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US4449822A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Exposure indicator

Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1981-11-25
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Granted: 1984-05-22
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Expires: 2001-11-25
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Abstract

Abstract An exposure indicator for use in a light meter includes a light measuring device including a light receiving element for producing an electrical signal representing the brightness of the light received by the light receiving element, and a circuit for changing the electrical signal from the light measuring device by an amount determined by a setting mechanism. A first indicator is provided for indicating a value of an exposure parameter, such as an aperture F-stop value, based on the changed signal, and a second indicator is provided for indicating a density of a reproduced film in accordance with the electrical signal from the light measuring device and the changed signal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshio Yuasa
  • 👤 Kazuhiko Naruse

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 20:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42; G01J1/4209; G01J1/4214

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 142 words
An exposure indicator comprising: light measuring means including a light receiving element for producing an electrical signal as a function of the light received by said light receiving element; change means for changing the electrical signal obtained from the light measuring means and for producing a changed signal; setting means provided in association with said change means for setting an amount of change of the electric signal; first indicator means for indicating a value of an exposure parameter based on said changed signal; means for determining, based on said amount of change, the density of a photographic sensitized material that is anticipated to be reproduced when a photograph is taken for the measured light with an exposure condition in compliance with the value of the exposure parameter indicated by said first indicator; and second indicator means for indicating the determined film density.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 142 words
An exposure indicator comprising: light measuring means including a light receiving element for producing an electrical signal as a function of the light received by said light receiving element; change means for changing the electrical signal obtained from the light measuring means and for producing a changed signal; setting means provided in association with said change means for setting an amount of change of the electric signal; first indicator means for indicating a value of an exposure parameter based on said changed signal; means for determining, based on said amount of change, the density of a photographic sensitized material that is anticipated to be reproduced when a photograph is taken for the measured light with an exposure condition in compliance with the value of the exposure parameter indicated by said first indicator; and second indicator means for indicating the determined film density.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 45 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first indicator means comprises a segment indicator means for indicating said value of the exposure parameter in a numerical representation, said exposure parameter being any one of exposure value, aperture value, shutter speed, and brightness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first indicator means further comprises an exposure calculation circuit for calculating said exposure parameter based on said changed signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light measuring means further includes means for generating, as said electric signal, a voltage signal having a level proportional to the logarithm of the light intensity incident on said light receiving element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a storing means for storing said changed signal and wherein said determining means includes means for detecting the difference between the stored changed signal and said electrical signal from said light measuring means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 39 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second indicator means comprises a density chart showing different tones of reproduced film and a plurality of dots each adapted to emit light for the indication of particular tone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 46 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second indicator means includes a plurality of dots aligned along a curve representing given exposure-reproduced film density characteristics, each dot being adapted to emit light selectively for the indication of a particular point on said curve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 47 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said determining means further comprises difference calculation means for calculating the difference between said electrical signal from said light measuring means and said changed signal, a calculated difference being used for actuating one of said plurality of dots.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 45 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 8, further comprising memory means for storing the electric signal from said light measuring means, said difference calculation means being capable of calculating, at the same time, the difference between every said stored signal and said changed signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 55 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 9, wherein said memory means includes a plurality of memory units for storing a plurality of electric signals from said light measuring circuit and said difference calculation means includes a plurality of calculator units for calculating the difference between the changed signal and each of said stored signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 55 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a constant signal producing means connected to said difference calculation means for producing a signal representing a constant value, said calculated difference and said constant value being added with each other and when said calculated difference is zero, a dot indicating a half-tone being actuated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said dots are defined by light emitting diodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said dots are defined by liquid crystal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 41 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second indicator includes a plurality of indicator elements, said determining means being adapted to selectively activate said indicator elements for the indication of the anticipated density of the photographic emulsion material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 166 words
An exposure indicator comprising: light measuring means including a light detecting element for producing an electric signal as a function of the measurement of the light received by said light receiving element; setting means manually operable for setting a desired amount of change and generating a change signal representative thereof; change means for changing the electrical signal in response to said change signal such that the changed signal represents a light measurement value changed by an amount set by said setting means; first indicator means for indicating a value of an exposure parameter in response to the electrical signal changed by said change means; determining means for determining, from the electrical signal and the changed signal, the anticipated density of reproduction on a film when the film is exposed to the measured light with an exposure condition in compliance with the value of the exposure parameter indicated by said first indication means; and second indicator means for indicating the anticipated density determined by said determining means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 166 words
An exposure indicator comprising: light measuring means including a light detecting element for producing an electric signal as a function of the measurement of the light received by said light receiving element; setting means manually operable for setting a desired amount of change and generating a change signal representative thereof; change means for changing the electrical signal in response to said change signal such that the changed signal represents a light measurement value changed by an amount set by said setting means; first indicator means for indicating a value of an exposure parameter in response to the electrical signal changed by said change means; determining means for determining, from the electrical signal and the changed signal, the anticipated density of reproduction on a film when the film is exposed to the measured light with an exposure condition in compliance with the value of the exposure parameter indicated by said first indication means; and second indicator means for indicating the anticipated density determined by said determining means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 45 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first indicator means comprises a segment indicator means for indicating said value of the exposure parameter in a numerical representation, said exposure parameter being any one of exposure value, aperture value, shutter speed, and brightness.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 29 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first indicator means further comprises an exposure calculation circuit for calculating said exposure parameter based on said changed signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 40 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 15, wherein said second indicator means comprises a density chart showing different tones of reproduced film and a plurality of dots each adapted to emit light for the indication of a particular tone.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 44 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 15, wherein said second indicator means comprises a plurality of dots aligned along a curve representing a density of reproduced film, each dot adapted to emit light for the indication of a particular point on said curve.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 42 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 15, wherein said second indicator means includes a plurality of indicator elements, said determining means being adapted to selectively activate said indicator elements for the indication of the anticipated density of the photographic emulsion material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 47 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 20, wherein said determining means further comprises difference calculation means for calculating the difference between said electrical signal from said light measuring means and said changed signal, a calculated difference being used for actuating one of said plurality of dots.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 46 words
An exposure indicator as claimed in claim 21, wherein further comprising memory means for storing the electrical signal from said light measuring means, said difference calculation means being capable of calculating, at the same time, the difference between every said stored signal and said changed signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3843249A Cited
US4032933A Cited
US4176955A Cited
US4182573A Cited
US4229108A Cited
JPS5535316A Cited
JPS5540451A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-05-22 1987-11-21 1988-05-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-05-22 1991-11-21 1992-05-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-05-22 1995-11-21 1996-05-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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