Patent US5818401A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4983998A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4983998A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flash device for camera
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1989-12-19
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Granted: 1991-01-08
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Expires: 2009-12-19
Abstract
Abstract The present patent application discloses a flash device for camera, or a camera, including a light emitter for flash photography mounted about a pivot shaft on the camera body and a light condenser mounted about a pivot shaft on the photographic lens barrel which moves to vary the light distribution characteristics of the light emitter as the focal length of the photographic optical system varies, wherein when the flash device is in use, the light condenser moves as the focal length of the photographic optical system varies, thus making it possible to obtain the light distribution characteristic which is suited to the focal length of the photographic optical system, while when not in use, the light emitter and the light condenser are turned to be integrally housed in an appropriate plate of either the lens barrel or the camera body.
Inventors
- 👤 Michio Hirohata
- 👤 Kazuo Ikawa
- 👤 Kiyoshi Ikuta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:56
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/05; G03B2215/00; G03B2215/05; G03B2215/0503; G03B2215/0507; G03B2215/051
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A flash device for camera, or a camera, comprising: (A) light emitting means for flash photography, said light emitting means being located on a camera body; and (B) light distributing means for varying a light distribution characteristic of said light emitting means, said light distributing means being located on a photographic lens barrel which moves as a focal length of a photographic optical system varies, and being arranged to vary the light distribution characteristic of said light emitting means in accordance with the focal length of said photographic optical system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A flash device for camera, or a camera, comprising: (A) light emitting means for flash photography, said light emitting means being located on a camera body; and (B) light distributing means for varying a light distribution characteristic of said light emitting means, said light distributing means being located on a photographic lens barrel which moves as a focal length of a photographic optical system varies, and being arranged to vary the light distribution characteristic of said light emitting means in accordance with the focal length of said photographic optical system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 1, further comprising: (C) first support means for turnable supporting said light emitting means relative to said camera body; and (D) second support means for turnably supporting said light distributing means relative to said photographic lens barrel, wherein said first and second support means cause said light emitting means and said light distributing means to be integrally housed in an appropriate place of said photographic lens barrel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 2, wherein said appropriate place of said photographic lens barrel includes the front of a lens in said lens barrel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 1, further comprising: (C) first support means for turnably supporting said light emitting means relative to said camera body; and (D) second support means for turnably supporting said light distributing means relative to said photographic lens barrel, wherein said first and second support means cause said light emitting means and said light distributing means to be integrally housed in an appropriate place of said camera body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 1, further comprising: support means for turnably supporting said light emitting means relative to said camera body, said support means causing said light emitting means to be housed in an appropriate place of said photographic lens barrel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 5, wherein said appropriate place of said photographic lens barrel includes the front of a lens in said lens barrel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 1, further comprising: support means for turnably supporting said light emitting means relative to said camera body, said support means causing said light emitting means to be housed in an appropriate place of said camera body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 1, further comprising: support means for turnably supporting said light distributing means relative to said photographic lens barrel, said support means causing said light distributing means to be housed in an appropriate place of said photographic lens barrel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 8, wherein said appropriate place of said photographic lens barrel includes the front of a lens in said lens barrel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 1, further comprising: support means for turnably supporting said light distributing means relative to said camera body, said support means causing said light distributing means to be housed in an appropriate place of said camera body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 1, further comprising: (C) support means for turnably supporting said light emitting means relative to said camera body; and (D) a main switch arranged to act in response to turning of said light emitting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 1, further comprising: (C) first support means for turnably supporting said light emitting means relative to said camera body; and (D) second support means for turnably supporting said light distributing means relative to said photographic lens barrel, said second support means including interlocking means for causing said light distributing means in association with turning of said light emitting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 12, wherein said interlocking means includes a resilient member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
A flash device for camera, or a camera, comprising: (A) light emitting means for flash photography; and (B) light distributing means for varying a light distribution characteristic of said light emitting means, said light distributing means being located on a photographic lens barrel which moves as a focal length of a photographic optical system varies, and being arranged to vary the light distribution characteristic of said light emitting means in accordance with the focal length of said photographic optical system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
A flash device for camera, or a camera, comprising: (A) light emitting means for flash photography; and (B) light distributing means for varying a light distribution characteristic of said light emitting means, said light distributing means being located on a photographic lens barrel which moves as a focal length of a photographic optical system varies, and being arranged to vary the light distribution characteristic of said light emitting means in accordance with the focal length of said photographic optical system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 14, further comprising: support means for turnably supporting said light distributing means relative to said photographic lens barrel, said support means causing said light distributing means to be housed in an appropriate place of said photographic lens barrel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 15, wherein said appropriate place of said photographic lens barrel includes the front of a lens in said lens barrel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A flash device, or a camera, according to claim 14, further comprising: support means for turnably supporting said light distributing means relative to said camera body, said support means causing said light distributing means to be housed in an appropriate place of said camera body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3720145A
Cited
US4914461A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-01-07 | 1994-07-09 | 1995-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-01-07 | 1998-07-09 | 1999-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-01-07 | 2002-07-09 | 2003-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |