US4176930A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera with self-contained flash device
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1978-03-06
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Granted: 1979-12-04
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Expires: 1998-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A camera includes alternatively operable first and second objective lenses and a self-contained flash device having an irradiating angle substantially coincident with the angle of view of the second objective lens, the second objective lens having a focal length and F-number greater than those of the first objective lens. The camera is equipped with a light diffusing plate adapted to move into and out of the optical light path of the flash device in association with the operable transfer operation between the first and second objective lenses, and the light diffusing plate is so arranged as to be positioned in the irradiating optical path of the flash device when the first objective lens registers with the picture-taking optical path, so that the irradiating angle of the flash device substantially coincides with the angle of view of the first objective lens.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshinori Imura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:32
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B19/00; G03B19/02; G03B19/04; G03B19/07; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/05; G03B2215/00; G03B2215/05; G03B2215/0503; G03B2215/0514; G03B2215/0517; G03B2215/0525; G03B2215/0535
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A camera comprising; a camera body having a picture-taking optical path; a first objective lens having a predetermined focal length and a predetermined F-number; a second objective lens having a focal length and an F-number greater than those of said first objective lens; externally operable change-over means for selectively setting said first or second lens into registry with said picture-taking optical path; a flash device having an irradiating angle substantially coincident with the angle of view of said second objective lens; and an irradiating angle changing means movable between an inoperative position and an operative position, at which said changing means enlarges the irradiating angle of said flash device to substantially correspond with the angle of view of said first objective lens, said irradiating angle changing-means being responsive to said change-over means and being normally maintaintained in an inoperative position and transferred to its operative position only when said first objective lens is in registry with said picture-taking optical path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A camera comprising; a camera body having a picture-taking optical path; a first objective lens having a predetermined focal length and a predetermined F-number; a second objective lens having a focal length and an F-number greater than those of said first objective lens; externally operable change-over means for selectively setting said first or second lens into registry with said picture-taking optical path; a flash device having an irradiating angle substantially coincident with the angle of view of said second objective lens; and an irradiating angle changing means movable between an inoperative position and an operative position, at which said changing means enlarges the irradiating angle of said flash device to substantially correspond with the angle of view of said first objective lens, said irradiating angle changing-means being responsive to said change-over means and being normally maintaintained in an inoperative position and transferred to its operative position only when said first objective lens is in registry with said picture-taking optical path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A camera as defined in claim 1, wherein said irradiating angle changing means includes a light diffusing plate shiftable between an inoperative position in which said plate is offset from the irradiating optical path of said flash device and an operative position, in which said plate registers with the irradiating optical path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
163 words
A camera as defined in claim 2, wherein; said camera body is of flat rectangular parallelopiped configuration; said flash device is disposed proximate an end of said camera body in the longitudinal direction thereof and has an irradiating optical axis in a plane common with said picture-taking optical axis; the light diffusing plate is slidable along the front surface of the camera along the longitudinal direction thereof and is positioned between the flash device and the picture-taking optical path, when said light diffusing plate is moved to a retracted position away from the irradiating optical path of said flash device; and said change-over means includes a transfer member carrying said first objective lens and said second objective lens and slidable in the longitudinal direction of the camera, a manually operable portion movable integrally with said transfer member and an operating arm for shifting said light-diffusing plate with the movement of said transfer member, said operating arm being integrally formed with said transfer member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
134 words
A camera defined in claim 3, further comprising; a light receiving element for measuring the brightness of an object under ambient light conditions in which the flash device remains inoperative, said light-receiving element having a light receiving angle substantially coincident with the angle of view of said second objective lens; and, a second light-diffusing plate movable to a position in front of said light-receiving element and retractable therefrom and being responsive to said change-over means so as to be positioned in front of said light receiving element, only when said first objective lens registers with said picture-taking optical path, said second light-diffusing plate, when positioned in front of said light-receiving element, enlarging the light receiving angle of said light receiving element to substantially correspond with the angle of view of said first objective lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A camera as defined in claim 4, wherein said light-diffusing plate and said second light diffusing plate are integrally formed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
A combination photographic camera and photoflash device comprising: a camera body having a photographing axis; a photographing objective lens system including means for manually adjusting the focal length of the lens system operatively registering with said photographing axis by a fixed predetermined increment to alternative fixed predetermined values; a photoflash device including a light projection member; and means movable in response to said focal length adjusting means between an inoperative position offset from the irradiating optical axis of the photoflash device and an operative position in registry with the irradiating optical axis of the photoflash device to adjust the angle of the light projected by said light projection member by a fixed predetermined increment so as to correspond to the angle of view of said lens system in operative registry with the photographing axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
A combination photographic camera and photoflash device comprising: a camera body having a photographing axis; a photographing objective lens system including means for manually adjusting the focal length of the lens system operatively registering with said photographing axis by a fixed predetermined increment to alternative fixed predetermined values; a photoflash device including a light projection member; and means movable in response to said focal length adjusting means between an inoperative position offset from the irradiating optical axis of the photoflash device and an operative position in registry with the irradiating optical axis of the photoflash device to adjust the angle of the light projected by said light projection member by a fixed predetermined increment so as to correspond to the angle of view of said lens system in operative registry with the photographing axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said objective lens system includes a relatively short focal length objective lens and a relatively long focal length second objective lens and said focal length adjusting means includes means for selectively alternatively positioning said objective lenses in registry with said photographing axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said light projection member normally has a light projection angle corresponding to that of second objective lens and said projected light angle varying means includes a light diffusion member movable between a position laterally offset from said light projection member and a position registering with the front of said light projection member in response to said second and first objective lenses respectively registering with said photographing axis, said light diffusion member, when registering with said light projecting member, increasing the angle of the projected light to correspond to the angle of view of said first objective lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 6 including a variable aperture diaphragm intercepting said photographing axis and means for reducing and increasing the size of said diaphragm aperture in response to the increase and decrease respectively of the focal length of the lens system in operative registry with said photographic axis.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-12-03 | 1983-06-04 | 1983-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-12-03 | 1987-06-04 | 1987-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-12-03 | 1991-06-04 | 1991-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |