US4884094A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data transmission system for a camera
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-07-05
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Granted: 1989-11-28
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Expires: 2008-07-05
Abstract
Abstract From a data transmission device to a camera system including a camera and electronic flash device, operation instruction data such as set or calculated exposure control data, shutter release data instructing the operation of the camera system, flash emission testing data and the like are serially transmitted in the form of infrared light signal. When the reception of these data is completed, the camera starts its operation to control given operation of the camera system such as the exposure initiation of the camera, test light emission of the electronic flash device and the like in accordance with received data. Additionally, in the case where the data transmission device is an exposure meter which measures flash light and daylight, flash light emission operation or light emission interruption operation of the electronic flash device is controlled in accordance with the determination whether the exposure control data calculated and transmitted to the camera system is for the daylight photography or the flash light photography.
Inventors
- 👤 Mashio Kitaura
- 👤 Masaaki Nakai
- 👤 Tadahiro Yoshida
- 👤 Yoshiiku Kikukawa
- 👤 Takanobu Omaki
- 👤 Nobuyuki Taniguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:12
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/38; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/091; G03B7/097; G03B7/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A signal transmitter comprising: a light measurement means, including a light measuring portion, for measuring light from an object; an exposure time setting means wherein an exposure data is manually set; a film sensitivity setting means wherein a film sensitivity is manually set; a calculation means for calculating a diaphragm aperature value in accordance with the values of light measurement, set exposure time and set film sensitivity; signal outputting means for outputting a measuring mode signal representing that light measured by said light measurement means is either ambient light or flash light; a data selection means wherein a data for designating a desired operation mode of a camera system operable in a plurality of operation modes is selected; and a transmitting means, including a light emitter, for serially transmitting, in the form of a light signal, the data output from said exposure time setting means, calculation means, signal outputting means and data selecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A signal transmitter comprising: a light measurement means, including a light measuring portion, for measuring light from an object; an exposure time setting means wherein an exposure data is manually set; a film sensitivity setting means wherein a film sensitivity is manually set; a calculation means for calculating a diaphragm aperature value in accordance with the values of light measurement, set exposure time and set film sensitivity; signal outputting means for outputting a measuring mode signal representing that light measured by said light measurement means is either ambient light or flash light; a data selection means wherein a data for designating a desired operation mode of a camera system operable in a plurality of operation modes is selected; and a transmitting means, including a light emitter, for serially transmitting, in the form of a light signal, the data output from said exposure time setting means, calculation means, signal outputting means and data selecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A signal transmitter according to claim 5 wherein said data selecting means outputs a measuring mode designating data for designating a measuring mode of said light measuring and calculating means selectively to a mode of said light measurement means selectively to a mode for daylight photography and a mode for flash light photography.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A signal transmitter according to claim 1 wherein said data selecting means outputs a system selection data for selectively causing a plurality of camera systems to operate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A signal transmitter according to claim 1 wherein said camera system is constructed to transmit to said signal transmitter a film sensitivity set in said camera system, and said signal transmitter further comprising means for receiving the film sensitivity set in said camera system and transmitted from said camera system, and said calculating means carrying out the calculation on the basis of the received film sensitivity in place of the film sensitivity set in said film sensitivity setting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A signal receiver built-in or mounted on a camera, comprising: a data reading means including a light receiver and for reading data serially transmitted in the form of light signal; a completion signal outputting means for outputting a reading completion signal to said camera upon completion of reading of the all data at said data reading means; and a data outputting means, based on a signal input from said camera in response to the reading completion signal, for serially outputting to said camera the data read at said data reading means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
A signal receiver built-in or mounted on a camera, comprising: a data reading means including a light receiver and for reading data serially transmitted in the form of light signal; a completion signal outputting means for outputting a reading completion signal to said camera upon completion of reading of the all data at said data reading means; and a data outputting means, based on a signal input from said camera in response to the reading completion signal, for serially outputting to said camera the data read at said data reading means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A signal receiver according to claim 5 further comprising a release signal outputting means for outputting a shutter release signal to said camera in the case where a data for initiating the camera exposure operation is included in the data read at said data reading means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A signal receiver according to claim 6 further comprising a determination means for determining whether a data which designates said signal receiver itself is included or not in the data read at said data reading means, and permitting the operation of said release signal outputting means only when the data designating itself is included.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
A signal receiver according to claim 5 further comprising an output terminal portion for a flash device for outputting a signal to said flash device and an emission initiating signal outputting means for outputting a light emission initiating signal to said output terminal portion for flash device when a data for causing said flash device to emit a test light is included in the data read at said data reading means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
211 words
A camera connectable to a signal receiver which includes a data reading means for reading exposure control data calculated at an external exposure meter and serially transmitted in the form of a light signal, to said camera upon completion of the reading of all the data at said data reading means, and a data outputting means, based on a directing signal input from said camera to provide a direction to transmit the exposure data read at said reading means, for outputting the exposure data to said camera, said camera comprising: a first terminal portion wherein the exposure control data transmitted from said data outputting means of said signal receiver are input; a data capturing portion for capturing the exposure control data fed from said first terminal portion; an exposure control means for performing the exposure control operation based on the data captured at said data capturing portion; a second terminal portion wherein the reading completion signal transmitted from said completion signal outputting means of said signal receiver is input; and an operation initiating means, responsive to the input of the reading completion signal to said second terminal portion, for outputting the directing signal to said data outputting means of said signal receiver and initiating the operation of said data capturing portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
211 words
A camera connectable to a signal receiver which includes a data reading means for reading exposure control data calculated at an external exposure meter and serially transmitted in the form of a light signal, to said camera upon completion of the reading of all the data at said data reading means, and a data outputting means, based on a directing signal input from said camera to provide a direction to transmit the exposure data read at said reading means, for outputting the exposure data to said camera, said camera comprising: a first terminal portion wherein the exposure control data transmitted from said data outputting means of said signal receiver are input; a data capturing portion for capturing the exposure control data fed from said first terminal portion; an exposure control means for performing the exposure control operation based on the data captured at said data capturing portion; a second terminal portion wherein the reading completion signal transmitted from said completion signal outputting means of said signal receiver is input; and an operation initiating means, responsive to the input of the reading completion signal to said second terminal portion, for outputting the directing signal to said data outputting means of said signal receiver and initiating the operation of said data capturing portion.
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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) | 1992-11-27 | 1993-05-29 | 1993-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-27 | 1997-05-29 | 1997-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-27 | 2001-05-29 | 2001-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |