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US4034387A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for taking photographs of an object in close proximity by means of flash

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1974-04-16
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Granted: 1977-07-05
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Expires: 1994-04-16
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention refers to an apparatus for taking photographs of an object in close proximity by means of a flash. A proper exposure is obtained for the object in close proximity with the use of flash equipment with variable illumination intensity, in accordance with the equation ##EQU1## L: Distance to the object M: Photographic magnification a: Constant N: Film sensitivity Pe: Effective lighting quantity F: Aperture of diaphragm The flash equipment is designed in such a manner that the flash light part of the flash equipment can nearly be brought in alignment with the optical axis of the objective of the photographic camera while the illumination intensity of the flash light can be varied.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shohei Ohtaki
  • 👤 Susumu Kozuki
  • 👤 Zenzo Nakamura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 11:56
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/16; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/05; G03B2215/00; G03B2215/05; G03B2215/0514; G03B2215/0517; G03B2215/0539

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 78 words
Flash equipment for illuminating objects for a camera having an objective lens with an optical axis, comprising: (a) flash means for illuminating an object with flash light having a direction coincident with a central optical axis of the objective lens, said flash means being mounted along said axes; (b) circuit means connected to said flash means for energizing said flash means; and (c) control means for regulating flash duration of said flash means in correspondence to photographic magnification.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 78 words
Flash equipment for illuminating objects for a camera having an objective lens with an optical axis, comprising: (a) flash means for illuminating an object with flash light having a direction coincident with a central optical axis of the objective lens, said flash means being mounted along said axes; (b) circuit means connected to said flash means for energizing said flash means; and (c) control means for regulating flash duration of said flash means in correspondence to photographic magnification.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 206 words
Flash equipment for illuminating objects for a camera having shutter blades and that has a diaphragm for varying the aperture diameter to some predetermined minimum and an optical system with an optical axis, comprising a flash illuminating means mounted in alignment with the optical axis in order to illuminate the object, circuit means for connection to said flash illuminating means in order to energize said illuminating means, switch means for selectively connecting said circuit means to said flash illuminating means, control means for regulating the duration of said flash illuminating means energization according to the distance between the objects and the camera, and means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means together to establish a setting according to the distance between the object and the camera in order to vary the aperture diameter in accordance with the distance to the object until the aperture diameter reaches the predetermined minimum aperture diameter and in which said means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means includes a time constant circuit having a first variable resistance and a condensor, whereby the first variable resistance is varied in accordance with the distance setting for varying the time constant and for setting the flash duration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 206 words
Flash equipment for illuminating objects for a camera having shutter blades and that has a diaphragm for varying the aperture diameter to some predetermined minimum and an optical system with an optical axis, comprising a flash illuminating means mounted in alignment with the optical axis in order to illuminate the object, circuit means for connection to said flash illuminating means in order to energize said illuminating means, switch means for selectively connecting said circuit means to said flash illuminating means, control means for regulating the duration of said flash illuminating means energization according to the distance between the objects and the camera, and means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means together to establish a setting according to the distance between the object and the camera in order to vary the aperture diameter in accordance with the distance to the object until the aperture diameter reaches the predetermined minimum aperture diameter and in which said means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means includes a time constant circuit having a first variable resistance and a condensor, whereby the first variable resistance is varied in accordance with the distance setting for varying the time constant and for setting the flash duration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 208 words
Flash equipment for illuminating objects for a camera having shutter blades and that has a diaphragm for varying the aperture diameter to some predetermined minimum and an optical system with an optical axis, comprising a flash illuminating means mounted in alignment with the optical axis in order to illuminate the object, circuit means for connection to said flash illuminating means in order to energize said illuminating means, switch means for selectively connecting said circuit means to said flash illuminating means, control means for regulating the duration of said flash illuminating means energization according to distance between the object and the camera, and means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means together to establish a setting according to the distance between the object and the camera in order to vary the aperture diameter in accordance with the distance to the object until the aperture diameter reaches the predetermined minimum aperture diameter and in which said means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means has an aperture control circuit being equipped with a variable resistance to be varied in functional connection with the distance setting and an aperture indication meter, whereby the aperture is set according to the indication of said aperture indication meter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 208 words
Flash equipment for illuminating objects for a camera having shutter blades and that has a diaphragm for varying the aperture diameter to some predetermined minimum and an optical system with an optical axis, comprising a flash illuminating means mounted in alignment with the optical axis in order to illuminate the object, circuit means for connection to said flash illuminating means in order to energize said illuminating means, switch means for selectively connecting said circuit means to said flash illuminating means, control means for regulating the duration of said flash illuminating means energization according to distance between the object and the camera, and means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means together to establish a setting according to the distance between the object and the camera in order to vary the aperture diameter in accordance with the distance to the object until the aperture diameter reaches the predetermined minimum aperture diameter and in which said means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means has an aperture control circuit being equipped with a variable resistance to be varied in functional connection with the distance setting and an aperture indication meter, whereby the aperture is set according to the indication of said aperture indication meter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 90 words
An equipment according to claim 2 in which said means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means has an aperture control circuit being equipped with a second variable resistance to be varied in functional connection with the distance setting, an aperture indication meter having a following finger means in functional connection with the position indicated of the finger of said aperture indication meter, whereby the shutter blades of the camera are connected functionally with said following finger means in such a manner that the aperture is set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
An equipment according to claim 4 including a distance setting mechanism and in which said first and second variable resistances are varied in functional connection and physically located at the distance setting mechanism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 75 words
An equipment according to claim 2 in which said means for coupling is functionally connected with said first variable resistance so as to satisfy the equation ##EQU5## wherein, L: Distance to the object M: Photographic magnification a. Constant N. Film sensitivity Pe: Effective lightening quantity F: Aperture of diaphragm in such a manner that the operation time of said control means is set so as to vary the illuminating quantity of said flash illuminating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 121 words
Flash equipment for illuminating objects for a camera having a diaphragm for varying the aperture diameter to a predetermined minimum and an optical system with an optical axis, comprising: (a) flash means for illuminating an object with flash light having a direction coincident with a central optical axis of the optical system of the camera, said flash means being mounted along said axis; (b) circuit means connected to said flash means for energizing said flash means; (c) control means for regulating flash duration of said flash means in correspondence to photographic magnification; and (d) a second control means for varying the aperture diameter in accordance with the distance to the object until the aperture diameter reaches the predetermined minimum aperture diameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 121 words
Flash equipment for illuminating objects for a camera having a diaphragm for varying the aperture diameter to a predetermined minimum and an optical system with an optical axis, comprising: (a) flash means for illuminating an object with flash light having a direction coincident with a central optical axis of the optical system of the camera, said flash means being mounted along said axis; (b) circuit means connected to said flash means for energizing said flash means; (c) control means for regulating flash duration of said flash means in correspondence to photographic magnification; and (d) a second control means for varying the aperture diameter in accordance with the distance to the object until the aperture diameter reaches the predetermined minimum aperture diameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 153 words
Flash equipment for illuminating objects for a camera having a diaphragm for varying the aperture diameter to a predetermined minimum and an optical system with an optical axis, comprising: (a) flash means for illuminating an object with flash light having a direction coincident with a central optical axis of the optical system of the camera; (b) circuit means connected to said flash means for energizing said flash means; (c) control means for regulating flash duration of said flash means in correspondence to photographic magnification; and (d) a second control means for varying the aperture diameter in accordance with the distance to the object until the aperture diameter reaches the predetermined minimum aperture diameter and wherein said second control means comprises a first means for producing a first signal corresponding to a distance between the object and the camera and an aperture control means for controlling the diaphragm in correspondence with the first signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 153 words
Flash equipment for illuminating objects for a camera having a diaphragm for varying the aperture diameter to a predetermined minimum and an optical system with an optical axis, comprising: (a) flash means for illuminating an object with flash light having a direction coincident with a central optical axis of the optical system of the camera; (b) circuit means connected to said flash means for energizing said flash means; (c) control means for regulating flash duration of said flash means in correspondence to photographic magnification; and (d) a second control means for varying the aperture diameter in accordance with the distance to the object until the aperture diameter reaches the predetermined minimum aperture diameter and wherein said second control means comprises a first means for producing a first signal corresponding to a distance between the object and the camera and an aperture control means for controlling the diaphragm in correspondence with the first signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 14 words
Flash equipment according to claim 8, wherein said first means includes a variable resistor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 21 words
Flash equipment according to claim 9, wherein said aperture control means includes an aperture indication meter connected to said variable resistor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 198 words
Flash equipment for illuminating objects for a camera having a diaphragm for varying the aperture diameter to some predetermined minimum and an optical system with an optical axis, comprising: (a) a flash illuminating means mounted in alignment with the optical axis in order to illuminate the object; (b) circuit means for connection to said flash illuminating means in order to energize said flash illuminating means; (c) control means for regulating the duration of said flash illuminating means energization according to the distance between the object and the camera; (d) means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means together to establish a setting according to the distance between the object and the camera in order to vary the aperture diameter in accordance with the distance to the object until the aperture diameter reaches the predetermined minimum aperture diameter, and in which said means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means has an aperture control circuit, said aperture control circuit having a first variable resistor to be varied in functional connection with the distance setting and an aperture indication meter, whereby the aperture is set according to the indication of said aperture indication meter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 198 words
Flash equipment for illuminating objects for a camera having a diaphragm for varying the aperture diameter to some predetermined minimum and an optical system with an optical axis, comprising: (a) a flash illuminating means mounted in alignment with the optical axis in order to illuminate the object; (b) circuit means for connection to said flash illuminating means in order to energize said flash illuminating means; (c) control means for regulating the duration of said flash illuminating means energization according to the distance between the object and the camera; (d) means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means together to establish a setting according to the distance between the object and the camera in order to vary the aperture diameter in accordance with the distance to the object until the aperture diameter reaches the predetermined minimum aperture diameter, and in which said means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means has an aperture control circuit, said aperture control circuit having a first variable resistor to be varied in functional connection with the distance setting and an aperture indication meter, whereby the aperture is set according to the indication of said aperture indication meter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 65 words
Flash equipment according to claim 11, said means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means further comprising: (a) a finger scanning means for scanning the position indicated of the finger of said aperture indication meter; and (b) connection means associated with the finger scanning means, said connection means controlling the camera aperture diaphragm according to the output of said finger scanning means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 49 words
Flash equipment according to claim 11, wherein said control means includes a second variable resistor having a resistance corresponding to distance between the object and the camera, whereby the duration of said flash illuminating means energization is regulated in response to the adjusted resistance of said second variable resistor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 194 words
A combination of a camera and a flash device which comprises: (a) a diaphragm for varying the aperture diameter to some predetermined minimum; (b) an objective lens with an optical axis; (c) a reflecting surface formed on one part of said objective lens; (d) a reflector having an opening formed in optical alignment with said reflecting surface; (e) a further lens interposed between said reflecting surfaceand said reflector in optical alignment with said reflecting surface and said reflector opening; (f) a flash means spaced from said objective lens and in optical alignment with said reflecting surface, said further lens and said reflector opening; (g) circuit means connected to said flash means for supplying said flash means with a light energy; (h) control means for regulating the duration of said flash means energization according to distance between the object and the camera; and (i) means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means together to establish a setting according to the distance between the object and the camera in order to vary the aperture diameter in accordance with the distance to the object until the aperture diameter reaches the predetermined minimum aperture diameter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 194 words
A combination of a camera and a flash device which comprises: (a) a diaphragm for varying the aperture diameter to some predetermined minimum; (b) an objective lens with an optical axis; (c) a reflecting surface formed on one part of said objective lens; (d) a reflector having an opening formed in optical alignment with said reflecting surface; (e) a further lens interposed between said reflecting surfaceand said reflector in optical alignment with said reflecting surface and said reflector opening; (f) a flash means spaced from said objective lens and in optical alignment with said reflecting surface, said further lens and said reflector opening; (g) circuit means connected to said flash means for supplying said flash means with a light energy; (h) control means for regulating the duration of said flash means energization according to distance between the object and the camera; and (i) means for coupling the camera aperture diaphragm and said control means together to establish a setting according to the distance between the object and the camera in order to vary the aperture diameter in accordance with the distance to the object until the aperture diameter reaches the predetermined minimum aperture diameter.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2596376A Cited
US2682603A Cited
US3198097A Cited
US3382786A Cited
US3646865A Cited
US3650189A Cited
US3638543A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-07-04 1981-01-03 1981-07-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-07-04 1985-01-03 1985-07-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-07-04 1989-01-03 1989-07-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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