US4896177A — Controller for camera

Claim 1

Independent Claim 209 words

A zooming controller for a camera provided with: first zoom signal output means operatively associated with the half depressing operation of a release operation member and outputting a first zoom signal for directing a photographing lens to a focal length preset on the camera side; second zoom signal output means outputting a second zoom signal for arbitrarily varying the focal length of said photographing lens by a manual operation; drive means responsive to said first or second zoom signal to electrically drive said photographing lens and effect zooming; mode command means for commanding the setting and release of an auto focal length mode in which the focal length of said photographing lens is changed with said first zoom signal, by a manual operation; and control means for operating said first zoom signal output means by the first half depressing operation of the release operation member when said auto focal length mode is set, and releasing said auto focal length mode when said second zoom signal is output during the time from after said half depressing operation is released until the next shutter release, and thereafter inhibiting the operation of said first zoom signal output means until said shutter release is effected even if said half depressing operation is done.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 209 words

A zooming controller for a camera provided with: first zoom signal output means operatively associated with the half depressing operation of a release operation member and outputting a first zoom signal for directing a photographing lens to a focal length preset on the camera side; second zoom signal output means outputting a second zoom signal for arbitrarily varying the focal length of said photographing lens by a manual operation; drive means responsive to said first or second zoom signal to electrically drive said photographing lens and effect zooming; mode command means for commanding the setting and release of an auto focal length mode in which the focal length of said photographing lens is changed with said first zoom signal, by a manual operation; and control means for operating said first zoom signal output means by the first half depressing operation of the release operation member when said auto focal length mode is set, and releasing said auto focal length mode when said second zoom signal is output during the time from after said half depressing operation is released until the next shutter release, and thereafter inhibiting the operation of said first zoom signal output means until said shutter release is effected even if said half depressing operation is done.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 84 words

A zooming controller according to claim 1, further provided with: a photograph magnification setting operation member for setting a photograph magnification by a manual operation; distance information detecting means for detecting distance information conforming to the distance to an object; and focal length detecting means for setting a focal length corresponding to said distance information so as to provide said set photograph magnification; said first zoom signal output means outputting said first zoom signal to direct said photographing lens to said set focal length.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 218 words

A zooming controller for a camera provided with: first zoom signal output means operatively associated with the half depressing operation of a release operation member and outputting a first zoom signal for directing a photographing lens to a focal length preset on the camera side; second zoom signal output means outputting a second zoom signal for arbitrarily varying the focal length of said photographing lens by a manual operation; drive means responsive to said first or second zoom signal to electrically drive said photographing lens and effect zooming; mode command means for commanding the setting and release of an auto focal length mode in which the focal length of said photographing lens is changed with said first zoom signal, by a manual operation; and control means for operating said first zoom signal output means by the first half depressing operation of the release operation member when said auto focal length mode is set, and releasing said auto focal length mode in response to said drive means being operated by the first zoom signal resulting from said operation, and thereafter inhibiting the operation of said first zoom signal output means until said auto focal length mode is re-set even if the half depressing operation is again performed, and operating said drive means when said second zoom signal is output.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 218 words

A zooming controller for a camera provided with: first zoom signal output means operatively associated with the half depressing operation of a release operation member and outputting a first zoom signal for directing a photographing lens to a focal length preset on the camera side; second zoom signal output means outputting a second zoom signal for arbitrarily varying the focal length of said photographing lens by a manual operation; drive means responsive to said first or second zoom signal to electrically drive said photographing lens and effect zooming; mode command means for commanding the setting and release of an auto focal length mode in which the focal length of said photographing lens is changed with said first zoom signal, by a manual operation; and control means for operating said first zoom signal output means by the first half depressing operation of the release operation member when said auto focal length mode is set, and releasing said auto focal length mode in response to said drive means being operated by the first zoom signal resulting from said operation, and thereafter inhibiting the operation of said first zoom signal output means until said auto focal length mode is re-set even if the half depressing operation is again performed, and operating said drive means when said second zoom signal is output.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 84 words

A zooming controller according to claim 3, further provided with: a photograph magnification setting operation member for setting a photograph magnification by a manual operation; distance information detecting means for detecting distance information conforming to the distance to an object; and focal length detecting means for setting a focal length corresponding to said distance information so as to provide said set photograph magnification; said first zoom signal output means outputting said first zoom signal to direct said photographing lens to said set focal length.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 215 words

A zooming controller for a camera provided with: first zoom signal output means operatively associated with the half depressing operation of a release operation member and outputting a first zoom signal for directing a photographing lens to a focal length preset on the camera side; second zoom signal output means outputting a second zoom signal for arbitrarily varying the focal length of said photographing lens by a manual operation; drive means responsive to said first or second zoom signal to electrically drive said photographing lens and effect zooming; mode command means for commanding the setting and release of an auto focal length mode in which the focal length of said photographing lens is changed with said first zoom signal, by a manual operation; and control means for operating said first zoom signal output means by the first half depressing operation of the release operation member when said auto focal length mode is set, and releasing said auto focal length mode in response to said half depressing operation being released without shutter release being effected, and thereafter inhibiting the operation of said first zoom signal output means until said auto focal length mode is re-set even if the half depressing operation is again performed, and operating said drive means when said second zoom signal is output.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 215 words

A zooming controller for a camera provided with: first zoom signal output means operatively associated with the half depressing operation of a release operation member and outputting a first zoom signal for directing a photographing lens to a focal length preset on the camera side; second zoom signal output means outputting a second zoom signal for arbitrarily varying the focal length of said photographing lens by a manual operation; drive means responsive to said first or second zoom signal to electrically drive said photographing lens and effect zooming; mode command means for commanding the setting and release of an auto focal length mode in which the focal length of said photographing lens is changed with said first zoom signal, by a manual operation; and control means for operating said first zoom signal output means by the first half depressing operation of the release operation member when said auto focal length mode is set, and releasing said auto focal length mode in response to said half depressing operation being released without shutter release being effected, and thereafter inhibiting the operation of said first zoom signal output means until said auto focal length mode is re-set even if the half depressing operation is again performed, and operating said drive means when said second zoom signal is output.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 84 words

A zooming controller according to claim 5, further provided with: a photograph magnification setting operation member for setting a photograph magnification by a manual operation; distance information detecting means for detecting distance information conforming to the distance to an object; and focal length detecting means for setting a focal length corresponding to said distance information so as to provide said set photograph magnification; said first zoom signal output means outputting said first zoom signal to direct said photographing lens to said set focal length.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 104 words

An operation controller for a camera provided with: photometry means outputting brightness information regarding the brightness of an object; focal length output means outputting a focal length a photographing lens capable of photographing at a plurality of focal lengths should assume during the next photographing; exposure value calculating means for calculating an exposure value on the basis of at least a full open aperture stop value corresponding to said output focal length and said brightness information; and drive means for driving said photographing lens until it assumes said output focal length after the calculation of the exposure value by said exposure value calculating means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 104 words

An operation controller for a camera provided with: photometry means outputting brightness information regarding the brightness of an object; focal length output means outputting a focal length a photographing lens capable of photographing at a plurality of focal lengths should assume during the next photographing; exposure value calculating means for calculating an exposure value on the basis of at least a full open aperture stop value corresponding to said output focal length and said brightness information; and drive means for driving said photographing lens until it assumes said output focal length after the calculation of the exposure value by said exposure value calculating means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 40 words

An operation controller according to claim 7, wherein said focal length output means includes distance measuring means, and outputs said focal length so that a predetermined photograph magnification preset on the basis of the distance to the object is provided.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 152 words

A focal length controller for use in a camera capable of photographing at a plurality of focal lengths, provided with: focal length setting means for calculating and setting a focal length to be assumed during photographing on the basis of a predetermined condition; and drive means for driving a photographing lens so as to assume said set focal length; characterized by the provision of: photometry means outputting brightness information regarding the brightness of an object; and judgment means for judging whether the light emission of an electronic flash device is necessary on the basis of at least said brightness information; said focal length setting means newly calculating and setting a focal length more toward the wide angle end side than said set focal length so that the light emission of said electronic flash device becomes unnecessary when said judgment means judges that the light emission of said electronic flash device is necessary.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 152 words

A focal length controller for use in a camera capable of photographing at a plurality of focal lengths, provided with: focal length setting means for calculating and setting a focal length to be assumed during photographing on the basis of a predetermined condition; and drive means for driving a photographing lens so as to assume said set focal length; characterized by the provision of: photometry means outputting brightness information regarding the brightness of an object; and judgment means for judging whether the light emission of an electronic flash device is necessary on the basis of at least said brightness information; said focal length setting means newly calculating and setting a focal length more toward the wide angle end side than said set focal length so that the light emission of said electronic flash device becomes unnecessary when said judgment means judges that the light emission of said electronic flash device is necessary.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 178 words

A focal length controller for a camera capable of photographing at a plurality of focal lengths, provided with: focal length setting means for calculating and setting a focal length a photographing lens should assume during photographing on the basis of a predetermined condition; and drive means for driving said photographing lens so as to assume said set focal length; characterized by the provision of: photometry means outputting brightness information regarding the brightness of an object; exposure value calculating means for calculating an exposure value on the basis of at least said brightness information; and judgment means for judging whether said calculated exposure value is an adequate value at which adequate exposure can be obtained or an inadequate value at which adequate exposure cannot be obtained when photographing is effected at said exposure value; said focal length setting means newly calculating and setting a focal length more toward the wide angle end side than said set focal length so that an adequate value may be obtained when said judgment means judges that said exposure value is an inadequate value.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 178 words

A focal length controller for a camera capable of photographing at a plurality of focal lengths, provided with: focal length setting means for calculating and setting a focal length a photographing lens should assume during photographing on the basis of a predetermined condition; and drive means for driving said photographing lens so as to assume said set focal length; characterized by the provision of: photometry means outputting brightness information regarding the brightness of an object; exposure value calculating means for calculating an exposure value on the basis of at least said brightness information; and judgment means for judging whether said calculated exposure value is an adequate value at which adequate exposure can be obtained or an inadequate value at which adequate exposure cannot be obtained when photographing is effected at said exposure value; said focal length setting means newly calculating and setting a focal length more toward the wide angle end side than said set focal length so that an adequate value may be obtained when said judgment means judges that said exposure value is an inadequate value.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 154 words

A zooming controller for a camera provided with: a zoom lens; object distance detecting means for detecting an object distance corresponding to the distance to an object; an electronic flash device of a predetermined guide number; full open F-value output means outputting a full open F-value varying in conformity with each focal length of said zoom lens; calculation means for calculating a flash reach distance on the basis of at least the full open F-value at any focal length of said zoom lens and the guide number of said electronic flash device during flash photography using said electronic flash device; and lens drive control means for setting a focal length having said full open F-value such that said calculated flash reach distance is greater than said detected object distance when said detected object distance is greater than said calculated flash reach distance, and driving said zoom lens so as to assume said focal length.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 154 words

A zooming controller for a camera provided with: a zoom lens; object distance detecting means for detecting an object distance corresponding to the distance to an object; an electronic flash device of a predetermined guide number; full open F-value output means outputting a full open F-value varying in conformity with each focal length of said zoom lens; calculation means for calculating a flash reach distance on the basis of at least the full open F-value at any focal length of said zoom lens and the guide number of said electronic flash device during flash photography using said electronic flash device; and lens drive control means for setting a focal length having said full open F-value such that said calculated flash reach distance is greater than said detected object distance when said detected object distance is greater than said calculated flash reach distance, and driving said zoom lens so as to assume said focal length.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 219 words

A zooming controller for a camera provided with: a zoom lens; object distance detecting means for detecting an object distance corresponding to the distance to an object; and lens drive control means for setting such a first focal length that said object is photographed at a preset photograph magnification irrespective of said detected objective distance, on the basis of said detected object distance, and driving said zoom lens so as to assume said first focal length; characterized by the provision of: an electronic flash device of a predetermined guide number; full open F-value output means outputting a full open F-value varying in conformity with each focal length of said zoom lens; and calculation means for calculating a flash reach distance on the basis of at least the full open F-value at said first focal length of said zoom lens and the guide number of said electronic flash device during flash photography using said electronic flash device; said lens drive control means setting a second focal length having such a full open F-value that said calculated flash reach distance is greater than said object distance detected during the setting of said first focal length when said detected object distance is greater than said calculated flash reach distance, and driving said zoom lens so as to assume said second focal length.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 219 words

A zooming controller for a camera provided with: a zoom lens; object distance detecting means for detecting an object distance corresponding to the distance to an object; and lens drive control means for setting such a first focal length that said object is photographed at a preset photograph magnification irrespective of said detected objective distance, on the basis of said detected object distance, and driving said zoom lens so as to assume said first focal length; characterized by the provision of: an electronic flash device of a predetermined guide number; full open F-value output means outputting a full open F-value varying in conformity with each focal length of said zoom lens; and calculation means for calculating a flash reach distance on the basis of at least the full open F-value at said first focal length of said zoom lens and the guide number of said electronic flash device during flash photography using said electronic flash device; said lens drive control means setting a second focal length having such a full open F-value that said calculated flash reach distance is greater than said object distance detected during the setting of said first focal length when said detected object distance is greater than said calculated flash reach distance, and driving said zoom lens so as to assume said second focal length.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-01-22	1993-07-24	1994-01-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-01-22	1997-07-24	1998-01-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-01-22	2001-07-24	2002-01-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Controller for camera

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