US4238154A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera having too close/too far indication
Assignee: MICROCHIP ACQUISITION Corp
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Filing: 1979-08-09
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Granted: 1980-12-09
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Expires: 1999-08-09
Abstract
Abstract An automatic focusing camera having an indicator for producing an indication when the subject being photographed is too near the camera to be brought into focus. It also provides an inhibit signal if this situation exists thereby precluding operation of an exposure cycle. When the camera is operated in its flash mode, an indicator produces its indication if the subject is outside a predetermined range within which the shutter mechanism is capable of producing a properly exposed photograph under flash illumination and an inhibit signal is also provided in this situation to thereby preclude operation of an exposure cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Conrad H. Biber
- 👤 Edwin K. Shenk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:25
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/18; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
In a camera operable to record an image of a subject located within a given range of subject distance, the camera having a range finder for, in response to camera actuation, determining the distance to the subject, and a shutter arrangement for exposing an image of the subject on a recording medium, said range finder producing a train of pulses, whose total is related to subject distance, the improvement wherein said range finder produces a train of pulses such that one plurality of pulses is representative of subject distance located within said range and at least another plurality is representative of subject distance outside of said range, and additionally comprising means for indicating when the total number of pulses is within said other plurality to thereby indicate that said subject is outside of said range.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a camera operable to record an image of a subject located within a given range of subject distance, the camera having a range finder for, in response to camera actuation, determining the distance to the subject, and a shutter arrangement for exposing an image of the subject on a recording medium, said range finder producing a train of pulses, whose total is related to subject distance, the improvement wherein said range finder produces a train of pulses such that one plurality of pulses is representative of subject distance located within said range and at least another plurality is representative of subject distance outside of said range, and additionally comprising means for indicating when the total number of pulses is within said other plurality to thereby indicate that said subject is outside of said range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The camera of claim 1 wherein said improvement additionally includes means for inhibiting operation of the shutter arrangement when the total number of pulses is within said other plurality.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The camera of claim 1 wherein said means for indicating includes means for indicating when the total number of said pulses is within a first plurality representative of subject distance closer than a lower limit of said range and within a second plurality representative of subject distance farther than an upper limit of said range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The camera of claim 1 wherein said means for indicating includes means for indicating when the total number of pulses is less than a given minimum number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The camera of claim 4 wherein said given minimum number is representative of a subject at a minimum close up distance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The camera of claim 1 wherein said means for indicating includes means for indicating when the total number of said pulses is greater than a given maximum number.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The camera of claim 6 wherein said given maximum number is representative of a subject at the maximum distance for flash exposure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a camera operable to record an image of a subject located within a given range of subject distance, the camera having a range finder for, in response to camera actuation, determining the distance to the subject, and a shutter arrangement for exposing an image of the subject on a recording medium, said range finder producing a train of pulses, whose total is related to subject distance, the improvement wherein said range finder produces a train of pulses such that one plurality of pulses is representative of subject distance located within said range and at least another plurality is representative of subject distance outside of said range, and additionally comprising means for inhibiting operation of said shutter arrangement when the total number of pulses is within said other plurality to thereby inhibit exposure operations when said subject is outside of said range.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a camera operable to record an image of a subject located within a given range of subject distance, the camera having a range finder for, in response to camera actuation, determining the distance to the subject, and a shutter arrangement for exposing an image of the subject on a recording medium, said range finder producing a train of pulses, whose total is related to subject distance, the improvement wherein said range finder produces a train of pulses such that one plurality of pulses is representative of subject distance located within said range and at least another plurality is representative of subject distance outside of said range, and additionally comprising means for inhibiting operation of said shutter arrangement when the total number of pulses is within said other plurality to thereby inhibit exposure operations when said subject is outside of said range.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The camera of claim 8 wherein said means for inhibiting includes means for inhibiting said shutter operation when the total number of said pulses is within a first plurality representative of a subject distance closer than a lower limit of said range and within a second plurality representative of subject distance farther than an upper limit of said range.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The camera of claim 8 wherein said means for inhibiting includes means for inhibiting operation of said shutter arrangement when the total number of pulses is less than a given minimum number.