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US5216460A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Automatic focusing camera

Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
•
Filing: 1992-04-13
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Granted: 1993-06-01
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Expires: 2012-04-13
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Abstract

Abstract An automatic focusing camera for exposing an image of an object on a film with a function of automatically focusing on the object. The camera includes a range-finding unit to measure the distance between the object and the camera, in which the range-finding unit is capable of measuring the distance with plural measuring areas; a circuit to calculate a moving speed of the object according the measured distance; a circuit to estimate a distance between the object and the camera when the camera exposes the image according to the measured distance by the range-finding unit and the calculated moving speed, before the camera exposes the image; a circuit to determine whether the moving speed exceeds a predetermined speed; and a controller to change the measuring area of the range-finding unit from one measuring area to the other area when the camera determines that the moving speed exceeds the predetermined speed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masazi Yoshimura
  • 👤 Satoshi Nakamoto

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 10:43
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/30; G02B7/32

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 159 words
An automatic focusing camera for exposing an image of an object on a photosensitive material, comprising; means for measuring a first distance between said object and said camera, wherein said measuring means has a plurality of measuring areas including a first measuring area and a second measuring area, and each of said measuring area is capable of measuring said first distance; means for calculating a moving speed of said object according to said first distance measured with said first measuring area; means for estimating a second distance between said object and said camera when said camera exposes said image, according to said first distance and said moving speed, before said camera exposes said image; means for determining whether said moving speed exceeds a predetermined speed; and means for changing the measuring area of said measuring means from said first measuring area to said second measuring area when said determining means determines that said moving speed exceeds said predetermined speed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 159 words
An automatic focusing camera for exposing an image of an object on a photosensitive material, comprising; means for measuring a first distance between said object and said camera, wherein said measuring means has a plurality of measuring areas including a first measuring area and a second measuring area, and each of said measuring area is capable of measuring said first distance; means for calculating a moving speed of said object according to said first distance measured with said first measuring area; means for estimating a second distance between said object and said camera when said camera exposes said image, according to said first distance and said moving speed, before said camera exposes said image; means for determining whether said moving speed exceeds a predetermined speed; and means for changing the measuring area of said measuring means from said first measuring area to said second measuring area when said determining means determines that said moving speed exceeds said predetermined speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 48 words
The camera of claim 1, wherein said plurality of measuring areas includes a third measuring area, and said first distance measured with said second measuring area is closer to said first distance measured with said first measuring area than said first distance measured with said third measuring area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
The camera of claim 1, wherein said first measuring area is adjacent to said second measuring area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
The camera of claim 1, further comprising: means for selecting the measuring area, where said measuring means measures said first distance, from said plurality of measuring areas.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5097282A Cited
US4943824A Cited
US4988856A Cited
US5130735A Cited
US4959678A Cited
US5136148A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-05-31 1996-11-30 1997-06-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-05-31 2000-11-30 2001-06-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-05-31 2004-11-30 2005-06-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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