Including Multipurpose Terminal Patents (Class 396/160)
  • Patent number: 9927683
    Abstract: An accessory shoe device capable of improving drip-proof performance while ensuring positional accuracy in a pitch direction in which terminals of a multi-polarized signal terminal connector are arranged. The accessory shoe device includes an engagement member for having an accessory attached thereto, a signal terminal connector including terminals for connection with the accessory attached to the engagement member, a top cover having the engagement member mounted thereon, and a positioning unit for positioning the signal terminal connector with respect to the engagement member. The top cover has an opening for externally exposing the terminals of the signal terminal connector. The signal terminal connector and the engagement member are fixed to each other by the positioning unit such that they sandwich a portion of the top cover surrounding the signal terminal connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takazumi Seo
  • Patent number: 7457535
    Abstract: A bracket suitable for supporting a flash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph Johnson
  • Patent number: 7359632
    Abstract: A flash apparatus or an image capture apparatus includes a charging unit, configured to boost a voltage of an electric source and a control unit, configured to calculate the sum of the light emission amount within a predetermined period of time. The control unit reduces the temperature rise of components which generate heat due to the continuous light emission when the sum of the light emission amount reaches a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kei Tohyama
  • Patent number: 7184658
    Abstract: In the realm of professional photography, and those amateur wanting professional results, when photographing people, the illumination devices must be located directly above and on the centerline of the camera lens. This is the desired effect as not to have shadows behind the subjects. Changing from landscape to portrait modes, currently requires the re-adjustment of the illumination devices to bring them in line with the camera. In photographing people, the instant does not wait for the photographer to ready his equipment, rather the photographer must be able to adapt quickly. There exists many different kinds illumination devices that are necessary for proper illumination of photographic subjects, in particular people. There also exists cameras that utilize digital imaging technology that senses through the camera lens for exactitudes of distance and amount of ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Squillace Production Studios, LLC
    Inventor: John Squillace
  • Patent number: 6337960
    Abstract: An electrostatographic recording apparatus and method has a primary image forming member (PIFM) that is moving along a closed path. The PIFM is sufficiently large to form a series of images thereon in the direction of movement of the PIFM during a production run of image formation. Plural series of toner images are formed on the PIFM during production runs. A first location on the PIFM is normally used to form images forming a part of the production runs. The first location is adjacent to and downstream of, in the direction of movement of the PIFM, a second location, such as a seam area, that is not used for image recording of production images during the production runs. A transfer device that is in engagement with the PIFM has its electrical bias switched from a first polarity used when transferring toner images from the PIFM to a second polarity that is of opposite polarity when the transfer device is in engagement with the PIFM at the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Nexpress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Matthias H. Regelsberger, James A. Zimmer, Jr., David E. Hockey
  • Patent number: 6175695
    Abstract: A manually operable flashlight unit (10) having a foot part (11) fitting a finder shoe (6) on a camera (1), standard contacts (9′) for chassis ground and (8′) for flash release being arranged in the foot part (11), has the additional feature that a single further contact (7′) is provided in the foot part (11) for a bidirectional information exchange between a circuit arrangement (13) contained in the flashlight unit (10) and a circuit arrangement (12) arranged in the camera (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Klaus Dieter Schaefer, Walter Bletz
  • Patent number: 6029013
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating a remote light source in synchronization with an indication provided from a camera. A transducer is coupled to the external electrical connector of a conventional camera in order to convert the electrical signals that are output from the camera into an alternative form (e.g., optical signals). A different transducer is coupled to the external electrical connector of a remote light source, such as a photographic strobe. The light source transducer receives the signal from the camera transducer and converts the signal back into one or more conventional electrical signals to activate the remote light source. A light source activation signal and a light source modulation signal are multiplexed onto a single communication channel. A first indication is provided on the communication channel to activate the remote light source (i.e., cause the remote light source to emit light).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Light & Motion Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Larkin, Michael Topolovac
  • Patent number: 5717962
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes a booster circuit for boosting an output voltage from a power supply battery to predetermined positive and negative voltages, respectively. A main capacitor is charged by the predetermined positive or negative voltage boosted by the power supply circuit. In a discharge tube, a discharge current flows on the basis of the charge built up on the main capacitor, so that flash light emission is performed. A MOS controlled thyristor (MCT) is inserted in the loop of the discharge current from the main capacitor. A control circuit ON/OFF-controls the MCT by selectively applying the predetermined positive or negative voltage from the power supply circuit to the gate terminal of the MCT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toyoji Sasaki, Hiroshi Yamada