Patents by Inventor Shoji Kaihara

Shoji Kaihara 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: 9052572
    Abstract: A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Publication number: 20140248047
    Abstract: A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Patent number: 8757905
    Abstract: A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Publication number: 20140010528
    Abstract: A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Patent number: 8545117
    Abstract: A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Patent number: 8122556
    Abstract: A cleaning device is used to remove an alien substance adhering to a surface of an optical member arranged in front of a solid image sensing device inside a lens replaceable digital single-lens reflex camera. The cleaning device includes a supporting member that is supported by a user, and an elastic member having an adhesive surface 12 and being formed in a substantially square shape larger than equally divided four parts of a 135 format of a camera and smaller than an APS-C format of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Kaihara, Takanori Honda
  • Patent number: 8085336
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a rectangular optical member provided on an optical axis, and a rectangular vibrating device stuck to the optical member close to and in parallel with one of four sides of the optical member and configured to vibrate the optical member in a wave fashion to have a plurality of nodes parallel with the one side. The vibrating device is configured to operate in two or more vibration modes differing from one another at least in number or positions of the plurality of nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Patent number: 7978220
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a rectangular optical member provided on an optical axis, a supporting member configured to support the optical member, and a rectangular vibrating device stuck to the optical member close to and in parallel with one of four sides of the optical member and configured to vibrate the optical member in a wave fashion having a predetermined wavelength to have a plurality of nodes parallel with the one side. A support position at which the optical member is supported by the supporting member at a side opposite the one side of the optical member is located inward from the opposite side by ¼ the predetermined wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Publication number: 20110052185
    Abstract: A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Patent number: 7719600
    Abstract: This invention can more efficiently remove, at a more effective timing, a foreign substance such as dust adhering on an optical member inserted on the image capturing optical axis. An image capturing apparatus having an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an object image includes an optical element arranged on the image sensor on a side close to an object, a foreign substance removing unit which removes a foreign substance adhering to the surface of the optical element, an instruction unit which issues instructions to power on and power off the image capturing apparatus, and a control unit which controls the foreign substance removing unit to execute a foreign substance removing operation in accordance with the instruction to power off the image capturing apparatus by the instruction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Kaihara, Atsushi Katayama
  • Patent number: 7719612
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image pickup apparatus which includes an optical member that is vibrated in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis to facilitate removal of particles (e.g., dust), where the vibration of the optical member is substantially isolated from an image pickup element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Kaihara, Hiroshi Yoshii, Eiri Tsukatani, Hirokazu Ichiki, Futoshi Hirai, Toshifumi Urakami, Hideaki Yamamoto, Yuuki Niwamae
  • Patent number: 7639301
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of easily removing a foreign matter adhering on an optical filter surface is disclosed. A rubber member holding an optical low pass filter seals an imaging sensor and the optical low pass filter, and a piezoelectric element vibrates an edge portion of the optical low pass filter in the direction of an optical axis, and gives the optical low pass filter a rotational force around an axis orthogonal to an imaging optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuki Niwamae, Shoji Kaihara, Hiroshi Yoshii, Eiri Tsukatani, Hirokazu Ichiki, Futoshi Hirai, Toshifumi Urakami, Hideaki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080297651
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a rectangular optical member provided on an optical axis, a supporting member configured to support the optical member, and a rectangular vibrating device stuck to the optical member close to and in parallel with one of four sides of the optical member and configured to vibrate the optical member in a wave fashion having a predetermined wavelength to have a plurality of nodes parallel with the one side. A support position at which the optical member is supported by the supporting member at a side opposite the one side of the optical member is located inward from the opposite side by ¼ the predetermined wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Publication number: 20080297646
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a rectangular optical member provided on an optical axis, and a rectangular vibrating device stuck to the optical member close to and in parallel with one of four sides of the optical member and configured to vibrate the optical member in a wave fashion to have a plurality of nodes parallel with the one side. The vibrating device is configured to operate in two or more vibration modes differing from one another at least in number or positions of the plurality of nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Publication number: 20070211162
    Abstract: This invention can more efficiently remove, at a more effective timing, a foreign substance such as dust adhering on an optical member inserted on the image capturing optical axis. An image capturing apparatus having an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an object image includes an optical element arranged on the image sensor on a side close to an object, a foreign substance removing unit which removes a foreign substance adhering to the surface of the optical element, an instruction unit which issues instructions to power on and power off the image capturing apparatus, and a control unit which controls the foreign substance removing unit to execute a foreign substance removing operation in accordance with the instruction to power off the image capturing apparatus by the instruction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Shoji Kaihara, Atsushi Katayama
  • Publication number: 20070103579
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of easily removing a foreign matter adhering on an optical filter surface is disclosed. A rubber member holding an optical low pass filter seals an imaging sensor and the optical low pass filter, and a piezoelectric element vibrates an edge portion of the optical low pass filter in the direction of an optical axis, and gives the optical low pass filter a rotational force around an axis orthogonal to an imaging optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuuki Niwamae, Shoji Kaihara, Hiroshi Yoshii, Eiri Tsukatani, Hirokazu Ichiki, Futoshi Hirai, Toshifumi Urakami, Hideaki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20070103554
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image pickup apparatus which includes an optical member that is vibrated in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis to facilitate removal of particles (e.g., dust), where the vibration of the optical member is substantially isolated from an image pickup element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Kaihara, Hiroshi Yoshii, Eiri Tsukatani, Hirokazu Ichiki, Futoshi Hirai, Toshifumi Urakami, Hideaki Yamamoto, Yuuki Niwamae
  • Publication number: 20060127083
    Abstract: A cleaning device is used to remove an alien substance adhering to a surface of an optical member arranged in front of a solid image sensing device inside a lens replaceable digital single-lens reflex camera. The cleaning device includes a supporting member that is supported by a user, and an elastic member, a surface 12 thereof has cohesiveness and is formed in a substantially square shape larger than equally divided four parts of a 135 format of a camera and smaller than an APS-C format of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Shoji Kaihara, Takanori Honda
  • Patent number: 6564013
    Abstract: First and second driving systems are driven by a first motor via first and second planetary mechanisms through motor rotation in first and second directions, respectively. A third driving system is driven by the second planetary mechanism through motor rotation in the first direction. A switching mechanism switches a transmission path for the motor driving force by inhibiting one of the first and second planetary mechanisms from revolving, and causes the other of the first and second planetary mechanisms to transmit the driving force through a transmission path selected by the switching. First and second restraint members of the first and second planetary mechanisms, respectively, restrain the respective mechanisms from revolving simultaneously by inhibiting engagement of the first and second planetary mechanisms with the second and third driving systems, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoji Kaihara
  • Patent number: 6529688
    Abstract: There is provided a camera which is compact in size and inexpensive even with the use of two motors, which allows relevant mechanisms to be laid out freely to thereby simplify motor controlling sequences, and which allows the user to quickly perform preliminary winding of a newly loaded film after film rewinding to thereby minimize the effects of film replacement during photographing. A first motor is used to drive a film winding driving system and a film rewinding driving system. A switching mechanism selectively switches between a winding state in which a driving force of the first motor can be transmitted to the film winding driving system, and a rewinding state in which the driving force of the first motor can be transmitted to the film rewinding driving system. A second motor is used to drive the switching mechanism for selective switching between the winding state and the rewinding state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Kaihara, Shigeru Yamagami