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The camera of claim 10 wherein said given minimum number is representative of a subject at a minimum close up distance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The camera of claim 8 wherein said means for inhibiting includes means for inhibiting operation of said shutter arrangement when the total number of pulses is greater than a given maximum number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The camera of claim 12 wherein said given maximum number is representative of a subject at the maximum distance for flash exposure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a camera operable to record an image of a subject located within a given range of subject distance, the camera having a range finder for, in response to camera actuation, determining the distance to the subject, and a shutter arrangement for exposing an image of the subject on a recording medium, the improvement wherein said range finder produces a range time interval whose length is in accordance with subject distance such that a range time interval within a time period of given minimum and maximum limits is representative of a subject distance located within said subject distance range and a range time interval outside of said given time period is representative of a subject distance outside of said subject distance range, and additionally comprising means for indicating when the range time interval produced by said range finder is outside of said given time period to thereby indicate when said subject is outside of said subject distance range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a camera operable to record an image of a subject located within a given range of subject distance, the camera having a range finder for, in response to camera actuation, determining the distance to the subject, and a shutter arrangement for exposing an image of the subject on a recording medium, the improvement wherein said range finder produces a range time interval whose length is in accordance with subject distance such that a range time interval within a time period of given minimum and maximum limits is representative of a subject distance located within said subject distance range and a range time interval outside of said given time period is representative of a subject distance outside of said subject distance range, and additionally comprising means for indicating when the range time interval produced by said range finder is outside of said given time period to thereby indicate when said subject is outside of said subject distance range.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The camera of claim 14 wherein said improvement additionally includes means for inhibiting operation of said shutter arrangement when the produced range time interval is outside of said given time period.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
The camera of claim 14 wherein said means for indicating includes means for indicating when the duration of the produced range time interval is less than said minimum first time period limit and is thereby representative of subject distance closer than a lower limit of said subject distance range or greater than said maximum time period limit and is thereby representative of subject distance farther than an upper limit of said subject distance range.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
89 words
The camera of claim 14 wherein said indicating means includes means for defining a first time period substantially equal to a range time interval representative of a subject located at a lower limit of said range and a second time period greater than said first and substantially equal to a range time interval representative of a subject located at an upper limit of said range, and said indicating means includes means for indicating when the produced range time interval is within either said first or said second time period.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The camera of claim 14 wherein said range finder transmits energy toward the subject and receives a reflected signal therefrom, and the time between the transmission and said reflected signal provides said range time interval.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The camera of claim 18 wherein said range finder is a sonic range finder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a camera operable to record an image of a subject located within a given range of subject distance, the camera having a range finder for, in response to camera actuation, determining the distance to the subject, and a shutter arrangement for exposing an image of the subject on a recording medium, the improvement wherein said range finder produces a range time interval whose length is in accordance with subject distance such that a range time interval within a time period of given minimum and maximum limits is representative of a subject distance located within said subject distance range and a range time interval outside of said given time period is representative of a subject distance outside of said subject distance range, and additionally comprising means for inhibiting operation of said shutter arrangement when the range time interval produced by said range finder is outside of said given time period to thereby inhibit exposure operations when said subject is outside of said subject distance range.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a camera operable to record an image of a subject located within a given range of subject distance, the camera having a range finder for, in response to camera actuation, determining the distance to the subject, and a shutter arrangement for exposing an image of the subject on a recording medium, the improvement wherein said range finder produces a range time interval whose length is in accordance with subject distance such that a range time interval within a time period of given minimum and maximum limits is representative of a subject distance located within said subject distance range and a range time interval outside of said given time period is representative of a subject distance outside of said subject distance range, and additionally comprising means for inhibiting operation of said shutter arrangement when the range time interval produced by said range finder is outside of said given time period to thereby inhibit exposure operations when said subject is outside of said subject distance range.
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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) | 1983-12-09 | 1984-06-09 | 1984-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-09 | 1988-06-09 | 1988-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-09 | 1992-06-09 | 1992-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |