US5014078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pseudo focal length camera
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-05-29
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Granted: 1991-05-07
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Expires: 2010-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A pseudo focal length camera which takes a photograph using an optical system of a single focal length. A printed photograph has a feature similar to that obtained by taking a photograph using an optical system comprising a plurality of photographing lenses each having a different focal length. Information indicating an image forming area corresponding to a designated pseudo focal length is recorded on a film when a photograph is taken and a printing is carried out based on the information. The view finder optical system includes a liquid crystal display for displaying the size of an image forming area which changes according to a magnification corresponding to each pseudo focal length. After the image forming area is determined by designating a pseudo focal length, the first switch is turned on by the depression of the release button in the first state. As a result, the lens of the view finder optical system is driven and consequently, the image corresponding to the determined image forming area appears in the whole area of the view finder. An exposure is effected by the depression of the release button to the second stage.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshinobu Kudo
- 👤 Masataka Hamada
- 👤 Yoshiaki Hata
- 👤 Hiroshi Ootsuka
- 👤 Manabu Inoue
- 👤 Shigeru Wada
- 👤 Yoshihiro Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:01
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B13/00; G03B13/02; G03B13/10; G03B13/12; G03B17/00; G03B17/18; G03B17/20; G03B17/24; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/14; G02B23/145; G03B2206/00; G03B2206/004; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/24; G03B2217/242; G03B2217/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A pseudo focal length camera comprising: a view finder, having a view area, for displaying an image formed by a lens system in the view finder in the view area; a manual operating member; means for designating a pseudo focal length; means for displaying an index in the view area to indicate a portion of the image corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length; and means, in response to the operation of the manual operating member, for moving the lens system in the view finder to change the state of the view finder from a first state in which the image to be photographed is shown in the view area to a second state in which the portion of the image corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length is shown as the whole view area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A pseudo focal length camera comprising: a view finder, having a view area, for displaying an image formed by a lens system in the view finder in the view area; a manual operating member; means for designating a pseudo focal length; means for displaying an index in the view area to indicate a portion of the image corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length; and means, in response to the operation of the manual operating member, for moving the lens system in the view finder to change the state of the view finder from a first state in which the image to be photographed is shown in the view area to a second state in which the portion of the image corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length is shown as the whole view area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A pseudo focal length camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said manual operating member also serves as a release switch so that in response to a first stroke of the operating member, the moving means is operated and in response to a second stroke deeper than the first stroke, an exposure operation is started.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A pseudo focal length camera as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for controlling the moving means to return the state of the view finder from the second state to the first state when the operation of the manual operating member is finished.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A pseudo focal length camera as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for controlling the displaying means to erase the index in the view area when the operation of the manual operating member is finished.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
A pseudo focal length camera comprising: a view finder having a view area; means for designating a pseudo focal length; means for displaying an index in the view area corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length so that a print size of a photograph is displayed; an operable member; and means for expanding a portion of the image corresponding to the pseudo focal length in response to the operation of the operable member prior to a photographing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A pseudo focal length camera comprising: a view finder having a view area; means for designating a pseudo focal length; means for displaying an index in the view area corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length so that a print size of a photograph is displayed; an operable member; and means for expanding a portion of the image corresponding to the pseudo focal length in response to the operation of the operable member prior to a photographing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pseudo focal length camera as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means for displaying another index on the expanded portion in the view area prior to designating a pseudo focal length.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for photographing with a pseudo focal length comprising the steps of: initially showing an image to be photographed in a view area of a view finder with a display of an index which indicates a size of the image in the view area; designating a pseudo focal length; displaying another index corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length in the view area in which the image to be photographed is still shown; and expanding a portion of the image corresponding to the pseudo focal length in response to an operation of an operable member prior to a photographing.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for photographing with a pseudo focal length comprising the steps of: initially showing an image to be photographed in a view area of a view finder with a display of an index which indicates a size of the image in the view area; designating a pseudo focal length; displaying another index corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length in the view area in which the image to be photographed is still shown; and expanding a portion of the image corresponding to the pseudo focal length in response to an operation of an operable member prior to a photographing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the enlarging step displays another index corresponding to the enlarged portion of the image at the same time.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for photographing with a pseudo focal length comprising the steps of: initially showing an image to be photographed in a view area of a view finder; displaying an index in the view area for indicating the size of a portion of the image corresponding to a designated pseudo focal length; and enlarging the portion of the image in the view area of the view finder, in response to an operation of an operable member, prior to a photographing.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for photographing with a pseudo focal length comprising the steps of: initially showing an image to be photographed in a view area of a view finder; displaying an index in the view area for indicating the size of a portion of the image corresponding to a designated pseudo focal length; and enlarging the portion of the image in the view area of the view finder, in response to an operation of an operable member, prior to a photographing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 further including a step for returning the view area without photographing from expanded state in which the image portion is expanded in the view area to a normal state in which the image is shown in the view area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
A pseudo focal length camera comprising: means for designating a pseudo focal length; an objective lens system for focusing an object image on a focal plane; an eye-piece lens system for showing the focused image on the focal plane; and means, having an operable member, for driving the eye-piece lens system in correspondence with the designated pseudo focal length when the operable member is operated so that a portion corresponding to the pseudo focal length is shown on the entirety of the view finder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
84 words
A pseudo focal length camera comprising: means for designating a pseudo focal length; an objective lens system for focusing an object image on a focal plane; an eye-piece lens system for showing the focused image on the focal plane; and means, having an operable member, for driving the eye-piece lens system in correspondence with the designated pseudo focal length when the operable member is operated so that a portion corresponding to the pseudo focal length is shown on the entirety of the view finder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
95 words
A pseudo focal length camera having a view finder system comprising: means for designating a pseudo focal length; an objective lens system, provided in the view finder system, for focusing an object image on a focal plane; an eye-piece lens system for showing the focused image on the focal plane; and means, having an operable member, for shifting the objective lens system in correspondence with the designated pseudo focal length when the operable member is operated so that a portion corresponding to the pseudo focal length is shown as whole area of the view finder.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
95 words
A pseudo focal length camera having a view finder system comprising: means for designating a pseudo focal length; an objective lens system, provided in the view finder system, for focusing an object image on a focal plane; an eye-piece lens system for showing the focused image on the focal plane; and means, having an operable member, for shifting the objective lens system in correspondence with the designated pseudo focal length when the operable member is operated so that a portion corresponding to the pseudo focal length is shown as whole area of the view finder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
82 words
A pseudo focal length camera as claimed in claim 12 further comprising: liquid crystal display, having index elements, located on the focal plane for displaying an index which indicate a print size in pseudo focal photographing; means for driving the index elements of the liquid crystal display so that the image portion corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length is shown; and means for inhibiting the display operation of the driving means while the objective lens system is in a shifting operation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
154 words
A pseudo focal length camera comprising: view finder, having a view area, for showing an image in the view area; manual operating member for operating a first switch when the manual operating member is pushed to a first stroke and for operating a second switch when the manual operating member is further pushed to a second stroke which is deeper than the first stroke; means, in response to the operation of the second switch, for exposing a same image as the image shown in the view area; means for designating a pseudo focal length; and means, in response to the operation of the first switch, for changing state of the view finder from a first state in which the image to be photographed is shown in the view area to a second state in which a portion of the image corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length is shown as the whole view area.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
154 words
A pseudo focal length camera comprising: view finder, having a view area, for showing an image in the view area; manual operating member for operating a first switch when the manual operating member is pushed to a first stroke and for operating a second switch when the manual operating member is further pushed to a second stroke which is deeper than the first stroke; means, in response to the operation of the second switch, for exposing a same image as the image shown in the view area; means for designating a pseudo focal length; and means, in response to the operation of the first switch, for changing state of the view finder from a first state in which the image to be photographed is shown in the view area to a second state in which a portion of the image corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length is shown as the whole view area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
A pseudo focal length camera as claimed in claim 14 further comprising means for controlling the changing means to return the state of the view finder from the second state to the first state when the operation of the manual operating member is finished.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
A pseudo focal length camera as claimed in claim 14 further comprising: means for counting a predetermined time from removing the operation of the first switch; and means for controlling the changing means to return the state of the view finder from the second state to the first state in response to the count-up of the counting means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
108 words
A pseudo focal length camera which photographs an image on a medium and records data corresponding to a pseudo focal length on the medium at a photographing so as to print a portion of the photographed image in accordance with said data, comprising: means for designating the pseudo focal length; timer means for counting a predetermined time from designating of the designating means; means, in accordance with the designated pseudo focal length, for displaying an index in the view area of a view finder; and means for controlling the displaying means to interrupt a display operation of the displaying means in response to count-up of the timer means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
108 words
A pseudo focal length camera which photographs an image on a medium and records data corresponding to a pseudo focal length on the medium at a photographing so as to print a portion of the photographed image in accordance with said data, comprising: means for designating the pseudo focal length; timer means for counting a predetermined time from designating of the designating means; means, in accordance with the designated pseudo focal length, for displaying an index in the view area of a view finder; and means for controlling the displaying means to interrupt a display operation of the displaying means in response to count-up of the timer means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
A pseudo focal length camera as claimed in claim 17 further comprising means, in response to the count-up of the timer means, for changing a state shown in the view area to a state prior to a designation by the designating means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
82 words
A pseudo focal length camera comprising: a view finder having a view area; means for designating a pseudo focal length; means for showing an image and a frame for indicating a corresponding portion of the image to the designated focal length in the view area prior to photographing; means for showing the portion corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length by expanding the portion in the view area prior to photographing; means for selecting one of the showing means prior to photographing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
82 words
A pseudo focal length camera comprising: a view finder having a view area; means for designating a pseudo focal length; means for showing an image and a frame for indicating a corresponding portion of the image to the designated focal length in the view area prior to photographing; means for showing the portion corresponding to the designated pseudo focal length by expanding the portion in the view area prior to photographing; means for selecting one of the showing means prior to photographing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-06 | 1994-11-05 | 1995-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-06 | 1998-11-05 | 1999-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-06 | 2002-11-05 | 2003-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |