US5262818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Program zoom camera
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-06-22
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Granted: 1993-11-16
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Expires: 2010-06-22
Abstract
Abstract A program zoom camera enables photographing an object with a designated magnification even when the object is a moving object. In the camera, the expected object distance is predicted based on measured object distances during a release time lag, and a pseudo focal length photographing based on the data of expected object distance is executed. Accordingly, the range to be printed of a film is changed so that the object magnification becomes the designated magnification. In place of pseudo focal length photographing, the object after the time lag may be exposed on a film with the designated magnification by changing the focal length based on the data of expected object distance.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigeru Wada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 04:01
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B7/10; G02B7/102; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/091; G03B2206/00; G03B2206/008; G03B2215/00; G03B2215/05; G03B2215/0503; G03B2215/0507; G03B2215/051
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A camera, comprising: means, having an operable switch, for exposing a film loaded in said camera in response to the operation of said operable switch, the operation of said exposing means being started after passing a predetermined release time lag from the operation of said operable switch; means for repeatedly detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; means for determining an electronic zoom magnification corresponding to a range to be reproduced; means for predicting the distance to the object after passing the predetermined release time lag on the basis of a plurality of said distances repeatedly detected; and means for determining, in accordance with the predicted distance, an electronic zoom magnification corresponding to a range to be reproduced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A camera, comprising: means, having an operable switch, for exposing a film loaded in said camera in response to the operation of said operable switch, the operation of said exposing means being started after passing a predetermined release time lag from the operation of said operable switch; means for repeatedly detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; means for determining an electronic zoom magnification corresponding to a range to be reproduced; means for predicting the distance to the object after passing the predetermined release time lag on the basis of a plurality of said distances repeatedly detected; and means for determining, in accordance with the predicted distance, an electronic zoom magnification corresponding to a range to be reproduced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: means for indicating a range to be reproduced in a viewfinder provided in the camera; and means for controlling the indicated range in accordance with the determined electronic zoom magnification.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A camera as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an operable member, wherein the operation of said controlling means is started when said operable member is pushed to a first stage, and said operable switch is operated when said operable member is pushed to a second stage deeper than said first stage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein said controlling means includes means for generating a signal representative of said determined and indicated magnification.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A camera, comprising: means for detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; means for determining an electronic zoom magnification corresponding to a range to be reproduced in accordance with the detected distance; and means for repeatedly operating both of said detecting means and said determining means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A camera, comprising: means for detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; means for determining an electronic zoom magnification corresponding to a range to be reproduced in accordance with the detected distance; and means for repeatedly operating both of said detecting means and said determining means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camera as claimed in claim 5, further comprising means for indicating, in a viewfinder provided in the camera, an area to be reproduced in accordance with the determined electronic zoom magnification.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
A camera, comprising: means for repeatedly detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; means for predicting the distance to the object at a predetermined time on the basis of a plurality of said distances repeatedly detected; and means for determining, in accordance with the predicted distance, an electronic zoom magnification corresponding to a range to be reproduced, so that an object to be photographed may be reproduced at a predetermined magnification.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A camera, comprising: means for repeatedly detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; means for predicting the distance to the object at a predetermined time on the basis of a plurality of said distances repeatedly detected; and means for determining, in accordance with the predicted distance, an electronic zoom magnification corresponding to a range to be reproduced, so that an object to be photographed may be reproduced at a predetermined magnification.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A camera as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: means, having an operable switch, for exposing a film loaded in said camera in response to the operation of said operable switch, the operation of said exposing means being started after passing a predetermined release time lag from the operation of said operable switch; and means for operating said distance predicting means and said determining means within said release time lag.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camera as claimed in claim 7, further comprising means for indicating, in a viewfinder provided in the camera, an area to be reproduced in accordance with the determined electronic zoom magnification.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
A camera, comprising: means for repeatedly detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; means for setting an electronic zoom magnification corresponding to a range to be reproduced; means for predicting the distance to the object at a start of exposure in the camera on the basis of a plurality of said distances repeatedly detected; means for calculating a deviation between the set electronic zoom magnification and a predicted electronic zoom magnification corresponding to the predicted distance; and means for determining a resultant electronic zoom magnification in accordance with the deviation and the set electronic zoom magnification.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
A camera, comprising: means for repeatedly detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; means for setting an electronic zoom magnification corresponding to a range to be reproduced; means for predicting the distance to the object at a start of exposure in the camera on the basis of a plurality of said distances repeatedly detected; means for calculating a deviation between the set electronic zoom magnification and a predicted electronic zoom magnification corresponding to the predicted distance; and means for determining a resultant electronic zoom magnification in accordance with the deviation and the set electronic zoom magnification.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
A camera comprising: a zoom lens, provided in the camera, capable of varying its focal length; means for setting the focal length of said zoom lens; means for detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; means for setting a magnification in accordance with the detected distance; and means for determining an electronic zoom magnification in accordance with the set focal length of the zoom lens and the set magnification.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
A camera comprising: a zoom lens, provided in the camera, capable of varying its focal length; means for setting the focal length of said zoom lens; means for detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; means for setting a magnification in accordance with the detected distance; and means for determining an electronic zoom magnification in accordance with the set focal length of the zoom lens and the set magnification.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A camera as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: means for illuminating an object to be photographed; and means for controlling an illuminating angle of said illuminating means in accordance with the set focal length of the zoom lens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
A camera as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: means for repeatedly detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; means for predicting the distance to the object at a start of exposure in the camera on the basis of a plurality of said distances repeatedly detected; and means for determining a resultant electronic zoom magnification in accordance with the predicted distance and the set electronic zoom magnification.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
106 words
A camera, comprising: first means for setting a focal length of a photographing lens; second means for setting an electronic zoom magnification; a first manually operable member; a second manually operable member; first means for changing the focal length set by said first setting means in accordance with the operation of said first manually operable member; second means for changing the electronic zoom magnification set by said second setting means in accordance with the operation of said second manually operable member; means for detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; and means for changing the electronic zoom magnification in accordance with the detected distance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
A camera, comprising: first means for setting a focal length of a photographing lens; second means for setting an electronic zoom magnification; a first manually operable member; a second manually operable member; first means for changing the focal length set by said first setting means in accordance with the operation of said first manually operable member; second means for changing the electronic zoom magnification set by said second setting means in accordance with the operation of said second manually operable member; means for detecting a distance to an object to be photographed; and means for changing the electronic zoom magnification in accordance with the detected distance.
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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) | 1996-11-15 | 1997-05-17 | 1997-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-15 | 2001-05-17 | 2001-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-15 | 2005-05-17 | 2005-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |