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US5504553A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera on which a photographic lens can be freely mounted

Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1996-04-02
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Expires: 2015-06-07
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Abstract

Abstract An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera on which a photographic lens can be mounted freely comprises a flash device capable of emitting light, a photometric device which divides a field into a plurality of areas for the photometry of the light beam which is emitted from the flash device and reflected by each of the areas, in which the light beam is arranged to reach the photometric device after being reflected by the film plane, a photometric output correcting device which corrects the photometric output of the photometric device in accordance with the characteristics of the mounted photographic lens, and a light adjustment controlling device which suspends the light emission of the flash device in accordance with the photometric output corrected by the photometric output correcting device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Tadao Takagi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 11:59
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/05; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/099; G03B7/0993; G03B7/0997; G03B7/09979

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 219 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera on which a photographic lens can be mounted freely, comprising: a flash device which emits preliminary flash light and thereafter emits regular flash light to a field to be photographed; a light metering device for metering through-lens-light through said photographic lens, the light being included in said flash light of said flash device reflected by said field to be photographed; an optical element disposed at a side of said photographic lens opposite to said field, said optical element directing through-lens-light reflected by a shutter blade surface to said light metering device during said preliminary flash light and directing through-lens-light reflected by a film plane to said light metering device during said regular flash light, said light metering device metering through-lens-light from a plurality of areas of said field, outputting a plurality of first light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said preliminary flash light and outputting a plurality of second light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said regular flash light; and a controlling device which corrects a plurality of said first and said second light metering outputs in accordance with characteristics of a mounted photographic lens and suspends the regular flash light emission based on the corrected light metering outputs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 219 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera on which a photographic lens can be mounted freely, comprising: a flash device which emits preliminary flash light and thereafter emits regular flash light to a field to be photographed; a light metering device for metering through-lens-light through said photographic lens, the light being included in said flash light of said flash device reflected by said field to be photographed; an optical element disposed at a side of said photographic lens opposite to said field, said optical element directing through-lens-light reflected by a shutter blade surface to said light metering device during said preliminary flash light and directing through-lens-light reflected by a film plane to said light metering device during said regular flash light, said light metering device metering through-lens-light from a plurality of areas of said field, outputting a plurality of first light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said preliminary flash light and outputting a plurality of second light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said regular flash light; and a controlling device which corrects a plurality of said first and said second light metering outputs in accordance with characteristics of a mounted photographic lens and suspends the regular flash light emission based on the corrected light metering outputs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 1, wherein: the characteristics of said lens are concerned with the exit pupil distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 1, wherein: the characteristics of said lens are concerned with the stop value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 1, wherein: said light reflected by said shutter blade surface is diffused light reflected by almost the whole area of said shutter blade surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 231 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera on which a photographic lens can be mounted freely, comprising: a flash device which emits preliminary flash light and thereafter emits regular flash light to a field to be photographed; a light metering device for metering through-lens-light through said photographic lens, the light being included in said flash light of said flash device reflected by said field to be photographed; an optical element disposed at a side of said photographic lens opposite to said field, said optical element directing through-lens-light reflected by a shutter blade surface to said light metering device during said preliminary flash light and directing through-lens-light reflected by a film plane to said light metering device during said regular flash light, said light metering device metering through-lens-light from a plurality of areas of said field, outputting a plurality of first light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said preliminary flash light and outputting a plurality of second light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said regular flash light; and a controlling device which corrects a plurality of said first and said second light metering outputs by using a common correction value for one and the same area in accordance with characteristics of a mounted photographic lens and suspends the regular flash light emission based on the corrected light metering outputs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 231 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera on which a photographic lens can be mounted freely, comprising: a flash device which emits preliminary flash light and thereafter emits regular flash light to a field to be photographed; a light metering device for metering through-lens-light through said photographic lens, the light being included in said flash light of said flash device reflected by said field to be photographed; an optical element disposed at a side of said photographic lens opposite to said field, said optical element directing through-lens-light reflected by a shutter blade surface to said light metering device during said preliminary flash light and directing through-lens-light reflected by a film plane to said light metering device during said regular flash light, said light metering device metering through-lens-light from a plurality of areas of said field, outputting a plurality of first light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said preliminary flash light and outputting a plurality of second light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said regular flash light; and a controlling device which corrects a plurality of said first and said second light metering outputs by using a common correction value for one and the same area in accordance with characteristics of a mounted photographic lens and suspends the regular flash light emission based on the corrected light metering outputs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 5, wherein: said shutter blade surface is colored to be provided with 18% reflectance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 5, wherein: the characteristics of said lens are concerned with the exit pupil distance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 5, wherein: the characteristics of said lens are concerned with the stop value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 35 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 5, wherein: said light reflected by said shutter blade surface is diffused light reflected by almost the whole area of said shutter blade surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 238 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera on which a photographic lens can be mounted freely, comprising: a flash device which emits preliminary flash light and thereafter emits regular flash light to a field to be photographed; a light metering device for metering through-lens-light through said photographic lens, the light being included in said flash light of said flash device reflected by said field to be photographed: an optical element disposed at a side of said photographic lens opposite to said field, said optical element directing through-lens-light reflected by a shutter blade surface to said light metering device during said preliminary flash light and directing through-lens-light reflected by a film plane to said light metering device during said regular flash light, said light metering device metering through-lens-light from a plurality of areas of said field, outputting a plurality of first light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said preliminary flash light and outputting a plurality of second light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said regular flash light; and a controlling device which corrects a plurality of said first and said second light metering outputs in accordance with characteristics of a mounted photographic lens, determines a condition of said regularly flash light emission in accordance with the corrected first light metering outputs and suspends the regularly flash light emission based on the corrected second light metering outputs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 238 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera on which a photographic lens can be mounted freely, comprising: a flash device which emits preliminary flash light and thereafter emits regular flash light to a field to be photographed; a light metering device for metering through-lens-light through said photographic lens, the light being included in said flash light of said flash device reflected by said field to be photographed: an optical element disposed at a side of said photographic lens opposite to said field, said optical element directing through-lens-light reflected by a shutter blade surface to said light metering device during said preliminary flash light and directing through-lens-light reflected by a film plane to said light metering device during said regular flash light, said light metering device metering through-lens-light from a plurality of areas of said field, outputting a plurality of first light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said preliminary flash light and outputting a plurality of second light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said regular flash light; and a controlling device which corrects a plurality of said first and said second light metering outputs in accordance with characteristics of a mounted photographic lens, determines a condition of said regularly flash light emission in accordance with the corrected first light metering outputs and suspends the regularly flash light emission based on the corrected second light metering outputs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 10, wherein: the characteristics of said lens are concerned with an amount of the exit pupil distance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 27 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 10, wherein: the characteristics of said lens are concerned with an amount of the stop value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 35 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 10, wherein: said light reflected by said shutter blade surface is diffused light reflected by almost the whole area of said shutter blade surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 250 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera on which a photographic lens can be mounted freely, comprising: a flash device which emits preliminary flash light and thereafter emits regular flash light to a field to be photographed; a light metering device for metering through-lens-light through said photographic lens, the light being included in said flash light of said flash device reflected by said field to be photographed; an optical element disposed at a side of said photographic lens opposite to said field, said optical element directing through-lens-light reflected by a shutter blade surface to said light metering device during said preliminary flash light and directing through-lens-light reflected by a film plane to said light metering device during said regular flash light, said light metering device metering through-lens-light from a plurality of areas of said field, outputting a plurality of first light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said preliminary flash light and outputting a plurality of second light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said regular flash light; and a controlling device which corrects a plurality of said first and said second light metering outputs by using a common correction value for one and the same area in accordance with characteristics of a mounted photographic lens, determines a condition of said regular flash light emission in accordance with the corrected first light metering outputs and suspends the regular flash light emission based on the corrected second light metering outputs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 250 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera on which a photographic lens can be mounted freely, comprising: a flash device which emits preliminary flash light and thereafter emits regular flash light to a field to be photographed; a light metering device for metering through-lens-light through said photographic lens, the light being included in said flash light of said flash device reflected by said field to be photographed; an optical element disposed at a side of said photographic lens opposite to said field, said optical element directing through-lens-light reflected by a shutter blade surface to said light metering device during said preliminary flash light and directing through-lens-light reflected by a film plane to said light metering device during said regular flash light, said light metering device metering through-lens-light from a plurality of areas of said field, outputting a plurality of first light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said preliminary flash light and outputting a plurality of second light metering outputs relating to said plurality of areas in response to said regular flash light; and a controlling device which corrects a plurality of said first and said second light metering outputs by using a common correction value for one and the same area in accordance with characteristics of a mounted photographic lens, determines a condition of said regular flash light emission in accordance with the corrected first light metering outputs and suspends the regular flash light emission based on the corrected second light metering outputs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 28 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 14, wherein: the characteristics of said lens are concerned with an amount of the exit pupil distance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 27 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 14, wherein: the characteristics of said lens are concerned with an amount of the stop value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 35 words
An automatic light adjustment apparatus for a camera according to claim 14, wherein: said light reflected by said shutter blade surface is diffused light reflected by almost the whole area of said shutter blade surface.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-04-02 1999-10-02 2000-04-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-04-02 2003-10-02 2004-04-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-04-02 2007-10-02 2008-04-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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