US4985723A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photographic camera
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1989-05-16
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Granted: 1991-01-15
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Expires: 2009-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A camera has an exposure control unit and a focus control unit. The exposure control unit selectively provides a programmed exposure control mode, where an aperture value and a shutter speed value are automatically set based on a detection by a light metering sensor and an accordance with a preset program, and a manual exposure control mode where at least either of the aperture value and the shutter speed value is set manually. The focus control unit selectively provides an autofocus mode where a focusing is automatically effected based on a detection by a focus sensor and a manual focus mode where the focusing is effected manually. The invention is characterized by a feature which permits a forcible switchover of the focus control mode from the manual to the auto focus mode in response to a switchover of exposure control mode from the manual to the auto exposure mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeshi Egawa
- 👤 Masaaki Nakai
- 👤 Yasuo Nakanishi
- 👤 Toshihiko Ishimura
- 👤 Shinichi Nishimura
- 👤 Sadafusa Tsuji
- 👤 Kenji Ishibashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:31
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/18; G03B17/20; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G03B17/02; G03B17/12; G03B17/14; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/091; G03B7/097
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A photographic camera comprising: focus condition detection means for detecting focus conduction of a photographic lens relative to a photographic subject; exposure control means capable of selectively providing a plurality of exposure control modes; exposure mode selecting means for selecting an exposure control mode from the plurality of exposure control modes; focus control means for selectively providing an autofocus mode where focusing is effected automatically based on the focus condition detected by the focus condition detection means and a manual focus mode where a focusing is effected manually; focus mode selecting means for switching over between the autofocus mode and the manual focus mode; and switching means for switching said focus control means to the autofocus mode in response to a predetermined exposure mode selecting operation by said exposure mode selecting means when the manual focus mode is currently selected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A photographic camera comprising: focus condition detection means for detecting focus conduction of a photographic lens relative to a photographic subject; exposure control means capable of selectively providing a plurality of exposure control modes; exposure mode selecting means for selecting an exposure control mode from the plurality of exposure control modes; focus control means for selectively providing an autofocus mode where focusing is effected automatically based on the focus condition detected by the focus condition detection means and a manual focus mode where a focusing is effected manually; focus mode selecting means for switching over between the autofocus mode and the manual focus mode; and switching means for switching said focus control means to the autofocus mode in response to a predetermined exposure mode selecting operation by said exposure mode selecting means when the manual focus mode is currently selected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 1, further comprising: lens driving means for driving the photographic lens based on the focus condition detected by the focus condition detection means; and transmission means capable of selectively providing a transmission condition where the drive of said driving means is transmitted to the photographic lens and a non-transmission condition where said transmission of drive is broken; wherein said transmission means provides the transmission condition in the autofocus mode and provides the non-transmission condition in the manual focus mode, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
191 words
A photographic camera comprising: light metering means for metering brightness of a photographic subject; focus condition detection means for detecting focus condition of a photographic lens relative to the photographic subject; exposure control means capable of selectively providing a programmed exposure mode where values including an aperture value and a shutter speed are automatically set based on a detection of said light metering means and in accordance with a predetermined program and a manual exposure mode where at least one of either the aperture value and the shutter speed is manually set; focus control means for selectively providing an autofocus mode where a focusing is effected automatically based on the focus condition detected by the focus condition detection means and a manual focus mode where a focusing is effected manually; first switching means for switching over between the autofocus mode and the manual focus mode; and second switching means for forcibly switching said focus control means to the autofocus mode in response to an exposure mode switching operation by said first switching means from the manual exposure mode to the programmed exposure mode when the manual focus mode is currently selected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
191 words
A photographic camera comprising: light metering means for metering brightness of a photographic subject; focus condition detection means for detecting focus condition of a photographic lens relative to the photographic subject; exposure control means capable of selectively providing a programmed exposure mode where values including an aperture value and a shutter speed are automatically set based on a detection of said light metering means and in accordance with a predetermined program and a manual exposure mode where at least one of either the aperture value and the shutter speed is manually set; focus control means for selectively providing an autofocus mode where a focusing is effected automatically based on the focus condition detected by the focus condition detection means and a manual focus mode where a focusing is effected manually; first switching means for switching over between the autofocus mode and the manual focus mode; and second switching means for forcibly switching said focus control means to the autofocus mode in response to an exposure mode switching operation by said first switching means from the manual exposure mode to the programmed exposure mode when the manual focus mode is currently selected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 3, further comprising: lens driving means for driving the photographic lens based on the focus condition detected by the focus condition detection means; and transmission means capable of selectively providing a transmission condition where the drive of said driving means is transmitted to the photographic lens and a non-transmission condition where said transmission of drive is broken; wherein said transmission means provides the transmission condition in the autofocus mode and provides the non-transmission condition in the manual focus mode, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
A photographic camera having an autofocus mode in which focusing is effected automatically based on a detected focus condition and a manual focus mode in which a focusing is effected manually, the camera comprising: a camera body; a photographic lens detachably attached to said camera body; manual operating means for switching over the focus modes; lens-attachment detecting means for detecting attachment of said photographic lens to the camera body; and forcible switching means, when the manual focus mode is currently selected, for forcibly switching the focus mode to the autofocus mode in response to a lens attachment detection effected by said detecting means while overriding said manual operating means and for allowing thereafter a mode switchover by said manual operating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
A photographic camera having an autofocus mode in which focusing is effected automatically based on a detected focus condition and a manual focus mode in which a focusing is effected manually, the camera comprising: a camera body; a photographic lens detachably attached to said camera body; manual operating means for switching over the focus modes; lens-attachment detecting means for detecting attachment of said photographic lens to the camera body; and forcible switching means, when the manual focus mode is currently selected, for forcibly switching the focus mode to the autofocus mode in response to a lens attachment detection effected by said detecting means while overriding said manual operating means and for allowing thereafter a mode switchover by said manual operating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 5, further comprising: lens driving means for driving the photographic lens based on the detected focus condition detected by the focus conditon detection means; and transmission means capable of selectively providing a transmission condition where the drive of said driving means is transmitted to the photographic lens and a non-transmission condition where said transmission of drive is broken; wherein said transmission means provides the transmission condition in the autofocus mode and provides the non-transmission condition in the manual focus mode, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
124 words
A photographic camera having an autofocus mode in which a focusing is effected automatically based on a detected focus condition and a manual focus mode in which a focusing is effected manually, the camera comprising: lens driving means for driving a photographic lens; a clutch provided between said driving means and the photographic lens; manual operating means for switching over the focus modes between the autofocus mode where said clutch is engaged and the manual focus mode where said clutch is disengaged; and forcible switching means for, when the manual focus mode is currently selected, forcibly switching the focus mode to the autofocus mode in response to power ON of the camera and for allowing thereafter a mode switchover by said manual operating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
124 words
A photographic camera having an autofocus mode in which a focusing is effected automatically based on a detected focus condition and a manual focus mode in which a focusing is effected manually, the camera comprising: lens driving means for driving a photographic lens; a clutch provided between said driving means and the photographic lens; manual operating means for switching over the focus modes between the autofocus mode where said clutch is engaged and the manual focus mode where said clutch is disengaged; and forcible switching means for, when the manual focus mode is currently selected, forcibly switching the focus mode to the autofocus mode in response to power ON of the camera and for allowing thereafter a mode switchover by said manual operating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
A photographic camera having an autofocus mode in which a focusing is effected automatically based on a detected focus condition and a manual focus mode in which a focusing is effected manually, the camera comprising: a camera body; a photographic lens detachably attached to said camera body; manual operating means for switching over the focus modes; lens-attachment detecting means for detecting attachment of said photographic lens to the camera body; and forcible switching means for forcibly switching the focus mode to the autofocus mode in response to a lens attachment detection effected by said detecting means when the manual focus mode is currently selected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
A photographic camera having an autofocus mode in which a focusing is effected automatically based on a detected focus condition and a manual focus mode in which a focusing is effected manually, the camera comprising: a camera body; a photographic lens detachably attached to said camera body; manual operating means for switching over the focus modes; lens-attachment detecting means for detecting attachment of said photographic lens to the camera body; and forcible switching means for forcibly switching the focus mode to the autofocus mode in response to a lens attachment detection effected by said detecting means when the manual focus mode is currently selected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 8, further comprising: lens driving means for driving the photographic lens based on the detected focus conditon detected by the focus condition detecting means; and transmission means capable of selectively providing a transmission condition where the drive of said driving means is transmitted to the photographic lens and a non-transmission condition where said transmission of drive is broken; wherein said transmission means provides the transmission condition in the autofocus mode and provides the non-transmission condition in the manual focus mode, respectively.
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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) | 1994-01-14 | 1994-07-16 | 1995-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-01-14 | 1998-07-16 | 1999-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-01-14 | 2002-07-16 | 2003-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |