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US5572278A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Camera having learning function

Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-09-16
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Granted: 1996-11-05
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Expires: 2014-09-16
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Abstract

Abstract A camera according to the present invention comprises a taking length whose focal length is variable. A focal length thereof is determined based on a subject distance measured by a distance measuring circuit and a relation between a subject distance and a focal length previously stored in a memory or according to a manual operation. The relation stored in the memory is changed based on a focal length determined.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masataka Hamada
  • 👤 Masayuki Ueyama
  • 👤 Kenji Ishibashi
  • 👤 Hiroshi Ootsuka

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 12:51
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/091; G03B7/097

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 110 words
A camera comprising: a memory in which an automatic control data is stored; an automatic setting apparatus which determines an automatic control value based on said automatic control data; a manual setting apparatus which determines a manual control value according to a manual operation; an apparatus which discriminates whether or not a changing operation can be performed where the automatic control data stored in said memory is changed according to said manual control value; and a selector which selects between a mode where said changing operation is performed and a mode where said changing operation is not performed when said discriminating apparatus discriminates that said changing operation can be performed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 110 words
A camera comprising: a memory in which an automatic control data is stored; an automatic setting apparatus which determines an automatic control value based on said automatic control data; a manual setting apparatus which determines a manual control value according to a manual operation; an apparatus which discriminates whether or not a changing operation can be performed where the automatic control data stored in said memory is changed according to said manual control value; and a selector which selects between a mode where said changing operation is performed and a mode where said changing operation is not performed when said discriminating apparatus discriminates that said changing operation can be performed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 51 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein an apparatus for performing said changing operation is attachable to said camera, and said discriminating apparatus discriminates that said changing operation can be performed when the apparatus is attached and that said changing operation cannot be performed when the apparatus is not attached.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 135 words
A camera comprising: a memory in which an automatic control data is stored; an automatic setting apparatus which determines an automatic control value based on said automatic control data; a manual setting apparatus which determines a manual control value according to a manual operation; an apparatus which selects between a first mode in which the automatic control data stored in said memory can be changed according to said manual control value and a second mode in which the automatic control data stored in said memory cannot be changed; and a controller which discriminates a camera condition and controls the camera so as to allow the automatic control data stored in said memory to be changed and to inhibit the automatic control data from being changed under the first mode in response to the discriminated result.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 135 words
A camera comprising: a memory in which an automatic control data is stored; an automatic setting apparatus which determines an automatic control value based on said automatic control data; a manual setting apparatus which determines a manual control value according to a manual operation; an apparatus which selects between a first mode in which the automatic control data stored in said memory can be changed according to said manual control value and a second mode in which the automatic control data stored in said memory cannot be changed; and a controller which discriminates a camera condition and controls the camera so as to allow the automatic control data stored in said memory to be changed and to inhibit the automatic control data from being changed under the first mode in response to the discriminated result.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 49 words
A camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein an apparatus for enabling said changing operation of the controller is attachable to said camera, and wherein said changing operation can be performed when the apparatus is attached and said changing operation cannot be performed when the apparatus is not attached.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 48 words
A camera as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a taking lens, and wherein said automatic control data relates to a focal length of said taking lens to be automatically set and said manual control value is a focal length of said taking lens which is manually set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 48 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a taking lens, and wherein said automatic control data relates to a focal length of said taking lens to be automatically set and said manual control value is a focal length of said taking lens which is manually set.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 185 words
A camera comprising: a taking lens whose focal length is variable; a memory where a plurality of relations between a subject distance and a focal length are previously stored; a structure which measures a subject distance; a first selector which selects a relation among said plurality of relations; an automatic zooming arrangement which determines a focal length of said taking lens based on a subject distance measured by said distance measuring structure and the relation selected by said selector; an exposure control value outputting circuit which outputs an exposure control value; a second selector which selects a photographing mode among a plurality of photographing modes, each of said modes is determined corresponding to each photographing scene, wherein said first selector selects the relation in response to the photographing mode selected by said second selector; a manual zooming arrangement which determines a focal length of said taking lens according to a manual operation; and a changing circuit which changes a content stored in said memory based on a focal length determined by said manual zooming arrangement and a subject distance measured by said distance measuring structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 185 words
A camera comprising: a taking lens whose focal length is variable; a memory where a plurality of relations between a subject distance and a focal length are previously stored; a structure which measures a subject distance; a first selector which selects a relation among said plurality of relations; an automatic zooming arrangement which determines a focal length of said taking lens based on a subject distance measured by said distance measuring structure and the relation selected by said selector; an exposure control value outputting circuit which outputs an exposure control value; a second selector which selects a photographing mode among a plurality of photographing modes, each of said modes is determined corresponding to each photographing scene, wherein said first selector selects the relation in response to the photographing mode selected by said second selector; a manual zooming arrangement which determines a focal length of said taking lens according to a manual operation; and a changing circuit which changes a content stored in said memory based on a focal length determined by said manual zooming arrangement and a subject distance measured by said distance measuring structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 47 words
A camera as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a change inhibiting circuit which inhibits an operation of said changing circuit when a focal length determined by said manual zooming arrangement and/or a subject distance measured by said distance measuring structure do not fulfill a predetermined condition.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4769668A Cited
US4951075A Cited
JPH01300237A Cited
US4942417A Cited
US4965443A Cited
US4978990A Cited
US5159364A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-11-05 2000-05-06 2000-11-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-11-05 2004-05-06 2004-11-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-11-05 2008-05-06 2008-11-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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