Patents by Inventor Tatsuo Amanuma

Tatsuo Amanuma 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: 6332060
    Abstract: A camera is provided which has a vibration detection unit that detects vibration, a photographic focal length detection unit which detects the focal length of the photographic optical system, and a distance-measurement unit that measures the distance to the object being photographed. The vibration compensation device employs drive motors as a vibration compensation unit. The drive motors have a start up time which is at least as fast as the acceleration of a vibration having roughly a sine wave shape with a frequency of 10 Hz and a maximum velocity of 7.5 mm/sec. Such a motor is able to reach the maximum velocity of the vibration in under 25 ms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenori Miyamoto, Yoshio Imura, Minoru Kato, Sueyuki Ohishi, Nobuhiko Terui, Tatsuo Amanuma
  • Patent number: 6256457
    Abstract: A camera equipped with a vibration detection unit which detects vibrations in the camera, a vibration compensation unit which performs vibration compensation based on the vibration detection signals of the vibration detection unit, and a strobe emitting unit which emits photographic fill-in light. A control unit is provided that prohibits charging of the strobe battery while the vibration detection unit is operating. In addition, when it has been determined that photographic fill-in light is needed, and the vibration detection unit is operating, and when the strobe battery is uncharged, the operation of the vibration detection unit is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenori Miyamoto, Tatsuo Amanuma, Toshiyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5937213
    Abstract: A camera, such as a video camera or other electrically recordable camera, has scale imprintable capabilities and a method for imprinting a scale onto memory storage media. The camera and method imprints, optically or electrically, a standard scale on memory storage media for the purpose of estimating the size of a subject image. A photographic magnification calculation circuit calculates the photographic magnification based on a subject distance, and a reference scale setting circuit sets a reference scale for the purpose of estimating the size of the subject image on the memory storage media regardless of the magnification during picture taking or print size. An imprinting circuit imprints, optically or electrically, the reference scale onto the memory storage media in accordance with the reference scale setting circuit, and only when needed or wanted. The reference scale can be imprinted in a vertical or horizontal direction in accordance with a mode selection switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Wakabayashi, Hiroshi Terunuma, Hidenori Miyamoto, Hideya Inoue, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Tatsuo Amanuma, Yoshikazu Iida, Yoshihiro Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 5905918
    Abstract: A camera displacement mechanism control device can maintain the time required to effect removal of backlash within a set time. Zooming-down is started by the zoom-down switch being turned ON, and the lens barrel is driven as far as the wide-angle terminus if the zoom-down switch is not turned OFF during zooming-down. Alternatively, if the zoom down switch is turned OFF during zooming-down, the lens barrel is driven to the next halt position after the position where the zoom-down switch was turned OFF. In either case, the lens barrel is caused to overshoot the target halt position in the direction of scrolling-in for a time interval long enough to effect removal of backlash, and is subsequently driven in the direction of scrolling-out and halted at the described target halt position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nakamura, Tatsuo Amanuma, Hidenori Miyamoto, Minoru Kato
  • Patent number: 5864722
    Abstract: A vibration preventing camera includes a vibration amount detecting unit for detecting the amount of vibration, a vibration correcting unit for correcting vibration, a light measuring unit for measuring the light value at a subject, and a control unit for controlling the vibration correcting unit in consonance with a detection signal that is obtained by the light measuring unit and the vibration detecting unit, and for activating the vibration detecting unit after the length of exposure is determined by the light value at the subject that is obtained by the light measuring unit. More preferably, a vibration preventing camera further includes a self-timer unit, and when the self-timer unit is set for an exposure, the vibration detecting unit is activated after the timing count down for the self-timer unit begins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Aoki, Akira Katayama, Tatsuo Amanuma, Noboru Akami, Hidenori Miyamoto, Nobuhiko Terui, Hiroshi Wakabayashi, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Sueyuki Ohishi
  • Patent number: 5857122
    Abstract: A vibration compensation device for use in an optical imaging system, such as a camera, having a vibration detection unit to detect vibrations in the camera and a vibration compensation unit to drive a vibration compensation optical lens perpendicular to an optical axis to correct for the vibrations detected by the vibration detection unit. A display unit, preferably a lamp, is provided to indicate the detection of vibrations by the vibration detection unit. Further, the vibration detection device is provided with a switch to allow the user to select whether the vibration compensation device is to be enabled or disabled. When the vibration detection device is enabled, upon the halfpress of a shutter release button, the vibration detection unit is initialized to determine the point at which the angular velocity of the vibration compensation optical lens equals 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenori Miyamoto, Hiroshi Wakabayashi, Yoshihisa Kitagawa, Yoshio Imura, Tatsuo Amanuma
  • Patent number: 5822623
    Abstract: A camera with vibration correcting function is provided with a plurality of vibration detecting devices for detecting the vibration of the camera, a plurality of vibration correcting devices for effecting vibration correction control in conformity with the respective outputs of the vibration detecting devices, and an abnormality detecting device for detecting the abnormality of the output of the vibration detecting devices, and only the vibration correcting device corresponding to the vibration detecting device having the output for which abnormality has been detected by the abnormality detecting device is inhibited from effecting the vibration correction control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Keishi Urata, Sueyuki Ohishi, Tatsuo Amanuma, Yoshio Imura
  • Patent number: 5764006
    Abstract: A film driving circuit that is capable of normal driving and reverse driving to drive-control a first motor and a second motor each rotating in only one direction. The motor driving circuit is structured so the first motor driving and the second motor driving is controlled by four switching elements composing a bridge circuit. The first motor connects to the connecting points of two of the switching elements. The second motor connects to the connecting points of the other two of the four switching elements. A CPU controls the first motor and the second motor by controlling the on-off status of the four switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Amanuma, Toru Kosaka
  • Patent number: 5758202
    Abstract: This camera capable of image blur reduction includes a photographic device which performs photography, a camera vibration detection device which detects the value of a physical quantity related to the amount of camera vibration, an image blur reduction device which performs image blur reduction operation based upon the output of the camera vibration detection device in order to reduce blurring of the photographic image caused as a result of camera vibration, and a control device which causes the operation of the image blur reduction device after a predetermined time period has elapsed from the time point of starting of operation of the camera vibration detection device, and which causes the operation of the photographic device during the operation of the image blur reduction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Amanuma, Suieyuki Ohishi, Yoshio Imura, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Keishi Urata
  • Patent number: 5724616
    Abstract: A lens driving system for a camera with an anti-vibration function has a vibration correcting lens drivable in a direction in which blurring of an image on an image surface due to a camera shake is prevented from occurring, vibration correcting lens driving means for driving the vibration correcting lens, a photointerrupter detecting a relative position and speed of the vibration correcting lens, and a disk being connected to the correcting lens driving means and having a plurality of slits determined in accordance with the width of a slit of a light receiving section of the photointerrupter and the resolution of detection of shift of the vibration correcting lens in order to turn on and off the photointerrupter repeatedly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Nobuhiko Terui, Sueyuki Ohishi, Tatsuo Amanuma
  • Patent number: 5724618
    Abstract: A camera with a vibration correction function provided with a continuous shot mode for carrying out continuous photographing, has a vibration detecting device for detecting vibration of the camer, a vibration correcting device for correcting the vibration of the camera at the time of photographing based on a signal from the vibration detecting device, a film feeding device for feeding a photographic film loaded in the camera, a film end detecting device for detecting an end of the photographic film, and a control device for stopping the operation of the vibration detecting device and making the film feeding device start rewinding the photographic film when receiving a film end detection signal from the film end detecting device during photographing under the continuous shot mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenori Miyamoto, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Tatsuo Amanuma
  • Patent number: 5724617
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus having a vibration reducing mechanism comprises a photographing optical system, a preparatory flash device for preventing a pink-eye, and a vibration reducing mechanism for detecting a vibration quantity of an optical axis of the photographing optical system and moving a whole or a part of the photographing optical system relatively to a photographing picture. The photographing apparatus has a function of stopping the preparatory flash device when the vibration reducing mechanism is in an operable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Hirano, Tatsuo Amanuma, Fumiya Taguchi, Tadao Kai, Yoshio Imura
  • Patent number: 5721968
    Abstract: A camera with a vibration correction function prevents a battery from unnecessarily exhausting due to a failure of a vibration corrective lens driving system and provides accurate vibration-resistant control. A vibration corrective lens is subjected either to a centering drive operation to drive an optical axis to a center position of the photographing system or to a resetting drive operation to drive the optical axis to the initial position. When an abnormal drive operation is detected, the centering or resetting operation ceases to supply electric power to the angular velocity detecting circuit, the motor drive circuit, and the lens displacement detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yukikazu Iwane, Sueyuki Ohishi, Tatsuo Amanuma
  • Patent number: 5708266
    Abstract: An apparatus to detect the amount and direction of rotary motion for use in a vibration compensation system in an optical camera. An indicator disk is provided around the output shaft of a motor which actuates a compensation lens to compensate for vibrations to the camera. The periphery of the indicator disk is provided with a series of holes. A pair of photodetectors, are arranged on the periphery of the disk so as to detect the holes passing thereunder. The two photodetectors are separated by a distance equal to 3/4 of the distance between two holes. By comparing the pattern of signals emitted by the photodetectors the direction of rotation of the indicator disk can be determined. Further, the pulses in the output of either photodetector can be counted to determine the amount of movement. The actual direction and amount of movement as calculated is provided to a vibration compensation circuit as feedback for use in controlling the compensation lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Soshi, Hidenori Miyamoto, Minoru Kato, Junichi Omi, Tatsuo Amanuma, Toshiyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5682556
    Abstract: In a camera with vibration correcting function, by varying the optical axis of the phototaking lens according to the vibration of the camera, there are provided a main control device for controlling the phototaking exposure process of the camera and a vibration correcting control device for controlling the vibration correcting operation of the camera, in which the vibration correcting control device has at least a stopped state without function and a function state, and the main control device is electrically connected with the vibration correcting control device and is adapted to control the same. The power consumption in the vibration correcting control device is reduced by switching the stopped state and the function state of the vibration correcting control device, by the control signal from the main control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yukikazu Iwane, Sueyuki Ohishi, Tatsuo Amanuma, Toshiyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5659807
    Abstract: A vibration compensation camera to correct image vibration occurring due to camera vibration by driving a vibration compensation lens according to vibration detected by a vibration detection circuit. The vibration compensation camera also includes a delay mode setting device to set a time delay to perform a shutter opening operation after a predetermined time has elapsed after a release operation. When the delay mode setting device is set to the delay mode, the vibration compensation system is not operated, thereby reducing electric power consumption. The vibration compensation camera may also have a bulb mode function to perform photography while in a bulb mode. A bulb mode setting device sets a bulb mode to maintain a camera shutter in an open state. When the bulb mode setting device is set to the bulb mode, the vibration compensation system is not operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nakamura, Tatsuo Amanuma, Keishi Urata
  • Patent number: 5621174
    Abstract: A vibration detection device includes a detecting device for detecting a vibration, and an output from the amplifying device obtained when outputting a detection signal on the basis of the detection result, an amplifying device for amplifying the detection signal, an initializing device for initializing the output from the amplifying device, and an adjusting device for adjusting the output from the amplifying device so that an output from the amplifying device obtained when the amplifying device is initialized, and an output from the amplifying device obtained when the amplifying device is not initialized and the detecting device generates no signal have substantially the same values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Amanuma, Sueyuki Ohishi, Masato Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 5617166
    Abstract: This camera capable of image blur reduction includes a command device which outputs a photography command in response to a operation for photography, a photographic device which performs photography, and a control device which, in order to reduce blurring of a photographic image, actuates the photographic device after a predetermined time period has elapsed from the time point that the photography command was output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Amanuma, Sueyuki Ohishi, Yoshio Imura, Toshiyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5614974
    Abstract: A camera having improvements in (a) the placement of anti-vibration sensors, (b) the connection between components of an anti-vibration mechanism, (c) the connection between the anti-vibration mechanism and external testing devices and (d) the connection of the camera to a tripod. The camera body has first and second ends and a photographic lens which is positioned on the camera body between the first end and the second end. A battery compartment, first and second anti-vibrations sensors and a main capacitor are all positioned in the first end of the camera body. The first anti-vibration sensor is positioned between the battery compartment and the photographic lens. The first and second anti-vibration sensors reside on the same sensor card and the sensor card has a connector mounted thereon. An anti-vibration CPU resides on a separate, flexible printed circuit card and is connected to the anti-vibration sensors by inserting a portion of the flexible printed circuit card into the connector on the sensor card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Soshi, Hidenori Miyamoto, Minoru Kato, Junichi Omi, Tatsuo Amanuma, Jirou Asami
  • Patent number: 5598246
    Abstract: A camera capable of reducing image blur according to the present invention comprises a vibration detection device that detects the quantity of camera vibration, an image blur reducing device that, based upon the detection output from the vibration detection device, electrically drives an image blur reducing optical system in a direction different from the direction of the optical axis in order to reduce blurring of the photographic image, a flash photographing device that, when flash photographing conditions are present, performs photographing by emitting an illuminating light to illuminate the photographic subject, a pre-light emission device that, prior to flash photographing, performs pre-light emission in order to reduce the red eye phenomenon and a control device that, when flash photographing conditions are present, causes the image blur reducing device and the flash photographing device to operate after the pre-light emission by the pre-light emission device is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenori Miyamoto, Tatsuo Amanuma, Toshiyuki Nakamura