US5732293A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic controlled camera with color correction function
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1996-09-16
•
Granted: 1998-03-24
•
Expires: 2016-09-16
Abstract
Abstract An electronic flash illuminates an object. A first photometric unit measures a visible light component of ambient light of the object. A second photometric unit measures an infrared light component of the ambient light of the object. A determining unit determines the ratio between the visible light component measured by the first photometric unit and the infrared light component measured by the second photometric unit. On the basis of the ratio determined by the determining unit, a light emission determining unit determines whether the electronic flash is to be made emit light.
Inventors
- 👤 Osamu Nonaka
- 👤 Takao Nishida
- 👤 Toshiaki Ishimaru
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:30
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/05; G03B7/00; G03B7/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An electronic controlled camera comprising: an ambient light measuring device for measuring ambient light illuminating an object, said ambient light measuring device having a first photometric unit for measuring a visible light component of the ambient light and a second photometric unit for measuring an infrared light component of the ambient light; a processing unit for determining a ratio between the visible light component measured by said first photometric unit and the infrared light component measured by said second photometric unit; and an electronic flash for illuminating the object; wherein said processing unit determines whether to operate said electronic flash to emit light at a time of exposure based on said ratio between the visible light component measured by said first photometric unit and the infrared light component measured by said second photometric unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
An electronic controlled camera comprising: an ambient light measuring device for measuring ambient light illuminating an object, said ambient light measuring device having a first photometric unit for measuring a visible light component of the ambient light and a second photometric unit for measuring an infrared light component of the ambient light; a processing unit for determining a ratio between the visible light component measured by said first photometric unit and the infrared light component measured by said second photometric unit; and an electronic flash for illuminating the object; wherein said processing unit determines whether to operate said electronic flash to emit light at a time of exposure based on said ratio between the visible light component measured by said first photometric unit and the infrared light component measured by said second photometric unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The camera according to claim 1, wherein said first photometric unit provides an output used for performing exposure control of said camera.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said second photometric unit comprises a light receiving unit for receiving infrared light from a remote controller for remotely controlling said camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The camera according to claim 1, wherein said second photometric unit comprises a light receiving element of an active distance measuring device which measures a distance to the object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The camera according to claim 1, wherein said first photometric unit comprises an infrared cut filter arranged before a photometric element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The camera according to claim 1, wherein said second photometric unit comprises a visible light cut filter arranged before a photometric element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a third photometric unit for measuring a blue component of the ambient light of the object, and wherein said processing unit determines whether to operate said electronic flash to emit light at the time of exposure taking into account the blue component measured by said third photometric unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit for recording color correction information on a film based on a determination result of said processing unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The camera according to claim 8, wherein said recording unit performs one of magnetic recording on a magnetic recording medium provided on said film and optical recording on said film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electronic controlled camera comprising: an ambient light measuring unit for measuring a first wavelength component and a second wavelength component of ambient light illuminating an object; an electronic flash for illuminating the object; and a processing unit for determining whether to operate said electronic flash to emit light at a time of exposure based on a ratio of the first wavelength component to the second wavelength component measured by said ambient light measuring unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electronic controlled camera comprising: an ambient light measuring unit for measuring a first wavelength component and a second wavelength component of ambient light illuminating an object; an electronic flash for illuminating the object; and a processing unit for determining whether to operate said electronic flash to emit light at a time of exposure based on a ratio of the first wavelength component to the second wavelength component measured by said ambient light measuring unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The camera according to claim 10, further comprising a recording unit for recording color correction information on one of a recording portion of a film and a film carrier, in accordance with the ratio of the first wavelength component to the second wavelength component measured by said ambient light measuring unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The camera according to claim 10, wherein said ambient light measuring unit comprises a photoelectric conversion element for at least one of remote control signal reception and object distance determination.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The camera according to claim 12, wherein said photoelectric conversion element projects distance measurement light toward the object, receives reflected light from the object, and detects a light reception position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The camera according to claim 12, wherein said ambient light unit comprises two photoelectric conversion elements arranged in two different positions for detecting a phase difference between images of the object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The camera according to claim 14, wherein said photoelectric conversion elements comprise line sensors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
93 words
The camera according to claim 10, wherein said ambient light unit comprises a photoelectric conversion element for receiving at least one of signal light from a remote controller of said camera and distance measurement light for object distance determination, and wherein said ambient light unit detects a stationary light component from said photoelectric conversion element when detecting the first and second wavelength components of the ambient light illuminating the object, and detects a pulse light component of said photoelectric conversion element when detecting one of the signal light and the distance measurement light.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4316659A
Cited
US4358186A
Cited
JPS63129797A
Cited
US4989093A
Cited
US5155581A
Cited
US5016039A
Cited
JPH01293329A
Cited
JPH02106727A
Cited
US4894678A
Cited
US4998128A
Cited
US5051768A
Cited
US5117252A
Cited
US5124739A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-23 | 2001-09-22 | 2002-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-23 | 2005-09-22 | 2006-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-23 | 2009-09-22 | 2010-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |