US4514073A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic exposure control camera
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1983-10-07
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Granted: 1985-04-30
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Expires: 2003-10-07
Abstract
Abstract An automatic exposure control camera is of a type capable of controlling both the camera exposure and the flash light amount to be emitted by an electronic flash device. The automatic exposure control camera includes an average light measuring device for measuring an amount of the entire light impinging on an image forming plane and for producing an average signal representing the average light amount, and a spot light measuring device for measuring an amount of light impinging on a spot of the image forming plane and for producing a spot signal representing the light amount at the spot. When taking a photograph with the aid of flash light from a flash device, the amount of light impinging on the film surface is measured and integrated in real time using the average signal, and when the integrated amount reaches a predetermined level, the flash device is controlled so as to stop the emission of flash light, thereby photographing the object with an appropriate light amount even when the object is located at a corner of the frame.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuyuki Taniguchi
- 👤 Hiroshi Hosomizu
- 👤 Toru Inoue
- 👤 Masaaki Nakai
- 👤 Takanobu Omaki
- 👤 Masatake Niwa
- 👤 Minoru Sekida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:21
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/16; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
An automatic exposure control camera capable of controlling both the camera exposure and the flash light amount to be emitted by an electronic flash device comprising: means for measuring light and capable of alternatively producing a first signal indicative of a light measuring result covering a relatively wide area of the object scene and a second signal indicative of a light measuring result covering a relatively narrow area of the object scene; first means for automatically controlling the camera exposure in response to said first signal and said second signal and including means for selectively storing either said first or second signal prior to actual exposure, said first controlling means being respective to the signal stored by said storing means; second means for automatically controlling the flash light amount in response to said first signal; and means for selecting said first controlling means from said second controlling means to respond to said first and second signals, said selecting means including first means for interconnecting said first controlling means with said measuring means to enable said first controlling means to selectively respond to either of said first and second signals in controlling the camera exposure, and said selecting means further including second means for interconnecting said second controlling means with said measuring means to restrict said second controlling means to respond to said first signal in controlling the flash light amount.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
An automatic exposure control camera capable of controlling both the camera exposure and the flash light amount to be emitted by an electronic flash device comprising: means for measuring light and capable of alternatively producing a first signal indicative of a light measuring result covering a relatively wide area of the object scene and a second signal indicative of a light measuring result covering a relatively narrow area of the object scene; first means for automatically controlling the camera exposure in response to said first signal and said second signal and including means for selectively storing either said first or second signal prior to actual exposure, said first controlling means being respective to the signal stored by said storing means; second means for automatically controlling the flash light amount in response to said first signal; and means for selecting said first controlling means from said second controlling means to respond to said first and second signals, said selecting means including first means for interconnecting said first controlling means with said measuring means to enable said first controlling means to selectively respond to either of said first and second signals in controlling the camera exposure, and said selecting means further including second means for interconnecting said second controlling means with said measuring means to restrict said second controlling means to respond to said first signal in controlling the flash light amount.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The automatic exposure control camera according to claim 1 further comprising a semi-transparent reflex mirror movable between a projecting position and a retracting position, and means containing a film, wherein said measuring means includes means for receiving light and located to receive light reflected at the film surface with said reflex mirror in the retracting position, and means for projecting light transmitted through said reflex mirror to said receiving means with said reflex mirror in the projecting position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The automatic exposure control camera according to claim 2, wherein said second controlling means includes means for carrying out the flash light control during actual exposure in response to said first signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The automatic exposure control camera according to claim 1, wherein said second controlling means includes means for integrating said first signal after the initiation of firing of the flash light to transmit a flash terminating signal to the electronic flash device when the integrated first signal reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The automatic exposure control camera according to claim 1, further comprising means for indicating exposure information in respone to said first or second signal, and third means for interconnecting said indicating means with said measuring means to enable said indicating means to selectively respond to either of said first and second signals in indicating the exposure information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The automatic exposure control camera according to claim 1, wherein said first interconnecting means includes means for determining whether said first controlling means responds to said first signal or to said second signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The automatic exposure control camera according to claim 1, further comprising means for providing an exposure control signal to said first controlling means with said second controlling means being selected by said selecting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The automatic exposure control camera according to claim 1, wherein said second controlling means includes means for carrying out the flash light control during actual exposure in response to said first signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
An automatic exposure control camera capable of controlling both the camera exposure and the flash light amount to be emitted by an electronic flash device comprising: means for measuring light capable of alternatively producing a first signal indicative of a light measuring result covering a relatively wide area of the object scene and a second signal indicative of a light measuring result covering a relatively narrow area of the object scene; means for automatically controlling the camera exposure in response to either of said first and second signals and including means for selectively storing either said first or second signal prior to actual exposure, said automatic controlling means being responsive to the signal stored by said storing means; means for electrically connecting the camera with the electronic flash device to control the flash light amount in response to said measuring means; and means for interconnecting said connecting means with said measuring means to restrict the control of flash light amount in response to said first signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
An automatic exposure control camera capable of controlling both the camera exposure and the flash light amount to be emitted by an electronic flash device comprising: means for measuring light capable of alternatively producing a first signal indicative of a light measuring result covering a relatively wide area of the object scene and a second signal indicative of a light measuring result covering a relatively narrow area of the object scene; means for automatically controlling the camera exposure in response to either of said first and second signals and including means for selectively storing either said first or second signal prior to actual exposure, said automatic controlling means being responsive to the signal stored by said storing means; means for electrically connecting the camera with the electronic flash device to control the flash light amount in response to said measuring means; and means for interconnecting said connecting means with said measuring means to restrict the control of flash light amount in response to said first signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
214 words
An automatic exposure control camera capable of controlling both the exposure of the film to the scene light and the flash light amount to be emitted by an electronic flash device; a semi-transparent reflex mirror movable between a projecting position and a retracting position; means for measuring light and capable of alternatively producing a first signal indicative of a light measuring result covering a relatively wide area of the object scene and a second signal indicative of a light measurement result covering a relatively narrow area of the object scene, including means for receiving light and located to receive light reflected at the film surface with said reflex mirror in the retracting position and means for projecting light transmitted through said reflex mirror to said receiving means with said reflex mirror in the projecting position; means for automatically controlling the exposure of the film to the scene light in response to either of said first and second signals produced with said reflex mirror in the projecting position; and means for electrically connecting the camera with the electronic flash device to control the flash light amount, said connecting means including means for restricting the control of flash light amount to a response to said first signal produced with said reflex mirror in the retracting position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
214 words
An automatic exposure control camera capable of controlling both the exposure of the film to the scene light and the flash light amount to be emitted by an electronic flash device; a semi-transparent reflex mirror movable between a projecting position and a retracting position; means for measuring light and capable of alternatively producing a first signal indicative of a light measuring result covering a relatively wide area of the object scene and a second signal indicative of a light measurement result covering a relatively narrow area of the object scene, including means for receiving light and located to receive light reflected at the film surface with said reflex mirror in the retracting position and means for projecting light transmitted through said reflex mirror to said receiving means with said reflex mirror in the projecting position; means for automatically controlling the exposure of the film to the scene light in response to either of said first and second signals produced with said reflex mirror in the projecting position; and means for electrically connecting the camera with the electronic flash device to control the flash light amount, said connecting means including means for restricting the control of flash light amount to a response to said first signal produced with said reflex mirror in the retracting position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-04-29 | 1988-10-29 | 1989-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-29 | 1992-10-29 | 1993-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-29 | 1996-10-29 | 1997-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |