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US4615599A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Flash photographing system

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1985-04-15
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Granted: 1986-10-07
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Expires: 2005-04-15
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Abstract

Abstract A flash device for a photographic camera is arranged either to inhibit a flashing action or to shift the control mode of the camera from flash photography to daylight photography in cases where an object to be photographed is located outside of the adequately operatable range of distance. A pre-flashing action is performed to detect a distance to the object when a main capacitor is charged to a given level before the capacitor is amply charged for flash photography. Then flash photographing is performed at an aperture value determined on the basis of the detected distance when the distance is within the adequately operatable distance range. In the case where the detected distance is outside of the adequately operatable distance range, the main capacitor is further charged for an increased flashing power. After that, a distance to the object is again detected by a second pre-flashing action before the flash photographing is carried out at an aperture value determined on the basis of the distance detected by the second pre-flashing action. The flash photographing arrangement thus permits seizing a shutter chance in flash photographing an object located at relatively short distance without waiting until the main capacitor is amply charged.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hiroyuki Kataoka
  • 👤 Masanori Yamada
  • 👤 Nobuyuki Suzuki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 21:05
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/16

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 126 words
A flash device, comprising: (a) a combination of pre-flashing means and main flashing means disposed in front of a flash device body; (b) a light sensitive element arranged to receive a reflection light which results from flashing by said flashing means and comes from an object to be photographed; and (c) a panel arranged in front of the flash device body to define the projection light characteristics of flash lights projected from said pre- and main flashing means to the object, said panel being slidable relative to the front of the flash device body and said projection light characteristics of said pre-flashing means and said main flashing means being arranged to be variable with the slided position of said panel simultaneously and in the same manner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 126 words
A flash device, comprising: (a) a combination of pre-flashing means and main flashing means disposed in front of a flash device body; (b) a light sensitive element arranged to receive a reflection light which results from flashing by said flashing means and comes from an object to be photographed; and (c) a panel arranged in front of the flash device body to define the projection light characteristics of flash lights projected from said pre- and main flashing means to the object, said panel being slidable relative to the front of the flash device body and said projection light characteristics of said pre-flashing means and said main flashing means being arranged to be variable with the slided position of said panel simultaneously and in the same manner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 60 words
A flash device comprising: (a) main flashing means for generating flash for exposure; (b) pre-flashing means for effecting a flash before an exposure; and (c) irradiation angle regulating means for matching the irradiation angle characteristic of the light emitted by said main flashing means onto an object and the irradiation angle characteristic of the light emitted by said pre-flashing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 60 words
A flash device comprising: (a) main flashing means for generating flash for exposure; (b) pre-flashing means for effecting a flash before an exposure; and (c) irradiation angle regulating means for matching the irradiation angle characteristic of the light emitted by said main flashing means onto an object and the irradiation angle characteristic of the light emitted by said pre-flashing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
A flash device according to claim 2, in which said irradiation angle regulating means is arranged in front of said main flashing means and said pre-flashing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
A flashing device according to claim 2, in which the irradiation angle regulating means is divided into a part for said main flashing means and a part for said pre-flashing means, each being arranged in front of the respective flashing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 62 words
An adapter for a flash device having main flashing means for effecting a main flash for an exposure and pre-flashing means for effecting a pre-flash prior to the exposure comprising a light transmission member for matching the irradiation angle characteristic of the light emitted by said main flashing means and the irradiation angle characteristic of the light emitted by said pre-flashing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 62 words
An adapter for a flash device having main flashing means for effecting a main flash for an exposure and pre-flashing means for effecting a pre-flash prior to the exposure comprising a light transmission member for matching the irradiation angle characteristic of the light emitted by said main flashing means and the irradiation angle characteristic of the light emitted by said pre-flashing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
An adapter according to claim 5, in which the light transmission member is arranged in front of said main flashing means and said pre-flashing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
An adapter according to claim 5, which the light transmission member is divided into a part for said main flashing means and a part for said pre-flashing means, each being arranged in front of the respective flashing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 83 words
An adapter for a flash device having main flashing means for effecting a main flash for an exposure and pre-flashing means for effecting a pre-flash prior to the exposure comprising: (a) first irradiation angle regulating means for changing the irradiation angle characteristic of the flash from said main flashing means; and (b) second irradiation angle regulating means for matching the irradiation angle characteristic changed by said first irradiation angle regulating means and the irradiation angle characteristic of the flash from said pre-flashing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 83 words
An adapter for a flash device having main flashing means for effecting a main flash for an exposure and pre-flashing means for effecting a pre-flash prior to the exposure comprising: (a) first irradiation angle regulating means for changing the irradiation angle characteristic of the flash from said main flashing means; and (b) second irradiation angle regulating means for matching the irradiation angle characteristic changed by said first irradiation angle regulating means and the irradiation angle characteristic of the flash from said pre-flashing means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4003065A Cited
US4251854A Cited
US4501481A Cited
US4465353A Cited
US4485336A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-10-06 1990-04-07 1990-10-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-10-06 1994-04-07 1994-10-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-10-06 1998-04-07 1998-10-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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