Patents by Inventor Nobuyuki Taniguchi

Nobuyuki Taniguchi 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: 5249014
    Abstract: A camera system including a camera body and a camera accessory attachable to the camera body, such as an interchangeable back lid, an interchangeable lens, a flash device and so on, is disclosed. In the system, a plurality of circuits provided in plurality of camera accessories are controlled by a microcomputer provided in the camera body. Data is transmitted between the microcomputer and the circuits using a serial data bus and synchronizing clock line connected therebetween. The circuit to receive the data sent from the microcomputer, or the circuit which should send the data to the microcomputer are selected by the microcomputer through chip select lines provided between the microcomputer and each circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiiku Kikukawa, Masayuki Nakasa, Tadahiro Yoshida, Mashio Kitaura, Masaaki Nakai, Takanobu Omaki, Nobuyuki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 5247326
    Abstract: A camera system with an auto-focusing system includes a camera body and an interchangeable zoom lens. The interchangeable objective lens stores various data to be sent to the camera body for improving automatic focus adjustment, such as an information necessary to convert the detected defocus information into a movement of the driving power source to carry out the automatic focus adjustment. The driving power source in the camera body is controlled in response to the data from the interchangeable objective lens and the detected focus information, the driving power being transmitted to the interchangeable objective lens. The camera body is further capable of inhibiting the focus adjustment or focus indication in response to a data from the interchangeable objective lens under an unfavorable condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Norio Ishikawa, Yasuaki Akada, Takeshi Egawa, Kunio Kawamura
  • Patent number: 5233384
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to the flash photographing system having a first exposure controlling mode and a second exposure controlling mode which includes a selecting device for selecting either the first exposure controlling mode or the second exposure controlling mode; a flash emitting device for emitting a flash; a controlling device for deciding whether or not a flash emission is required and allowing the second means to be in the state in which a flash can be emitted when a flash emission is required, and not allowing the second means to be in the state in which a flash can be emitted in the first exposure controlling mode when a flash emission is not required, and allowing the second means to be in the state in which a flash can be emitted every time a photograph is taken in the second exposure controlling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Katoh, Akihiko Fujino, Kenji Tsuji, Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Nobuyuki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 5221939
    Abstract: A photographic camera capable of using a film having a magnetic surface. There is provided a magnetic head for writing and reading information on the magnetic surface of the film and a pad for pressing the magnetic surface on the film into contact with the head. The film travels between the magnetic head and the pad out of contact therewith until the initial loading of the film. The film is held between the magnetic head and the pad in contact therewith after the completion of the initial loading thereof is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Yoshinobu Kudo, Manabu Inoue, Shigeru Wada, Michihiro Iwata
  • Patent number: 5220368
    Abstract: A camera system including a camera body and a camera accessory attachable to the camera body, such as an interchangeable back lid, an interchangeable lens, a flash device and so on, is disclosed. In the system, a plurality of circuits provided in plurality of camera accessories are controlled by a microcomputer provided in the camera body. Data transmitted between the microcomputer and the circuits using a serial data bus and synchronizing clock line connected therebetween. The circuit to receive the data sent from the microcomputer, or the circuit which should send the data to the microcomputer are selected by the microcomputer through chip select lines provided between the microcomputer and each circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiiku Kikukawa, Masayuki Nakasa, Tadahiro Yoshida, Mashio Kitaura, Masaaki Nakai, Takanobu Omaki, Nobuyuki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 5218395
    Abstract: A camera with a multi-zone focus detecting device has an objective lens mounted on a camera. An image formed by the objective lens is divided into a plurality of zones. In each zone, a focusing condition is detected based on the image formed by the objective lens so as to produce a plurality of focusing condition data. Based on the result of the focusing conditions, one zone is selected. Furthermore, a light which has passed through the objective lens is measured separately in each zone so as to produce a plurality of measured light data. Based on a focusing condition data obtained from the selected zone, the objective lens is driven to an infocus condition. When the objective lens is driven to the infocus condition, a measured light data obtained from the selected zone is used for calculating exposure data with which the exposure is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Tokuji Ishida, Toshio Norita, Masataka Hamada, Toshihiko Karasaki
  • Patent number: 5214465
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an exposure calculation apparatus which includes plural light measuring devices for measuring lights incident on a plurality of regions of a photographing image plane and outputting measured data of the lights; plural devices for detecting the focusing conditions of objects present in a plurality of the regions of the photographing image plane and outputting data on the focusing conditions; a position detecting devices for detecting the position which a main object occupies in the photographing image plane on the data on the focusing condition outputted from the focusing conditions detecting devices; calculation device for making a plurality of calculations each of which is made depending on at least one of the data of measured lighs outputted from the light measuring devices; and selecting devices for selecting one of the plurality of calculations on the position detected by the position detecting devices and the data on the focusing conditions of the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuteru Yamano, Takehiro Katoh, Akihiko Fujino, Kenji Tsuji, Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Nobuyuki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 5208621
    Abstract: A photographic system comprises a camera and a film structure which can be loaded in the camera and in which photographing data can be recorded. The film structure has an image recording section in which a photographed image is recorded and a memory means for storing therein identification data peculiar to the film structure. And the camera inputs the identification data stored in the film structure into the camera and judges according to the inputted identification data whether the film structure is fit for the camera or not. Thereby, the photographing data can be recorded or read only when the film structure is fit for the camera.Further, the present invention also relates to a film structure which can be loaded in a camera having peculiar identification data so that it is judged whether the film structure is fit for the camera or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Manabu Inoue, Reiji Seki, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 5202720
    Abstract: A photographic camera which comprises an electronic flash unit for firing a flash light for illuminating a target object to be photographed when an image of the target object is desired to be exposed on a light senistive film, a preliminarily flash unit activated prior to the flash light fired by the electronic flash unit to emit a preliminary flash light necessary to cause the pupils of the target object to close, a manipulating unit for selecting a mode in which the preliminarily flash unit is activated, a determining circuit for determining the necessity of the preliminary flash light under a predetermined condition; and a display device for providing, on the basis of a result of determination made by the determining circuit, an indication that the preliminary flash light is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Fujino, Kenji Tsuji, Hidehiko Fujii, Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Sadafusa Tsuji
  • Patent number: 5202719
    Abstract: A camera having a built-in electronic flash device and a detachable electronic flash device, provided with a detecting sensor for detecting photographing condition, which judges whether or not a red-eye phenomenon caused by a reflection of flash light on human retinae tends to occur. In accordance with the judgment, activation of both flash devices are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Hidehiko Fujii, Tsutomu Ichikawa, Takeshi Fukunaga, Atsushi Sumitani
  • Patent number: 5196881
    Abstract: In an automatic focus control device of a camera there are provided defocus amount calculation means for calculating a defocus amount for a predetermined focus plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electric signal generated by a light receiving means, comparing means for comparing the obtained value on the basis of the calculated defocus amount with a reference value, control means controlling driving speed of the photographic lens by the lens driving means in response to the comparison result of a comparing means, photographic condition setting means for setting the photographic condition and reference value setting means for setting said reference value in response to the set photographic condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka Hamada, Tokuji Ishida, Kenji Ishibashi, Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Hiroshi Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 5192966
    Abstract: In an automatic focus control device of a camera there are provided defocus amount calculation means for calculating a defocus amount for a predetermined focus plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electric signal generated by a light receiving means, comparing means for comparing the obtained value on the basis of the calculated defocus amount with a reference value, control means controlling driving speed of the photographic lens by the lens driving means in response to the comparison result of a comparing means, photographic condition setting means for setting the photographic condition and reference value setting means for setting said reference value in response to the set photographic condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka Hamada, Tokuji Ishida, Kenji Ishibashi, Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Hiroshi Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 5168299
    Abstract: A camera with a multi-zone focus detecting device has an objective lens mounted on a camera. An image formed by the objective lens is divided into a plurality of zones. In each zone, a focusing condition is detected based on the image formed by the objective lens so as to produce a plurality of focusing condition data. Based on the result of the focusing conditions, one zone is selected. Furthermore, a light which has passed through the objective lens is measured separately in each zone so as to produce a plurality of measured light data. Based on a focusing condition data obtained from the selected zone, the objective lens is driven to an infocus condition. When the objective lens is driven to the infocus condition, a measured light data obtained from the selected zone is used for calculating exposure data with which the exposure is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Tokuji Ishida, Toshio Norita, Masataka Hamada, Toshihiko Karasaki
  • Patent number: 5162835
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an exposure calculation apparatus which includes plural light measuring devices for measuring lights incident on a plurality of regions of a photographing image plane and outputting measured data of the lights; plural devices for detecting the focusing conditions of objects present in a plurality of the regions of the photographing image plane and outputting data on the focusing conditions; a position detecting devices for detecting the position which a main object occupies in the photographing image plane on the data on the focusing condition outputted from the focusing conditions detecting devices; calculation device for making a plurality of calculations each of which is made depending on at least one of the data of measured lights outputted from the light measuring devices; and selecting devices for selecting one of the plurality of calculations on the position detected by the position detecting devices and the data on the focusing conditions of the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuteru Yamano, Takehiro Katoh, Akihiko Fujino, Kenji Tsuji, Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Nobuyuki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 5159375
    Abstract: A camera system includes a remote controller and a body of a camera. The remote controller is incorporated in a lens cap of the camera. A photographing magnification for an object is set by the remote controller. A taking lens of the camera is automatically driven to attain an in-focus position defined by a distance to the object and the magnification set by the remote controller. Thus, an image of a desired magnification can be photographed by remote control using the remote controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Hiroyuki Okada, Hidekazu Nakajima, Kenji Tsuji, Ikushi Nakamura, Sadafusa Tsuji
  • Patent number: 5159386
    Abstract: A system for printing photographs form developed film includes a light receiving element for detecting an image condition, such as the image density or color balance, which is used to control a printing light source. The light from the printing light source projects the photographic image on photographic paper through the developed film. A code reader reads codes printed in the vicinity of the film frame through a line sensor. The codes includes data concerning the photographic mode selected, such as pseudo focal length or a normal photographic mode. The light receiving element detects the image condition only of the area to be printed in accordance with the selected photographic mode and which passes through the developed film and a printing zoom lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Yoshiaki Hata, Yoshinobu Kudo, Manabu Inoue, Takeo Hoda, Hiroshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 5155581
    Abstract: An electronic still video camera includes photography means having video signal production means for producing a video signal with respect to an object, color balance adjustment means for fixedly adjusting the color balance of the video signal of said video signal production means to a color temperature for daylight, judge means for judging as to whether an object is able to be photographed without flash light, and flash firing means for firing flash light when said judge means judges that flash light is necesary. The electronic still video camera can simplify the construction of color balance circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshito Tanaka, Yoshihiro Tanaka, Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Takeo Hoda, Shinji Tominaga, Motonobu Matsuda
  • Patent number: 5146249
    Abstract: Disclosed are film cartridges having improved digital code patterns, films having improved digital signal means, and cameras adapted for use with the film cartridges or the films. The improved code patterns include bits with different weights and a bit which is made conductive with at least one of the bits with the different weights.One of the cameras disclosed is provided with a reading device on a spool so that the reading device can continuously read the signal means at a front tip of a leader portion of the film throughout the duration in which the film is wound around the spool. Another camera disclosed is adapted to read the code patterns on the film cartridge upon insertion of the film cartridge into a cartridge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeo Hoda, Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Kiyoshi Seigenji
  • Patent number: 5142310
    Abstract: A pseudo format camera system comprises a film cartridge including a memory which stores film speed data and limitation data, and a camera including a means for setting pseudo focal length, a means for inputting the film speed data and the limitation data from the memory, a means for controlling exposure based on the film speed data, and a means for limiting the pseudo focal length depending on the limitation data. In this camera system, the pseudo focal length can be limited based on the limitation data stored in the memory in the film cartridge, and therefore it is surely prevented that a picture becomes rough because of a bad grainness of a film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Manabu Inoue, Toshihiko Ishimura, Toshio Yamaki, Reiji Seki, Atsushi Sumitani
  • Patent number: 5142317
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an exposure calculation apparatus which includes plural light measuring devices for measuring lights incident on a plurality of regions of a photographing image plane and outputting measured data of the lights; plural devices for detecting the focusing conditions of objects present in a plurality of the regions of the photographing image plane and outputting data on the focusing conditions; a position detecting devices for detecting the position which a main object occupies in the photographing image plane on the data on the focusing condition outputted from the focusing conditions detecting devices; calculation device for making a plurality of calculations each of which is made depending on at least one of the data of measured lights outputted from the light measuring devices; and selecting devices for selecting one of the plurality of calculations on the position detected by the position detecting devices and the data on the focusing conditions of the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuteru Yamano, Takehiro Katoh, Akihiko Fujino, Kenji Tsuji, Shuji Izumi, Masaaki Nakai, Nobuyuki Taniguchi