Patent US4041073A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5233384A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flash photographing system
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-12-20
•
Granted: 1993-08-03
•
Expires: 2010-12-20
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure relates to the flash photographing system having a first exposure controlling mode and a second exposure controlling mode which includes a selecting device for selecting either the first exposure controlling mode or the second exposure controlling mode; a flash emitting device for emitting a flash; a controlling device for deciding whether or not a flash emission is required and allowing the second means to be in the state in which a flash can be emitted when a flash emission is required, and not allowing the second means to be in the state in which a flash can be emitted in the first exposure controlling mode when a flash emission is not required, and allowing the second means to be in the state in which a flash can be emitted every time a photograph is taken in the second exposure controlling mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Takehiro Katoh
- 👤 Akihiko Fujino
- 👤 Kenji Tsuji
- 👤 Shuji Izumi
- 👤 Masaaki Nakai
- 👤 Nobuyuki Taniguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:08
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/36; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/099; G03B7/0993; G03B7/0997; G03B7/09979
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A flash photographic system, provided with a camera and a flash emitting device, which can be set to an automatic emission mode in which a flash is emitted when it is decided that a flash emission is required, and a flash is not emitted when it is decided that a flash emission is not required, or set to a forcible emission mode in which a flash is emitted every time a photograph is taken, first means, provided with said flash emitting device, for selecting the emission mode between said automatic emission mode and said forcible emission mode and outputting a first signal indicative of a selected emission mode to said camera; second means, provided with said camera, for detecting light condition of an object and outputting a second signal indicative of a result of its detection; third means, provided with said camera, for inputting said first signal and said second signal, detecting whether or not a flash emission is required and outputting a third signal indicative of its detection to said flash emitting device; and fourth means, provided with said flash emitting device, for inputting said third signal and deciding whether or not a flash is emitted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A flash photographic system, provided with a camera and a flash emitting device, which can be set to an automatic emission mode in which a flash is emitted when it is decided that a flash emission is required, and a flash is not emitted when it is decided that a flash emission is not required, or set to a forcible emission mode in which a flash is emitted every time a photograph is taken, first means, provided with said flash emitting device, for selecting the emission mode between said automatic emission mode and said forcible emission mode and outputting a first signal indicative of a selected emission mode to said camera; second means, provided with said camera, for detecting light condition of an object and outputting a second signal indicative of a result of its detection; third means, provided with said camera, for inputting said first signal and said second signal, detecting whether or not a flash emission is required and outputting a third signal indicative of its detection to said flash emitting device; and fourth means, provided with said flash emitting device, for inputting said third signal and deciding whether or not a flash is emitted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
131 words
A flash photographing system comprising: means for selecting an exposure controlling mode between a first mode, in which said flash photographing system decides both an aperture and a shutter speed automatically, and a second mode different from the first mode; means for emitting a flash light; means for detecting light condition of an object; means for deciding on the basis of the result of said detecting means whether or not the flash light emission is required; and means for, in the first exposure controlling mode, making said emitting means emit the flash light at a shutter release operation only when said deciding means decides the flash emission is required, and for, in said second exposure controlling mode, making said emitting means always emit the flash light at a shutter release operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
131 words
A flash photographing system comprising: means for selecting an exposure controlling mode between a first mode, in which said flash photographing system decides both an aperture and a shutter speed automatically, and a second mode different from the first mode; means for emitting a flash light; means for detecting light condition of an object; means for deciding on the basis of the result of said detecting means whether or not the flash light emission is required; and means for, in the first exposure controlling mode, making said emitting means emit the flash light at a shutter release operation only when said deciding means decides the flash emission is required, and for, in said second exposure controlling mode, making said emitting means always emit the flash light at a shutter release operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A flash photographing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said deciding means decides the flash light emission is required when said detecting means detects a luminance of an object so low as to allow camera shake to occur.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A flash photographing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said deciding means decides the flash light emission is required when said detecting means detects that a light condition of an object is front or rear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A flash photographing system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising manually operating means for making said selecting means select the first exposure controlling mode in response to a predetermined operation of said manually operating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
140 words
A flash photographing system having a first emission mode and a second emission mode comprising: means for emitting a flash light; means for detecting light condition of an object; means for deciding on the basis of the result of said detecting means whether or not the flash light emission is required; and means for, in the first emission mode, making said emitting means emit the flash light at a shutter release operation only when said deciding means decides the flash emission is required, and for, in said second emission mode, making said emitting means always emit the flash light at a shutter release operation; means for selecting an exposure controlling mode from a plurality of exposure controlling modes; and means for changing the emission mode into the first emission mode when said selecting means selects a predetermined exposure controlling mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
A flash photographing system having a first emission mode and a second emission mode comprising: means for emitting a flash light; means for detecting light condition of an object; means for deciding on the basis of the result of said detecting means whether or not the flash light emission is required; and means for, in the first emission mode, making said emitting means emit the flash light at a shutter release operation only when said deciding means decides the flash emission is required, and for, in said second emission mode, making said emitting means always emit the flash light at a shutter release operation; means for selecting an exposure controlling mode from a plurality of exposure controlling modes; and means for changing the emission mode into the first emission mode when said selecting means selects a predetermined exposure controlling mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A flash photographing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said deciding means decides the flash light emission is required when said detecting means detects a luminance of an object so low as to allow camera shake to occur.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A flash photographing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said deciding means decides the flash light emission is required when said detecting means detects that a light condition of an object is front or rear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A flash photographing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined exposure controlling mode is a programmed automatic exposure controlling mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A flash photographing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined exposure controlling mode is a shutter-priority automatic exposure controlling mode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3855601A
Cited
US4078242A
Cited
US4086582A
Cited
US4527880A
Cited
US4573786A
Cited
US4712902A
Cited
US4733263A
Cited
JPS635331A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-02 | 1997-02-01 | 1997-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-02 | 2001-02-01 | 2001-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-02 | 2005-02-01 | 2005-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |