Variable Frame Masking Patents (Class 396/435)
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Patent number: 11892748Abstract: A control method for an occlusion component and an electronic device are disclosed. The method includes: in a first status of the electronic device, controlling the occlusion component to be located at a first position on the electronic device to occlude a lens of the electronic device; in a second status of the electronic device, detecting a trigger signal and a target object in front of the lens, wherein the trigger signal is generated by triggering a physical button of the electronic device, and the first status is different from the second status; and in a situation where the trigger signal is detected and the target object exists, controlling the occlusion component to move to a second position on the electronic device to expose the lens.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Acer IncorporatedInventors: Jia-Ling Jhang, Wei-Kuo Shih
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Patent number: 10551605Abstract: A confocal inspection system can optically characterize a sample. An objective lens, which can be a single lens or a combination of separate illumination and collection lenses, can have a pupil. The objective lens can deliver incident light to the sample through an annular illumination region of the pupil, and can collect scattered light returning from the sample to form collected light. Confocal optics can be positioned to receive the collected light. A detector can be configured with the confocal optics so that the detector generates signals from light received from a specified depth at or below a surface of the sample and rejects signals from light received from depths away from the specified depth. An optical element, such as a mask, a reconfigurable panel, or the detector, can define the annular collection region to be non-overlapping with the annular illumination region in the pupil.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Mark Alan Arbore, Matthew A. Terrel, Edward L. Hull
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Publication number: 20150093102Abstract: A monitoring apparatus is connected to a shutter which opens and closes to limit a capturing area of an image capturing device. The monitoring apparatus detects an event indicative of a closing event or an opening event, and controls the shutter to open and close based on a given time schedule and the detected event, where the time schedule determines each period for opening and closing the shutter. The monitoring apparatus controls the shutter based on the opening event in response to a detection of the opening event, and controls the shutter based on the time schedule in response to a detection of the closing event when the opening event is last detected before the detection of the closing event.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2013Publication date: April 2, 2015Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Takae OGUCHI, Tetsuo TAYAMA, Eimei NAMMA, Tohru TAKAHASHI
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Patent number: 8976047Abstract: A mechanism enabling an electronic dial to operate without generating a click noise. The dial includes a rotational operation member that is turnable. A rotary plate is rigidly secured to the operation member. The rotary plate is formed of a conductive material and has a plurality of detecting portions circumferentially formed thereon. A printed circuit board is disposed between the operation member and the rotary plate. The printed circuit board has a first detection electrode group formed on a surface thereof opposed to the operation member and a second detection electrode group formed on a surface thereof opposed to the rotary plate. A detection circuit detects a touch operation onto the operation member based on an output from the first detection electrode group and detects a turning operation of the operation member based on an output from the second detection electrode group.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2011Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takamasa Degawa
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Patent number: 8175449Abstract: A driving device is adapted to drive a driven member, and includes a driving member, and a linear shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator. The driving member has a displacement output portion which is movable in a first axis direction, and a displacement input portion for moving the displacement output portion in the first axis direction in response to an application of a moving force in a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction. The driving member is engaged with the driven member at the displacement output portion. The SMA actuator is disposed in contact with the driving member at least at the displacement input portion to apply the moving force to the displacement input portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2007Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.Inventors: Naoki Kubo, Junichi Tanii, Shigeru Wada
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Patent number: 7418201Abstract: In an embodiment of a flash apparatus, a semiconductor laser device is used as a flash-use light source. Laser light beams are approximately evenly scattered by a reflector plate whose reflection surface is formed of Ag coarse film, whereby illumination of a wide range and safety are secured. In an embodiment of the semiconductor laser device, the semiconductor laser device is disposed such that a longitudinal direction of an imaging area 20a of a camera and a wide direction of far-field patterns 11a1, 12a1 and 12b1 of laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser device match.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroki Uemura
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Publication number: 20080124070Abstract: A camera using a programmable aperture is disclosed in which a programmable lens is disposed between a lens assembly and a sensor to properly transmit or block light rays reflected by a photographed object and incident to the lens assembly and then received by the sensor so as to obtain records of the incident light rays at different positions on the lens assembly. Moreover, complete light field data of the photographed object can be restored to facilitate subsequent image processing at any focal length.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2007Publication date: May 29, 2008Inventors: Chia-kai Liang, Homer H. Chen, David Yeh, Hartmann Wang
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Publication number: 20070292123Abstract: A digital camera in which a recording portion made up of a microcomputer 110 and a card slot 153 performs predetermined processing on image data generated by a CMOS sensor 130 so that the image data takes on the aspect ratio accepted via an operation portion 140 while in live view mode, or performs predetermined processing on the image data generated by the CMOS sensor 130 so that the image data takes on the aspect ratio of an optical viewfinder while in viewfinder mode. The image data is then stored in a memory card 300. Through this configuration, it is possible to provide a digital camera in which an image of a composition that suits the user's intent can be recorded, as well as in which the image can be recorded having an aspect ratio that the user desires, selected from among a plurality of aspect ratios.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2007Publication date: December 20, 2007Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi UEDA, Kaoru MOKUNAKA, Kenji MAEDA
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Patent number: 7054552Abstract: This invention describes a method for changing a picture orientation of a picture taken by an image sensor of an electronic device, e.g., for taking horizontal and vertical pictures, preferably having identical picture size and a picture aspect ratio, without changing an orientation of an electronic device containing said image sensor. The electronic device can be a camera, a portable communication device, a mobile electronic device or a mobile phone. When using a cross-shaped image sensor, both horizontal and vertical pictures can be taken without rotating the camera. The image sensor can have other shapes for accomplishing the same goal, e.g., square shape. A user interface needs just one button for choosing the orientation and the chosen orientation will be also seen on the display (viewfinder) of the electronic device. The viewfinder can have non-picture areas used for displaying image and photography information.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2004Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Nokia CorporationInventor: Marko Konttinen
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Patent number: 6735388Abstract: A camera has a body having an exposure frame surrounding an exposure opening. The exposure frame has a window. A mask core is mounted in the body. The mask core has an axis of rotation extending transverse to the exposure frame. The mask core has a plurality of sectors arranged about the axis of rotation. Each sector has an active position adjoining the window. Each sector shades the window differently in the respective active position. A drive is coupled to the mask core. The drive selectively rotates the mask core between the active positions of each of the sectors.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2002Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: David C. Smart
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Publication number: 20040071465Abstract: A camera has a body and a film holder having an exposure frame surrounding an exposure opening. A taking lens system is mounted to the body. The taking lens system has an optical axis. The taking lens system transmits a scene image through the exposure opening. A screener is mounted to the body. The screener is movable, relative to the exposure frame, between a primary position and a plurality of different secondary positions. The screener shadows the exposure frame differently in each secondary position. The exposure frame is unshaded when the screener is in the primary position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David C. Smart, Anthony Dirisio, Joel S. Lawther, Robert L. Walker, Edward B. Gindele, David A. Hodder
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Patent number: 6615000Abstract: A picture size switching mechanism for a variable picture size camera includes a stationary standard picture plane forming member and a pair of light interception frames having light interception portions which can obstruct upper and lower edges of the standard picture frame and are movable in the upward and downward direction to selectively define a standard picture plane or a laterally elongated picture plane. A light interception frame association mechanism moves one of the light interception frames symmetrically with the other light interception frame with respect to the center of the picture plane when the other light interception frame is moved in the upward and downward direction. A follower pin is provided on one of the light interception frames and a rotatable cam member is supported by the camera body to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the picture plane.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2002Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Pentax CorporationInventor: Tomoaki Itabashi
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Patent number: 6574440Abstract: A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the aspect of an exposure opening in the camera body and the film is fed for a length corresponding to the selected aspect by detecting a hole located in a marginal area of the film. The photographic camera magnetically or optically records at a location away from the hole an aspect information signal indicative of the selected aspect of the exposed frame on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the magnetically or optically recorded aspect information signal detected from the photographic film.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takahiko Saito, Akira Nakanishi, Shunzi Obayashi, Hideki Toshikage
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Patent number: 6456800Abstract: A frame size changing device for a camera to change a frame size by masking part of an aperture defining the maximum size of the frame is provided with a pair of flexible light-shielding curtain members, a pair of drawing mechanisms located outside of the aperture, the pair of drawing mechanism being biased to draw the pair of curtain members to move away from the aperture, respectively, a manually operable member that is manually operated to move within a predetermined movable range, the pair of curtain members to be inserted in and retracted from the aperture in accordance with the movement of the operable member, and a holding mechanism that holds the manually operable member at a desired position within the movable range.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2000Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hisashi Tatamiya
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Publication number: 20020057907Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit has a taking lens of a fixed focal length, through which picture frames are photographed in respective exposure areas in a constant size on a photo filmstrip. Prior to loading the photo filmstrip in the lens-fitted photo film unit, three dots are prerecorded on each PAR code recording zone of the photo filmstrip, to indicating that a predetermined size photographic print is to be produced from a predetermined central fragment of each of the picture frames by enlarging at a specific print magnification. The lens-fitted photo film unit has an optical viewfinder that shows the photographer a subject at a corresponding magnification and a corresponding angle of view to an image contained in a photographic print of the predetermined size as produced from the central fragment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2001Publication date: May 16, 2002Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazuo Kamata
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Patent number: 6374057Abstract: A data imprinting device for a camera is provided with a light shielding system that shields part of light incident on an imaging frame of a film when the frame is exposed to light from an object to form a data imprinting area which is an unexposed area in the imaging frame. The data imprinting device is further provided with a data imprinting system that forms an optical image of data, such as photographing data, on the data imprinting area in a form of an encoded symbol, such as a bar code.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masahiro Hayakawa
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Patent number: 6356716Abstract: A camera having a rear cover with an operation member thereon, includes an electrical signal generation device and a mechanical operation device, provided in a camera body; a movable common operation member provided on the rear cover of the camera to actuate the electrical signal generation device and the mechanical operation device; a movable association member in the camera body, which is moved in accordance with the movement of the common operation member when the rear cover is closed, to actuate both the electrical signal generation device and the mechanical operation device; a biasing member on the rear cover, for holding the common operation member at a predetermined position when the rear cover is opened, regardless of the position of the common operation member when the rear cover has been closed; and a biasing member on the camera body, for holding the association member at a predetermined position when the rear cover is opened, regardless of the position of the common operation member when the rearType: GrantFiled: February 10, 1999Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoaki Itabashi, Kosei Kosako
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Patent number: 6349176Abstract: A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the width of an exposure opening in the camera body in the film-feed direction and the film is fed a length corresponding to the width of the exposure opening. The photographic camera records an exposure opening position signal indicative of the size of the exposure opening on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the exposure opening position signal detected from the photographic film.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2000Date of Patent: February 19, 2002Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takahiko Saito, Akira Nakanishi, Shunzi Obayashi, Kyoji Genda, Hideki Toshikage
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Patent number: 6314245Abstract: A camera consists of a lens barrel unit, a spool chamber unit, a Patrone chamber unit, and a substantially plate-like linking member. The linking member has a photographic aperture, and guide rails for restricting the position of a film relative to the photographic aperture. The linking member links the spool chamber unit and Patrone chamber unit. A picture size switching mechanism realizing a picture size switching function for partly blocking the photographic aperture is mounted on the linking member. The camera further includes a viewfinder picture size switching mechanism for switching viewfinder picture sizes, and a switching control unit for controlling the photographic picture size switching mechanism and viewfinder picture size switching mechanism so that a photographic picture zone and viewfinder picture zone will be set to the same picture size.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1998Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Nobuyuki Tanaka
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Patent number: 6307591Abstract: An imaging apparatus has a CCD with a predetermined aspect ratio, and a converging lens for projecting incident light onto the CCD. In the imaging apparatus, there is provided a ratio changing mechanism between the converging lens and the CCD, and an aspect ratio which is optically determined through the converging lens is selectively varied by the ratio changing mechanism so as to substantially coincide with the aspect ratio of the CCD.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1997Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hidetaka Yoshida, Masatugu Daiju, Toshio Isoe
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Patent number: 6215963Abstract: A camera has an AE sensor 10 and a display member 32 disposed in the vicinity of the focusing screen 4, and a field frame switcher having a light interrupting wing capable of changing a field frame. The light-interrupting wing crosses and interrupts a predetermined luminous flux path used for obtaining information necessary for photographing while the field frame is changed. The light-interrupting wing is disposed close to the predetermined luminous flux path to reduce the space needed to house the structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1998Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Inoue, Wong Ngai Kit, Yoshito Konishi
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Patent number: 6205296Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for enabling the writing of a print format and a trimming magnification onto a film surface using a simple construction. Film information comprising a print format set using a format setting switch 10 and a trimming magnification set using a trimming setting switch 11 is converted into three-bit data by a data conversion circuit 26 inside a controller 25. This information is input to an LED light emission controller 27. Photoemitter elements 17 and 18 are located in the feeding path for the top and bottom edge areas of the film F, and a LED light emission controller 27 causes the photoemitter elements 17 and 18 to emit light during a series of image recording operations, whereby the film information is written onto the top and bottom edge areas of the film F. By optically writing the print format information and the trimming information onto the film F, both items of information can be easily written onto the film surface without making the device complex.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1998Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masataka Hamada, Yasuaki Serita
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Patent number: 6181881Abstract: A field-of-view frame switching device has a rectangular fixed field-of-view frame and a plurality of light-shielding members for covering portions of the rectangular fixed field-of-view frame so as to vary the size of the actual field-of-view frame. The light-shielding members are composed of a first pair of oppositely arranged light-shielding members and a second pair of oppositely arranged light-shielding members. The field-of-view frame switching device also has a coupling member for coupling the light-shielding members together in such relation that, when the first pair of light-shielding members are positioned closer to each other to narrow the actual field-of-view frame, the second pair of light-shielding members are positioned wide apart from each other and that, when the first pair of light-shielding members are positioned wide apart from each other, the second pair of light-shielding members are positioned closer to each other to narrow the actual field-of-view frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1998Date of Patent: January 30, 2001Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshito Konishi, Yoshiyuki Inoue, Wong Ngai Kit
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Patent number: 6154616Abstract: A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the aspect of an exposure opening in the camera body and the film is fed for a length corresponding to the selected aspect by detecting a hole located in a marginal area of the film. The photographic camera magnetically or optically records at a location away from the hole an aspect information signal indicative of the selected aspect of the exposed frame on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the magnetically or optically recorded aspect information signal detected from the photographic film.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2000Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takahiko Saito, Akira Nakanishi, Shunzi Obayashi, Hideki Toshikage
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Patent number: 6122452Abstract: A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the width of an exposure opening in the camera body in the film-feed direction and the film is fed a length corresponding to the width of the exposure opening. The photographic camera records an exposure opening position signal indicative of the size of the exposure opening on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the exposure opening position signal detected from the photographic film.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1998Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takahiko Saito, Akira Nakanishi, Shunzi Obayashi, Kyoji Genda, Hideki Toshikage
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Patent number: 6097900Abstract: An imaging field region display apparatus for switching an aspect ratio of the imaging field includes a first display device that displays a first imaging field region in which an imaging field display state changes in the first imaging field region and a second display device that displays a second imaging field region in which an imaging field display state changes in the second imaging field region, which differs from the first imaging field region, and displays a third imaging field region, which is at least one part of the first imaging field region. The second display device also causes a boundary between the second and the third imaging field regions to appear to be continuous.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1997Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shosuke Haraguchi
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Patent number: 6064835Abstract: A field frame for use with a finder which provides arbitrary or stepwise switches of an aspect ratio of the finder. The field frame is made up of a standard field frame, a first L-shaped field switch frame having a dowel pin and two elongated holes, and a second L-shaped field switch frame having a dowel pin and two elongated holes. These two L-shaped field switch frames are piled up one on top of the other in such a manner that dowel pins standing on the main body of the standard field frame fit into the laminated elongated holes of the L-shaped field switch frames. A driving wheel having engaging cutouts is also laminated on the L-shaped field switch frames so that the engaging cutouts can engage with the dowel pins of the field switch frames. The driving wheel is also provided with a lever.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1993Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kiyotaka Kobayashi, Toshihiko Izaki, Hiroshi Sohma, Yukitaka Takeshita
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Patent number: 6064834Abstract: When a switching lever is positioned for horizontal photographing, an exposure frame composed of two switching frames is switched to a horizontal photographing exposure frame. When the switching lever is positioned for vertical photographing, a wheel ring starts rotating about a photographic optical axis, and the switching frames start moving by the operation of elongated holes. When the switching lever is positioned for vertical photographing, the exposure frame composed of two switching frames is switched to a vertical photographing exposure frame.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1997Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignees: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Fukuda, Shiro Hashimoto, Nobuhiro Aoki
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Patent number: 6061529Abstract: A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the width of an exposure opening in the camera body in the film-feed direction and the film is fed a length corresponding to the width of the exposure opening. The photographic camera records an exposure opening position signal indicative of the size of the exposure opening on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the exposure opening position signal detected from the photographic film.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1999Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takahiko Saito, Akira Nakanishi, Shunzi Obayashi, Kyoji Genda, Hideki Toshikage
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Patent number: 6044231Abstract: A camera has a data imprinting device having an optical system focussing light from an LED array on a photographic film at first and second positions corresponding to full-size and panorama-size picture formats. In a first embodiment the optical system has two lens elements, at differing distances from the LED array, each aligned to imprint data at one of the two positions. In a second embodiment the optical system has a single lens element which moves from a first lens position to a second lens position at differing distances from the LED array. Amounts of light emitted by the LED array are modulated by a control system to produce correctly exposed imprinted data at both position. The control system compensates for differing numerical apertures of associated with the first and second positions. The control system also compensates for film speed. One embodiment of the invention modulates the amount of emitted light by adjusting a current level driving the LED array.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1994Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Nikon Corp.Inventors: Isao Soshi, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Hidenori Miyamoto
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Patent number: 6035146Abstract: A light shielding member is composed of plural light shielding plates which increase and decrease an opening area by shielding an exposure opening at least partially, and at least two light shielding plates overlap each other to move from the exposure opening. The film is positioned in such a way that the film is transported in the same direction (feeding direction) when the normal size is switched to the panoramic size and vice versa. Even if the number of residual frames in the panoramic size is 0, the photography in the normal size is allowed when the photography is possible in the normal size. A display shows that the photography can be performed in the normal size, or the panoramic size is automatically switched to the normal size.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 1998Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hisashi Hamada, Tokuji Sato
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Patent number: 6006042Abstract: A photographic system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film and an automatic printer for automatically printing the exposed and processed photographic film. The photographic camera magnetically or optically records at an area away from an exposure area of the photographic film an aspect ratio information signal indicative of a selected aspect ratio and a frame number signal, and the automatic printer automatically produces prints from the photographic film using the magnetically or optically recorded aspect ratio information signal and frame number signal detected from the photographic film.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1997Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takahiko Saito, Hideki Toshikage, Norifumi Kawashima
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Patent number: 5960220Abstract: A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the aspect of an exposure opening in the camera body and the film is fed for a length corresponding to the selected aspect by detecting a hole located in a marginal area of the film. The photographic camera magnetically or optically records at a location away from the hole an aspect information signal indicative of the selected aspect of the exposed frame on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the magnetically or optically recorded aspect information signal detected from the photographic film.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1998Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takahiko Saito, Akira Nakanishi, Shunzi Obayashi, Hideki Toshikage
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Patent number: 5960223Abstract: In an imaging field changing apparatus capable of changing three or more imaging fields having different aspect ratios, a changing order can be set such that one of two imaging fields having largest rate of change in aspect ratios during imaging field changing is changed to the other of the two imaging fields. The imaging fields are exemplified as a standard size, a panorama size, and a high-vision size. Aspect ratio changing is performed such that the standard size is changed to the panorama size. A change in imaging field can be easily recognized. For example, when a change is to be made between the standard size and the panorama size, the upper and lower portions are cut or trimmed and the right and left portions are widened to emphasize wideness.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masakazu Taku
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Patent number: 5950025Abstract: A print format selection device for selecting one of different print formats to each picture frame of a filmstrip loaded in a camera or lens-fitted photo film unit, wherein an original field of view of a viewfinder corresponds to a picture frame defined by an exposure aperture of the camera. A rotatable view changing plate is provided to limit the original field of view in correspondence with the selected print format. The view changing plate is formed with two view windows of different aspect ratios from the original field of view. The centers of the view windows are on a circle which is coaxial with the rotational axis of the view changing plate and which extend across an optical axis of the viewfinder.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Keiji Uchiyama, Mitsuhiro Moriya
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Patent number: 5933663Abstract: To achieve an object to imprint optical data by an appropriate amount of imprinting light, a data recording apparatus includes a correction device for preventing the amount of light for imprinting optical data from varying as a result of an image plane size or an imprinting area being switched. The correction device includes a device for varying the amount of light emission by varying a light emission time and intensity, and an electric current used for light emission, an optical device adjusted to an appropriate transmittance in an imprinting optical path.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroshi Kikuchi
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Patent number: 5911089Abstract: An aperture size changing apparatus for a camera includes a camera body, a photographing lens to be mounted to the camera body, and a pair of light intercepting blades for defining an aperture through which light is incident on a recording medium and which are movably positioned on a predetermined portion in the camera body. An aperture size changing device moves the light intercepting blades between a standard aperture size position and a panoramic aperture size position, and a predetermined member, is independent of, and is assembled into the camera body are provided. The predetermined member is arranged to be functionally associated with the camera body and the photographing lens. The aperture size changing device is mounted on the predetermined member so that the aperture size changing device is substantially within an orthogonal projection of an entire perimeter of the pair of light intercepting blades.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1997Date of Patent: June 8, 1999Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuji Ogawa
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Patent number: 5897232Abstract: A photographic camera (10) includes a film supply chamber (14); a film takeup chamber (16) and a film exposure gate (18) positioned between the chambers. The gate defines a maximum exposed image width (W) in a direction of film travel between the chambers and a maximum exposed image height (H) in a direction transverse to the direction of film travel. A plurality of mask members (24, 26) extend transverse to the direction of travel, each mask member being configured for masking only a portion of the maximum exposed image width. There is no mask in the camera configured for masking a portion of the maximum exposed image height. A mechanism (88-94) moves the mask members toward or away from a center of the exposure gate to reduce or increase only a final exposed image width (W.sub.e), without masking the maximum exposed image height. As a result, the final width of the exposed image indicates a required enlargement of exposed image to produce a pseudo telephoto print.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1996Date of Patent: April 27, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Stanley Ward Stephenson, Paul Teremy
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Patent number: 5892993Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit has a film roll chamber, a cartridge chamber, and an exposure frame member provided between the film roll chamber and the film container chamber. The exposure frame member has an exposure aperture through which each picture frame is recorded in the same size on the filmstrip. The exposure frame member is rearwardly convex along a lengthwise direction of the filmstrip so as to support the filmstrip to be forwardly concave behind the exposure aperture, and has a forwardly concave wall portion on one margin of the exposure aperture. Data recording holes are formed through the forwardly concave wall portion, and a data recording lamp projects light toward the data recording holes at each exposure, to photographically record a number of dots on the filmstrip on one margin of the picture frame. A data switching blade mounted in the forwardly concave wall portion in front of the data recording holes.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1998Date of Patent: April 6, 1999Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Mitsuhiro Moriya
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Patent number: 5875364Abstract: A field frame changeover mechanism suitable for a single-lens reflex camera, which allows clear confirmation of the photo range without increasing the size of the camera. The mechanism has darkening plates movable between a darkening position where the plates cover a part of the focusing screen and an open position where the focusing screen is uncovered by the plates. When the mirror which reflects the light transmitted from the photo-taking lens of the camera to the optical system of the viewfinder of the camera moves from an observation position located in the path of light transmitted through the photo-taking lens to a photo-taking position, the darkening plates retract from the locus of the mirror's movement in a correlated manner.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1997Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takamasa Sakamoto, Akihiro Baba
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Patent number: 5828914Abstract: A camera comprising a pair of front and rear viewfinder openings with a similar aspect ratio which defines a field of view through the front and rear viewfinder openings, and a masking device having a front masking opening with an aspect ratio that is different than the aspect ratio of the front and rear viewfinder openings and being supported to be positioned over the front viewfinder opening to change the field of view through the front and rear viewfinder openings, is characterized in that the masking device has a rear masking opening with the same aspect ratio as the front masking opening and being connected to the front masking opening to be positioned over the rear viewfinder opening when the front masking opening is positioned over the front viewfinder opening. Preferably, the masking device includes an endless masking belt having the pair of front and rear masking openings.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1997Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Edward N. Balling
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Patent number: 5794090Abstract: For a camera of the kind permitting change-over of the aspect ratio of its image pickup area from one aspect ratio to another, an optical system and an apparatus using the optical system are arranged to be capable of preventing the angle of view of a zoom lens from being changed by the change-over of the aspect ratio.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1996Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigeru Oshima, Takashi Kamai, Yoshiharu Nakamura, Yasuhiro Izumi
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Patent number: 5774754Abstract: A camera includes a photographic recording device which records an image of an object on a photosensitive recording medium; an image pick-up device which picks up an image of the object to generate an image signal; a display device which displays a monitor image based on the image signal generated by the image pick-up device; a photographing information setting device which sets photographing information for an image to be recorded on the photosensitive recording medium; and a display controller which controls the display device to display a monitor image in accordance with the set photographing information.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1997Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Ootsuka
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Patent number: 5771415Abstract: In a data imprinting device of a camera arranged to effect shooting either in a first shooting format in which a scene is recorded on a substantially entire area of a photosensitive zone of a film frame or in a second shooting format in which a part of the photosensitive zone of the film frame is shielded from light to form a light-shielded area thereof and a scene is recorded on a light-unshielded area of the photosensitive zone other than the light-shielded area, there are provided a data imprinting part for imprinting data on a film surface, and a data-imprinting control part arranged to vary a position where the data is to be imprinted by the data imprinting part according whether the shooting is effected in the first shooting format or the second shooting format, so that data imprinted in different shooting formats can be located always in adequate positions within printed pictures irrespectively of the difference in shooting format.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1994Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koichi Matsumura, Michio Hirohata, Ichirou Yasumaru
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Patent number: 5752109Abstract: A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the width of an exposure opening in the camera body in the film-feed direction and the film is fed a length corresponding to the width of the exposure opening. The photographic camera records an exposure opening position signal indicative of the size of the exposure opening on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the exposure opening position signal detected from the photographic film.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1997Date of Patent: May 12, 1998Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takahiko Saito, Akira Nakanishi, Shunzi Obayashi, Kyoji Genda, Hideki Toshikage
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Patent number: 5752116Abstract: A camera includes a cartridge mounting chamber, a film take-up chamber, a photographing unit provided between the cartridge mounting chamber and the film take-up chamber. The photographing unit includes a lens housing having a front housing portion holding a lens and a rear housing portion defining a diverging light passage, and a screen adjustment frame having an opening and a frame part confining the opening. The frame part is movable rearward and forward along a direction of the light passing through the diverging light passage for confining the light to pass through the opening. The camera has a device for moving the screen adjustment frame responsive to loading of a film cartridge in the cartridge mounting chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1997Date of Patent: May 12, 1998Assignee: Shansun Technology Company, Ltd.Inventor: Jing-Shiun Lai
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Patent number: 5749012Abstract: A camera arranged to permit photographing by taking full advantage of a spurious telephoto shooting function irrespective of the current state of facilities of photofinishing laboratories is provided with an image plane frame change-over mechanism which acts in response to mode selection made by a mode change-over switch to effect change-over of the size of an image plane frame between a normal image plane frame having a normal image plane frame size and a spurious telephoto image plane frame having a size not exceeding 1/2 of the normal image plane frame size and a restricting member which causes a shooting image plane set by the spurious telephoto image plane frame to become containable within a range of film usable in taking a panorama shot. Therefore, in the spurious telephoto mode, a spurious telephoto shot is taken within the range of film for a panorama shot.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1996Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takanori Kodaira
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Patent number: RE38541Abstract: A camera with a data imprinting device includes a generally triangular space adjacent a film spool. A roller, used to conform the film to the film spool is urged into the triangular space when the film diameter on the roller approaches a maximum diameter. A portion of an optical system for the data imprinting device is also located in the triangular space. The periods of film drive pulses are averaged to establish periods of data imprinting pulses. A plurality of the data imprinting pulses are generated for each film drive pulse. In a full size mode of operation, a first set of the data imprinting pulses are used to record imprinting data. In a panorama mode of operation, a second set of the data imprinting pulses are used to record the imprinting data. The second set of data imprinting pulses contains more data imprinting pulses than the first set of data imprinting pulses, whereby the data imprinted in panorama mode occupies a shorter length of the film than does the data imprinted in full size mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1999Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Hidenori Miyamoto, Isao Soshi
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Patent number: RE36753Abstract: A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the aspect of an exposure opening in the camera body and the film is fed for a length corresponding to the selected aspect by detecting a hole located in a marginal area of the film. The photographic camera magnetically or optically records at a location away from the hole an aspect information signal indicative of the selected aspect of the exposed frame on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the magnetically or optically recorded aspect information signal detected from the photographic film.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1997Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takahiko Saito, Akira Nakanishi, Shunzi Obayashi, Hideki Toshikage
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Patent number: RE36877Abstract: A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the width of an exposure opening in the camera body in the film-feed direction and the film is fed a length corresponding to the width of the exposure opening. The photographic camera magnetically or optically records an exposure opening position signal indicative of the size of the exposure opening on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the magnetically or optically recorded exposure opening position signal detected from the photographic film.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1997Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takahiko Saito, Akira Nakanishi, Shunzi Obayashi, Kyoji Genda, Hideki Toshikage