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US4289389A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Exposure control device for a camera

Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1979-12-21
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Granted: 1981-09-15
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Expires: 1999-12-21
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Abstract

Abstract A camera exposure control device having TTL light measuring circuitry capable of spot metering and also averaged metering is disclosed, the spot metering being used for measurement with the camera directed to a main object prior to the camera release operation, and the averaged metering being used for measurement with the camera positioned for making a desired composition including the main object. The difference between the logarithm of the spot metering output and that of the averaged metering output with the aperture at its initial size is stored prior to the aperture stopping-down motion. Exposure is actually controlled by the averaged metering output, which is obtained after the initiation of the aperture stopping-down motion in response to camera release operation with the stored difference between the aforementioned outputs added thereto, to thereby effectively achieve an exposure control equivalent to a control based on a spot metering output which would be obtained after the initiation of the aperture stopping-down motion.

Inventors

  • 👤 Toshio Kobori
  • 👤 Masayoshi Sahara

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 16:32
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/081; G03B7/083

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 168 words
Exposure control device for a camera comprising: a diaphragm aperture capable of being varied from an initial aperture size subsequent to the camera release operation; means for measuring light through the diaphragm aperture to produce a first light measuring output; first means for optionally storing said first light measuring output prior to the camera release operation; and means for controlling the camera exposure based on a combination of a first light measuring output stored by said first storing means, a second light measuring output obtainable from said light measuring means within a period defined between the camera release operation and the initiation of the variation of the diaphragm aperture, and a third light measuring output obtainable from the light measuring means after the initiation of the variation of the diaphragm aperture, and said controlling means includes second means for storing the difference between the first and second light measuring outputs, and means for calculating the third light measuring output with the difference stored by said second storing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 168 words
Exposure control device for a camera comprising: a diaphragm aperture capable of being varied from an initial aperture size subsequent to the camera release operation; means for measuring light through the diaphragm aperture to produce a first light measuring output; first means for optionally storing said first light measuring output prior to the camera release operation; and means for controlling the camera exposure based on a combination of a first light measuring output stored by said first storing means, a second light measuring output obtainable from said light measuring means within a period defined between the camera release operation and the initiation of the variation of the diaphragm aperture, and a third light measuring output obtainable from the light measuring means after the initiation of the variation of the diaphragm aperture, and said controlling means includes second means for storing the difference between the first and second light measuring outputs, and means for calculating the third light measuring output with the difference stored by said second storing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 48 words
Exposure control device as in claim 1, wherein the light measuring means comprises a first light measuring device capable of averaged metering to produce said second and third light measuring outputs, and a second light measuring device capable of spot metering to produce said first light measuring output.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3973266A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-09-14 1985-03-16 1985-09-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-09-14 1989-03-16 1989-09-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-09-14 1993-03-16 1993-09-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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