a storing means which is co-acting in the exposure data calculating operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1988Date of Patent: August 15, 1989Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4839687Abstract: A flash photography system which comprises a photographic camera and an electronic flash device;said photographic camera comprisingaperture value output means for producing aperture value under the flash light photographing,flash light stop signal output means for integrating output value of a light value of a photographing object and for producing a signal for stopping emission of a flash light when the integrated value reaches a predetermined value,said flash device comprisingcalculating means for calculating a maximum photographing distance which is covered by the flash light for effecting a correct exposure on the photographing object on the basis of a maximum light value of the flash light and the aperture value fed from the aperture value output means, anddisplay means for displaying the maximum photographing distance on the basis of the output of the calculating means.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1987Date of Patent: June 13, 1989Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masaaki Nakai, Takanobu Omaki, Hiroshi Hosomizu, Masatake Niwa, Toru Inoue, Minoru Sekida
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Patent number: 4777504Abstract: A camera provided with an automatic focusing device which automatically detects the focus condition of an objective lens and driving the objective lens towards an in-focus position in response to the manual operation to a shutter release button. The operation of the automatic focusing device is actuated by a switching means when the shutter release button is touched by a user's finger or is depressed down after the touching. When the shutter release button is further depressed beyond the first stroke, the operation of the automatic focusing device is inhibited once an in-focus condition is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1988Date of Patent: October 11, 1988Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuaki Akada, Minoru Sekida, Takeshi Egawa, Tokuji Ishida
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Patent number: 4763144Abstract: A camera, adapted to function with film speed data, includes structure for introducing the film speed data and for storing that data. Manually set exposure time data is also stored. A determination is made whether the film is advanced to the first effective film frame. The film speed or exposure time data is alternately indicated and the indication is controlled to indicate the film speed data until the film is advanced to the first effective film frame subsequent to which the indication is switched to indicate the exposure time data when the film is advanced to the first effective film frame. The indication may subsequently be manually switched to indicate the film speed data. The film speed data may be read from the film cartridge upon closure of the back lid of the camera and transferred to storage.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1987Date of Patent: August 9, 1988Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4755845Abstract: A flash photography system for a photographic camera and a flash device adapted to be connected thereto with the camera providing an aperture value output for flash light photography and a flash light stop signal obtained from an integrated output of the light reflected from a photographic object to terminate flash light emission when the integrated value reaches a predetermined value. The flash device calculates a maximum photographing distance covered by the flash light for effecting a correct exposure of the photographic object from the maximum flash light value and the aperture value from the camera. The maximum photographing distance is displayed by a suitable display visible to the camera operator.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1985Date of Patent: July 5, 1988Assignee: Minolta Camera KKInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masaaki Nakai, Takanobu Omaki, Hiroshi Hosomizu, Masatake Niwa, Toru Inoue, Minoru Sekida
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Patent number: 4712904Abstract: In a camera functioning with film speed data introduced by a manual operation for setting desired film speed data, exposure time data is set by a manual operation, and one of the film speed data and the exposure time data are alternatively indicated. The first and second indicating means are controlled, in response to first setting means such that the film speed data appears at the first indicating means when the first setting means is manually operated. The exposure time data is selected to appear at the first indicating means when the first setting means is not manually operated. The second indicating means is disabled when the first setting means is manually operated so that the film speed data appears without appearance of the additional data. The second indicating means is enabled so that the additional data appears with the exposure time data when the first setting means is not manually operated.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1986Date of Patent: December 15, 1987Assignee: Minolta Camera KKInventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
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Patent number: 4690530Abstract: A release operation of a camera adapted to be transferred to a normal photographing condition through winding-up of a film by a predetermined length is allowed in conditions before transfer to the normal photographing condition even if a release inhibition signal is being generated. Whether or not the camera is in the normal photographing condition is determined based on the state of a switch which is turned OFF upon transfer of the camera to the normal photographing condition. The turn-OFF of the switch always causes the camera to read a code pattern on a film cartridge to automatically set the film sensitivity represented by the code pattern. The camera is also capable of manual film speed setting.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1985Date of Patent: September 1, 1987Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiko Fujino, Manabu Inoue, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida