Patents by Inventor Yoichiro Okumura
Yoichiro Okumura 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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Publication number: 20080037980Abstract: In order to efficiently remove dust, an image pick up apparatus is provided with an image sensor for acquiring subject images via a photographing lens, a shift mechanism, holding the image sensor, capable of moving the image sensor in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the photographing lens, and in a second direction that is different from the first direction, a sensor arranged in front of the image sensor, for detecting vibration applied to the optical element that is displaced by the shift mechanism together with the image sensor, and a controller for driving the shift mechanism according to output of the sensor for detecting vibration when operation is carried out to prevent image shake due to vibration applied to the image pickup apparatus, and moving the shift mechanism in accordance with a specified pattern regardless of sensor output when carrying out a dust removal operation for removing dust that has become attached to the surface of the optical element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2007Publication date: February 14, 2008Inventors: Yoichiro Okumura, Yoji Watanabe, Kazuo Mikami
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Publication number: 20080007643Abstract: A CCD for receiving subject light flux that has passed through a photographing lens and outputting subject image signals, and a rear liquid crystal monitor for displaying a moving image of the subject based on the subject image signals, and a release button that is operated in order to instruct execution of an exposure operation are provided, wherein live view display is performed on the rear liquid crystal monitor at a first update cycle until the release button is pressed down halfway, and live view display is performed on the liquid crystal monitor at a second cycle that is shorter than the first update cycle after the release button has been pressed down halfway.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2007Publication date: January 10, 2008Inventor: Yoichiro Okumura
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Publication number: 20070280673Abstract: In a lens-interchangeable digital camera having a half mirror arranged in a shooting optical path and capable of displaying a live view, the half mirror is made movable between a position inserted into the shooting optical path and a position retracted from the shooting optical path, and when power-on is detected, the movable half mirror is returned to the position in the shooting optical path, while when power-off is detected, the movable half mirror is retracted from the shooting optical path. Further, upon detecting the mounting state of a lens barrel, when removal of the lens barrel is detected, the movable half mirror is retracted, while when mounting of the lens barrel is detected, the movable half mirror is returned.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2007Publication date: December 6, 2007Inventors: Kazuo Mikami, Yoichiro Okumura
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Publication number: 20070253700Abstract: There is disclosed a single-lens reflex camera which does not drive a movable reflecting mirror when it enters a shooting operation while a live view is being displayed. For example, the rotation direction of a motor controlling the driving of shutter charge and a movable reflecting mirror can differ between a live view state and the other states. Then, a transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving force from the motor to the movable mirror is configured to release its engagement between the motor and the movable mirror when the motor rotates in a direction for the live view state.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2007Publication date: November 1, 2007Inventor: Yoichiro Okumura
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Publication number: 20070189731Abstract: A digital camera is disclosed which has a first recording medium for recording captured images and a second recording medium, different from the first recording medium, for recording images obtained after editing the captured images. Since the edited images are recorded on the second recording medium, it is easy to sort out a desired image.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2007Publication date: August 16, 2007Inventors: Yoichiro Okumura, Yoji Watanabe
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Publication number: 20060280495Abstract: The present invention discloses a finder device capable of adjusting the amount of light emitted from a light-emitting display section arranged in the device according to the light-receiving level of an image pickup device. The amount of light emitted is adjusted, for example, so that the light-receiving level of the image pickup device is not saturated. The light-emitting display section can be configured, for example, to include a LED display element for projecting light onto a mat screen in the finder device and a drive circuit that can adjust the amount of LED light, or to include an LCD display unit provided adjacent to the mat screen and a backlight unit that can adjust the amount of light for the LCD unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2006Publication date: December 14, 2006Inventor: Yoichiro Okumura
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Publication number: 20060269273Abstract: The present invention discloses a finder device and camera including the finder device having an information display device arranged near a mat screen on which a subject image is formed, and an imaging device for acquiring a finder image including the subject image on the mat screen. In this structure, the operation of the information display device is stopped in response to the imaging operation of the imaging device. This can prevent the subject image and the image displayed by the information display device from being difficult to see due to the difference between the brightness of the image on the mat screen and the brightness of the information display device. The information display device can be configured such that it superimposes, for example, shooting information and focus points on the image.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2006Publication date: November 30, 2006Inventor: Yoichiro Okumura
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Publication number: 20060263080Abstract: A digital camera includes a first imaging section for acquiring subject image data, a movable mirror for guiding the light beam of the subject to a finder optical system, and a second imaging section for capturing the subject image data in the finder optical system. In this structure, the image acquired by the first imaging section and the image acquired by the second imaging section are switched and selectively displayed depending on the movement of the movable mirror. For example, the digital camera can be configured such that the first imaging section is used to acquire a shot image and the second imaging section is used to acquire a live image.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2006Publication date: November 23, 2006Inventor: Yoichiro Okumura
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Publication number: 20050123270Abstract: A data recording apparatus comprises a plurality of recording media, data generating means for generating recording data, recording means for, whenever the recording data is generated from the data generating means, allocating and recording the recording data in the plurality of recording media, and data transfer means for integrating, into one recording medium, the plurality of recording data recorded in a distributed manner in the plurality of recording media, when the data generating means and the recording means are not in operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2004Publication date: June 9, 2005Inventor: Yoichiro Okumura
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Patent number: 6871019Abstract: A shutter abnormality detection apparatus for a camera includes a shutter including leading and trailing curtains which are shutter curtains electrically controlled to run. A curtain run detection unit detects a run state of at least one of the leading and trailing curtains. A curtain run time judgment unit judges a run time of the shutter curtains based on an output from the curtain run detection unit. An abnormality processing unit notifies an abnormality state of the shutter curtains, when it is judged as a result of judgment in the curtain run time judgment unit that the curtain run time is abnormal.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2003Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Hisayuki Matsumoto, Yoichiro Okumura, Toshiaki Ishimaru
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Publication number: 20040101299Abstract: A shutter abnormality detection apparatus for a camera includes a shutter including leading and trailing curtains which are shutter curtains electrically controlled to run. A curtain run detection unit detects a run state of at least one of the leading and trailing curtains. A curtain run time judgment unit judges a run time of the shutter curtains based on an output from the curtain run detection unit. An abnormality processing unit notifies an abnormality state of the shutter curtains, when it is judged as a result of judgment in the curtain run time judgment unit that the curtain run time is abnormal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hisayuki Matsumoto, Yoichiro Okumura, Toshiaki Ishimaru
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Patent number: 6327434Abstract: A camera is provided, which can appropriately control the electronic flash irradiation area when the electronic flash device capable of setting its irradiation angle in a plurality of ways is used as an AF auxiliary light source, thus improving the use efficiency of the auxiliary light and reducing wasteful energy consumption. In the camera of the present invention, the control unit automatically controls an electronic flash irradiation angle to the narrow electronic flash emitting unit regardless of the imaging angle which was set, while performing the distance measurement operation in cooperation with the electronic flash.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2000Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichiro Okumura, Yoji Watanabe
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Patent number: 6164844Abstract: The invention is directed to an engaging mechanism. The engaging mechanism comprises a cam element which moves upon modification of an engaging position, a cam follower abutted against a cam surface of the cam element, a detecting element for detecting a position of the cam follower, and a section to be detected provided on the cam follower, for giving at least three different kinds of output values to the detecting element.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1998Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichiro Okumura, Michio Nagai, Hiroshi Terada, Atsushi Maruyama
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Patent number: 6041187Abstract: The invention is directed to an engaging mechanism. The engaging mechanism comprises a cam element which moves upon modification of an engaging position, a cam follower abutted against a cam surface of the cam element, a detecting element for detecting a position of the cam follower, and a section to be detected provided on the cam follower, for giving at least three different kinds of output values to the detecting element.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1996Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichiro Okumura, Michio Nagai, Hiroshi Terada, Atsushi Maruyama
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Patent number: 5962841Abstract: A detecting mechanism has a sensor for detecting different levels of transmissivity to provide an output signal representative of the transmissivity level detected. The detecting mechanism is provided with circuitry for changing its sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1996Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichiro Okumura, Michio Nagai, Hiroshi Terada, Atsushi Maruyama
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Patent number: 5878288Abstract: The invention is directed to an engaging mechnism. The engaging mechanism comprises a cam element which moves upon modification of an engaging position, a cam follower abutted against a cam surface of the cam element, a detecting element for detecting a position of the cam follower, and a section to be detected provided on the cam follower, for giving at least three different kinds of output values to the detecting element.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1996Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichiro Okumura, Michio Nagai, Hiroshi Terada, Atsushi Maruyama
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Patent number: 5784659Abstract: A film feeding apparatus of a camera using a film having two perforations per frame detects the end of the film by detecting the final frame of the film. The film feeding apparatus comprises a detecting means for detecting the passage of a first perforation to detect a feeding speed of the film, a setting means for setting a predetermined limit value (limiter time) in accordance with the feeding speed, a film end determining means for determining that the film has ended when the passage, of a second perforation is not detected within the set limit value while the film is wound up. The film feeding apparatus feeds the film in accordance with a predetermined procedure of one-frame winding up and rewinds the film when the film has ended.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1996Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoichiro Okumura
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Patent number: 5721996Abstract: The invention is directed to an engaging mechanism. The engaging mechanism comprises a cam element which moves upon modification of an engaging position, a cam follower abutted against a cam surface of the cam element, a detecting element for detecting a position of the cam follower, and a section to be detected provided on the cam follower, for giving at least three different kinds of output values to the detecting element.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1997Date of Patent: February 24, 1998Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichiro Okumura, Michio Nagai, Hiroshi Terada, Atsushi Maruyama
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Patent number: 5574926Abstract: A one-chip microcomputer system includes a one-chip microcomputer, a nonvolatile memory which can electrically rewritably store changing data of a program stored in a mask ROM of the one-chip microcomputer, an input unit (connection unit) for receiving data to be written in the nonvolatile memory from an external device, and an object to be controlled by the one-chip microcomputer. In one aspect, the nonvolatile memory has first and second correction data areas, and first and second memories for respectively designating these areas. Upon reception of an initialization signal from the external device connected to the input unit, only the second memory for designating the second correction data area is initialized. In another aspect, the mask ROM stores ROM version data, and the nonvolatile memory stores board version data.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1994Date of Patent: November 12, 1996Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Azuma Miyazawa, Junichi Itoh, Yuji Imai, Minoru Hara, Kazutada Kobayashi, Shoji Kawamura, Kenji Fujibayashi, Yuichi Saito, Yoichiro Okumura
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Patent number: 5250884Abstract: In a drive controlling apparatus, a driven body is driven by a motor, near to a target position in which the driven body is to be stopped, the speed is controlled on the basis of a deceleration curve characteristic memorized in a first memory means in response to the output of a first speed detector for detecting the moving speed of the above-mentioned driven body and, from near the above-mentioned target position, the speed is switched to be controlled on the basis of a deceleration curve characteristic memorized in a second memory in response to the output of a second speed detector for detecting the moving speed at a precision higher than that of the above-mentioned first speed detecting means.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 1991Date of Patent: October 5, 1993Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoichiro Okumura