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Exposure controlling apparatus for camera

Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1989-05-02
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Granted: 1990-11-20
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Expires: 2009-05-02
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Abstract

Abstract An exposure controlling apparatus for a camera, comprises a divided photometry device for performing photometry regarding an object field through a taking lens by dividing the object field into a plurality of areas, a central portion photometry device for performing photometry regarding a central area of the object field through the taking lens, a lens information output device for outputting lens information representative of a quantitive optical feature of the taking lens, a comparison device, including reference value information, for comparing the lens information with the reference value information, and an exposure determination means, responsive to the comparison device, for determining an exposure value regarding the object field in accordance with the divided photometry device when the lens information does not exceed the reference value information, and for determining an exposure value regarding the object field in accordance with the central portion photometry device when the lens information exceeds the reference value information.

Inventors

  • 👤 Toshihiro Sato
  • 👤 Tadao Takagi
  • 👤 Keiji Ohsawa

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 16:37
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/099; G03B7/0993; G03B7/0997; G03B7/09979; G03B7/09971; G03B7/09976

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 153 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for a camera, comprising: a divided photometry means for performing photometry regarding an object field through a taking lens by dividing said object field into a plurality of areas; a central portion photometry means for performing photometry regarding a central area of said object field through the taking lens; a lens information output means for outputting lens information representative of a quantitative optical feature of said taking lens; a comparison means, including reference value information, for comparing said lens information with said reference value information; and an exposure determination means, responsive to said comparison means, for determining an exposure value regarding said object field in accordance with said divided photometry means when said lens information does not exceed said reference value information, and for determining an exposure value regarding said object field in accordance with said central portion photometry means when said lens information exceeds said reference value information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 153 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for a camera, comprising: a divided photometry means for performing photometry regarding an object field through a taking lens by dividing said object field into a plurality of areas; a central portion photometry means for performing photometry regarding a central area of said object field through the taking lens; a lens information output means for outputting lens information representative of a quantitative optical feature of said taking lens; a comparison means, including reference value information, for comparing said lens information with said reference value information; and an exposure determination means, responsive to said comparison means, for determining an exposure value regarding said object field in accordance with said divided photometry means when said lens information does not exceed said reference value information, and for determining an exposure value regarding said object field in accordance with said central portion photometry means when said lens information exceeds said reference value information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 57 words
An exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said central portion photometry means includes a central light receiving element for performing photometry regarding the central area of said object field, and said divided photometry means includes said central light receiving element and peripheral light receiving elements for performing photometry regarding peripheral areas of said object field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 60 words
An exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lens information output means outputs information regarding a minimum aperture value of said taking lens, and said exposure determination means determines the exposure value regarding said object field in accordance with said divided photometry means when said minimum aperture value of said taking lens is smaller than a predetermined value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 54 words
An exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lens information output means outputs information regarding a focal length of said taking lens, and said exposure determination means determines the exposure value regarding said object field in accordance with said divided photometry means when said focal length is shorter than a predetermined length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 60 words
An exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lens information output means outputs information regarding a distance to an emission pupil of said taking lens, and said exposure determination means determines the exposure value regarding said object field in accordance with said divided photometry means when said distance to said emission pupil is shorter than a predetermined distance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 68 words
An exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lens information output means outputs information regarding a reciprocal number of a distance to an emission pupil of said taking lens, and said exposure determination means determines the exposure value regarding said object field in accordance with said divided photometry means when said reciprocal number of the distance to said emission pupil is larger than a predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 193 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for a camera, comprising: a photometry means having divided photometry for performing photometry regarding an object field corresponding to a picture through a taking lens by dividing said object field into at least a central portion and peripheral portions and central portion photometry for performing photometry regarding the central portion of said object field through the taking lens; a selection means operated to select said divided photometry or said central portion photometry of said photometry means; a discrimination means for discriminating whether said divided photometry of said photometry means is adaptable or not, on the basis of at least lens information from said taking lens; a change-over means for automatically changing said divided photometry to said central portion photometry when it judges that said divided photometry is not adaptable after said divided photometry is selected by said selection means; and a replacement means for replacing an exposure value determined in accordance with said central portion photometry by a second predetermined value when said determined exposure value exceeds a first predetermined value after said divided photometry has been changed to said central portion photometry by means of said change-over means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 193 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for a camera, comprising: a photometry means having divided photometry for performing photometry regarding an object field corresponding to a picture through a taking lens by dividing said object field into at least a central portion and peripheral portions and central portion photometry for performing photometry regarding the central portion of said object field through the taking lens; a selection means operated to select said divided photometry or said central portion photometry of said photometry means; a discrimination means for discriminating whether said divided photometry of said photometry means is adaptable or not, on the basis of at least lens information from said taking lens; a change-over means for automatically changing said divided photometry to said central portion photometry when it judges that said divided photometry is not adaptable after said divided photometry is selected by said selection means; and a replacement means for replacing an exposure value determined in accordance with said central portion photometry by a second predetermined value when said determined exposure value exceeds a first predetermined value after said divided photometry has been changed to said central portion photometry by means of said change-over means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
An exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said central portion photometry by means of said photometry means performs photometry with sensitivity of the central portion of said picture higher than that of the peripheral portion thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 29 words
An exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 7, further including means for inhibiting operation of said replacement means when said central portion photometry is selected by said selection means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
An exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first predetermined value has the same value as said second predetermined value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 51 words
An exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said lens information is information regarding a minimum aperture value of said taking lens, and said discrimination means judges that said divided photometry is not adaptable when said minimum aperture value of said taking lens is larger than a predetermined aperture value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 44 words
An exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said lens information is information regarding a focal length of said taking lens, and said discrimination means judges that said divided photometry is not adaptable when said focal length is longer than a predetermined length.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 50 words
An exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said lens information is information regarding a distance to an emission pupil of said taking lens, and said discrimination means judges that said divided photometry is not adaptable when said distance to the emission pupil is longer than a predetermined distance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 58 words
An exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said lens information is information regarding a reciprocal number of a distance to an emission pupil of said taking lens, and said discrimination means judges that said divided photometry is not adaptable when said reciprocal number of the distance to the emission pupil is smaller than a predetermined value.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS54123030A Cited
USRE32376E Cited
US4636054A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-11-19 1994-05-21 1994-11-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-11-19 1998-05-21 1998-11-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-11-19 2002-05-21 2002-11-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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