Patent US5751090A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5701519A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5701519A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control device for preventing red-eye effect on camera
Assignee: Nikon Corp
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
•
Granted: 1997-12-23
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.
Inventors
- 👤 Toru Fukuhara
- 👤 Toshio Sosa
- 👤 Toshio Dobashi
- 👤 Nobuaki Sasagaki
- 👤 Masaharu Hara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:51
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/38; G03B17/40; G03B7/00; G03B7/16; G03B7/17; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A camera comprising: a red-eye effect reducing illumination device which makes a pre-emission operation prior to a main emission operation; a mode setting device which can selectively set a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected, or a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected; a counter which starts to count in response to a pre-emission operation; and a control device electrically connected to said illumination device, which controls operation of said illumination device and other operations in said camera, said control device inhibiting the other operations in said camera before said counter counts a predetermined time when said red-eye reducing mode is set by said mode setting device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A camera comprising: a red-eye effect reducing illumination device which makes a pre-emission operation prior to a main emission operation; a mode setting device which can selectively set a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected, or a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected; a counter which starts to count in response to a pre-emission operation; and a control device electrically connected to said illumination device, which controls operation of said illumination device and other operations in said camera, said control device inhibiting the other operations in said camera before said counter counts a predetermined time when said red-eye reducing mode is set by said mode setting device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a time necessary to reduce a pupil aperture of an eye to a minimum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A camera according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time is 0.75 second.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein the other operations include at least one of an aperture drive, a mirror drive, a shutter drive and a main flash emission.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
A camera system comprising: a control device which controls operation of a red-eye effect reducing illumination device and other operations in a camera; a mode setting device which can selectively set a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected, or a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected; an outputting circuit which outputs a red-eye effect reducing signal which starts a pre-emission operation; and a counter which starts to count in response to the outputting of the red-eye effect reducing signal from said outputting circuit; wherein said control device inhibits said other operations before said counter counts a predetermined time when said red-eye reducing mode is set by said mode setting device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
A camera system comprising: a control device which controls operation of a red-eye effect reducing illumination device and other operations in a camera; a mode setting device which can selectively set a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected, or a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected; an outputting circuit which outputs a red-eye effect reducing signal which starts a pre-emission operation; and a counter which starts to count in response to the outputting of the red-eye effect reducing signal from said outputting circuit; wherein said control device inhibits said other operations before said counter counts a predetermined time when said red-eye reducing mode is set by said mode setting device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
A camera system comprising: a control device which controls operation of a red-eye effect reducing illumination device and other operations in a camera; a mode setting device which can selectively set a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected, or a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected; an outputting circuit which outputs a red-eye effect reducing signal which starts a pre-emission operation; and a counter which starts to count substantially concurrently with the outputting of the red-eye effect reducing signal from said outputting circuit; wherein said control device inhibits said other operations before said counter counts a predetermined time when said red-eye reducing mode is set by said mode setting device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
A camera system comprising: a control device which controls operation of a red-eye effect reducing illumination device and other operations in a camera; a mode setting device which can selectively set a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected, or a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected; an outputting circuit which outputs a red-eye effect reducing signal which starts a pre-emission operation; and a counter which starts to count substantially concurrently with the outputting of the red-eye effect reducing signal from said outputting circuit; wherein said control device inhibits said other operations before said counter counts a predetermined time when said red-eye reducing mode is set by said mode setting device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
A camera comprising: an illumination device which performs a pre-emission operation prior to a main emission operation; a mode setting device which can selectively set a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected, or a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected; a counter which starts to count a predetermined time in response to a pre-emission operation; and a control device which controls said pre-emission operation and other operations in said camera and which inhibits, when said red-eye reducing mode is set by said mode setting device, the other operations in said camera, including at least the main emission operation, until a predetermined time has been counted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A camera comprising: an illumination device which performs a pre-emission operation prior to a main emission operation; a mode setting device which can selectively set a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected, or a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected; a counter which starts to count a predetermined time in response to a pre-emission operation; and a control device which controls said pre-emission operation and other operations in said camera and which inhibits, when said red-eye reducing mode is set by said mode setting device, the other operations in said camera, including at least the main emission operation, until a predetermined time has been counted.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of operating a camera in which different flash emission modes are set, selectively, including a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is performed, and a pre-emission mode in which a pre-emission operation is performed prior to a main emission operation in order to reduce red-eye effect, said method comprising: counting, when the pre-emission mode is set, a predetermined period of time in response to a pre-emission operation, and inhibiting operations in said camera other than said pre-emission operation during the counting of said predetermined period of time.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of operating a camera in which different flash emission modes are set, selectively, including a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is performed, and a pre-emission mode in which a pre-emission operation is performed prior to a main emission operation in order to reduce red-eye effect, said method comprising: counting, when the pre-emission mode is set, a predetermined period of time in response to a pre-emission operation, and inhibiting operations in said camera other than said pre-emission operation during the counting of said predetermined period of time.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of operating a camera in which different flash emission modes are set, selectively, including a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected and a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected, said method comprising: outputting a red-eye effect reducing signal which starts a pre-emission operation; starting to count a predetermined period of time in response to the outputting of the red-eye effect reducing signal; and inhibiting operations in said camera other than said pre-emission operation during the counting of said predetermined period of time.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of operating a camera in which different flash emission modes are set, selectively, including a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected and a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected, said method comprising: outputting a red-eye effect reducing signal which starts a pre-emission operation; starting to count a predetermined period of time in response to the outputting of the red-eye effect reducing signal; and inhibiting operations in said camera other than said pre-emission operation during the counting of said predetermined period of time.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of operating a camera in which different flash emission modes are set, selectively, including a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected, and a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected, said method comprising: outputting a red-eye effect reducing signal which starts a pre-emission operation; starting to count a predetermined period of time substantially concurrently with the outputting of the red-eye effect reducing signal; and inhibiting operations in said camera other than said pre-emission operation during the counting of said predetermined period of time.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of operating a camera in which different flash emission modes are set, selectively, including a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected, and a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected, said method comprising: outputting a red-eye effect reducing signal which starts a pre-emission operation; starting to count a predetermined period of time substantially concurrently with the outputting of the red-eye effect reducing signal; and inhibiting operations in said camera other than said pre-emission operation during the counting of said predetermined period of time.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of operating a camera in which different flash emission modes are set, selectively, including a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected and a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected, said method comprising: starting to count a predetermined period of time in response to a pre-emission operation; and inhibiting, when said red-eye reducing mode is set, operations in said camera other than said pre-emission operation, including at least the main emission operation, until said predetermined period of time has been counted.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of operating a camera in which different flash emission modes are set, selectively, including a main emission mode in which only a main emission operation is effected and a red-eye reducing mode in which a pre-emission operation is effected and then a main emission operation is effected, said method comprising: starting to count a predetermined period of time in response to a pre-emission operation; and inhibiting, when said red-eye reducing mode is set, operations in said camera other than said pre-emission operation, including at least the main emission operation, until said predetermined period of time has been counted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4285588A
Cited
US4503508A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-22 | 2001-06-23 | 2001-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-22 | 2005-06-23 | 2005-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-22 | 2009-06-23 | 2009-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |