Patent US4941010A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4941010A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1989-09-29
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Granted: 1990-07-10
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Expires: 2009-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A single-lens reflex camera having an automatic focusing capability, comprising a half-reflection mirror arranged in fixed relation to split part of light entering through the photographic lens to the finder optical system, a flippable submirror of total reflection arranged behind the mirror upon erection to direct part of the passed light to means for detecting the image sharpness, and control means responsive to termination of an operation of the detecting means for adjusting the size of opening of the diaphragm aperture and, at the same time, moving the submirror out of the path of the light from the mirror to the film gate, regardless of whether or not a shutter release is actuated.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihiko Aihara
- 👤 Masayuki Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:50
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B19/00; G03B19/02; G03B19/12; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/091; G03B7/095; G03B7/097; G03B7/099; G03B7/0993; G03B7/0997; G03B7/09971; G03B7/09972; G03B7/09974
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A camera having focus detecting means, comprising: (a) an optical element for splitting an object light beam at a predetermined ratio to a finder optical system and a photographic system; and (b) control means, responsive to termination of an operation of said focus detecting means, for controlling a diaphragm regardless of whether or not a photographing operation is started.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A camera having focus detecting means, comprising: (a) an optical element for splitting an object light beam at a predetermined ratio to a finder optical system and a photographic system; and (b) control means, responsive to termination of an operation of said focus detecting means, for controlling a diaphragm regardless of whether or not a photographing operation is started.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said optical element is a fixed half-reflection mirror member arranged in a photographic optical path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a first switch for generating a start signal of an operation of said focus detecting means; and a second switch for generating a start signal of said photographing operation, wherein the control of said diaphragm is, despite of the generation of said start signal from said second switch, carried out after the operation of said focus detecting means based on said start signal from said first switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a light metering sensor arranged in said finder optical system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
A camera body to which an interchangeable lens having a built-in diaphragm is detachably attached, comprising: (a) focus detecting means; (b) an optical element for splitting an object light beam at a predetermined ratio to a finder optical system and to a photographic system; and (c) a control circuit, responsive to termination of an operation of said focus detecting means, for supplying a control signal for said diaphragm to said interchangeable lens regardless of whether or not a photographing operation is started.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
A camera body to which an interchangeable lens having a built-in diaphragm is detachably attached, comprising: (a) focus detecting means; (b) an optical element for splitting an object light beam at a predetermined ratio to a finder optical system and to a photographic system; and (c) a control circuit, responsive to termination of an operation of said focus detecting means, for supplying a control signal for said diaphragm to said interchangeable lens regardless of whether or not a photographing operation is started.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A camera body according to claim 5, wherein said optical element is a fixed half-reflection mirror member arranged in a photographic optical path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
A camera body according to claim 5, further comprising: a first switch for generating a start signal of the operation of said focus detecting means; and a second switch for generating a start signal of said photographing operation, wherein the supply of said control signal for said diaphragm is, despite of the generation of said start signal from said second switch, carried out after the termination of the operation of said focus detecting means based on said start signal from said first switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A camera body according to claim 5, further comprising: a light metering sensor arranged in said finder optical system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein the operation of said focus detecting means is an operation of moving a focusing lens to adjust focus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A camera body according to claim 5, wherein the operation of said focus detecting means is an operation up to the detection of an in-focus state by a photo-sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein the control of said diaphragm is to close said diaphragm from a full-open state so as to form an aperture value obtained by computation with inclusion of an output of said light metering sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A camera body according to claim 8, wherein the control of said diaphragm is to close said diaphragm from a full-open state so as to form an aperture value obtained by computation with inclusion of an output of said light metering sensor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
125 words
A camera having focus detecting means, comprising: (a) an optical element for splitting an object light beam at a predetermined ratio to a finder optical system and a photographic system; (b) a second optical element for focus detection movable between a first state in which it lies within a photographic optical path in said photographic system and a second state in which it retracts from said photographic optical path, said second optical element conducting part of a photographing light beam to a focus detecting optical system; and (c) drive means, responsive to termination of an operation of said focus detecting means, for driving said second optical element from said first state to said second state regardless of whether or not a photographing operation is started.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
125 words
A camera having focus detecting means, comprising: (a) an optical element for splitting an object light beam at a predetermined ratio to a finder optical system and a photographic system; (b) a second optical element for focus detection movable between a first state in which it lies within a photographic optical path in said photographic system and a second state in which it retracts from said photographic optical path, said second optical element conducting part of a photographing light beam to a focus detecting optical system; and (c) drive means, responsive to termination of an operation of said focus detecting means, for driving said second optical element from said first state to said second state regardless of whether or not a photographing operation is started.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A camera according to claim 13, wherein said optical element is a half-reflection mirror member arranged in said photographic optical path in a fixed relation, and said second optical element is a movable mirror element arranged axially behind said half-reflection mirror.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
A camera according to claim 13, further comprising: a first switch for generating a start signal of an operation of said focus detecting means; and a second switch for generating a start signal of said photographing operation, wherein driving of said second optical element from said first state to said second state is, despite of the generation of said start signal from said second switch, carried out after the operation of said focus detecting means based on said start signal from said first switch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A camera according to claim 13, further comprising: a light metering sensor arranged in said finder optical system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A camera according to claim 13, wherein said second optical element, when having moved to said second state, prevents light from entering said focus detecting optical system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
139 words
A camera body to which an interchangeable lens having a built-in diaphragm is detachably attached, comprising: (a) focus detecting means; (b) an optical element for splitting an object light beam at a predetermined ratio to a finder optical system and to a photographic system; (c) a second optical element for focus detection movable between a first state in which it lies within a photographic optical path in said photographic system and a second state in which it retracts from said photographic optical path, said second optical element conducting part of a photographing light beam to a focus detecting optical system; and (d) drive means, responsive to termination of an operation of said focus detecting means, for driving said second optical element from said first state to said second state regardless of whether or not a photographing operation is started.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
139 words
A camera body to which an interchangeable lens having a built-in diaphragm is detachably attached, comprising: (a) focus detecting means; (b) an optical element for splitting an object light beam at a predetermined ratio to a finder optical system and to a photographic system; (c) a second optical element for focus detection movable between a first state in which it lies within a photographic optical path in said photographic system and a second state in which it retracts from said photographic optical path, said second optical element conducting part of a photographing light beam to a focus detecting optical system; and (d) drive means, responsive to termination of an operation of said focus detecting means, for driving said second optical element from said first state to said second state regardless of whether or not a photographing operation is started.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
A camera body according to claim 18, wherein said optical element is a half-reflection mirror member arranged in said photographic optical path in a fixed relation, and said second optical element is a movable mirror element arranged axially behind said half-reflection mirror.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
84 words
A camera body according to claim 18, further comprising: a first switch for generating a start signal of an operation of said focus detecting means; and a second switch for generating a start signal of said photographing operation, wherein driving of said second optical element from said first state to said second state is, despite the generation of said start signal from said second switch, carried out after the operation of said focus detecting means based on said start signal from said first switch.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A camera body according to claim 18, wherein said second optical element, when having moved to said second state, prevents light from entering said focus detecting optical system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4492453A
Cited
US4692010A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-09 | 1994-01-08 | 1994-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-09 | 1998-01-08 | 1998-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-09 | 2002-01-08 | 2002-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |