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US5870638A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Camera having two operative modes

Assignee: Pentax Corp
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Filing: 1997-09-02
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Granted: 1999-02-09
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Expires: 2017-09-02
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Abstract

Abstract A camera includes an imaging device having an image receiving plane, the imaging device receiving an optical image formed on the image receiving plane and outputting signal corresponding to the received image, and a pressure plate arranged between a photographing lens and the imaging device, the pressure plate being formed of a transparent plate member having a predetermined gradient distribution of refractive index, the pressure plate shifting an image formed in front of the pressure plate to the imaging device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yuichi Kurosawa

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 16:02
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B1/00; G03B1/42; G03B1/48; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/0087; G03B17/00; G03B17/26; G03B17/28; G03B19/00; G03B19/02; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 91 words
A camera, comprising: a photographing lens; an image device having an image receiving plane, said imaging device receiving an optical image formed on said image receiving plane and outputting a signal corresponding to the received image; and a pressure plate arranged between the photographing lens and said imaging device, said pressure plate being formed of a transparent plate member having a predetermined gradient distribution of refractive index, said pressure plate shifting an image formed in front of said pressure plate to form on the image receiving plane of said imaging device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 91 words
A camera, comprising: a photographing lens; an image device having an image receiving plane, said imaging device receiving an optical image formed on said image receiving plane and outputting a signal corresponding to the received image; and a pressure plate arranged between the photographing lens and said imaging device, said pressure plate being formed of a transparent plate member having a predetermined gradient distribution of refractive index, said pressure plate shifting an image formed in front of said pressure plate to form on the image receiving plane of said imaging device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 62 words
The camera according to claim 1, wherein said transparent plate member comprises a resin plate, said predetermined distribution of the refractive index having a maximum refractive index at a portion where an optical axis of said photographing lens intersects said resin plate, and said predetermined distribution of refractive index decreasing away from said portion where said optical axis intersects said resin plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
The camera according to claim 1, wherein said transparent plate member comprises a rod lens array including a plurality of rod lenses, each of said rod lenses having a parabolic refractive index distribution with a maximum at an optical axis of the rod lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 63 words
The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a film feeding system that feeds a photographing film to a photographing position intervening between said imaging device and said photographing lens and that removes said photographing film from said photographing position, said film feeding system removing the photographing film from said photographing position when an image is to be captured by said imaging device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
The camera according to claim 4, wherein said photographing film is a roll film accommodated in a cartridge, said film feeding system retracting said film into said cartridge when said film is retracted from said photographing position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 41 words
The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a manually operable switch; and a rewinding system for rewinding a photographing film loaded in said camera, said rewinding system rewinding said photographing film in response to operation of said manually operable switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 94 words
The camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a manually operable selector for selecting one of a first operation mode or a second operation mode, a photographing film intervening between said photographing lens and said imaging device and being exposed at a photographing position when said camera operates in said first operation mode, said imaging device acquiring an image when said camera operates in said second operation mode; and a film feeding system that feeds and rewinds said photographing film, said film feeding system operating in accordance with a selection made by said selector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
The camera according to claim 7, wherein when said photographing film is present at the photographing position and said first operation mode is selected by said manually operable selector, said feeding system is idle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 51 words
The camera according to claim 7, wherein said photographing film is not present at the photographing position and said first operation mode is selected by said manually operable selector, said feeding system feeds said photographing film until an unexposed photographing frame of said photographing film is moved to said photographing position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 47 words
The camera according to claim 7, wherein when said photographing film is present at the photographing position and said second operation mode is selected by said manually operable selector, said feeding system rewinds said photographing film until said photographing film is not present at said photographing position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 40 words
The camera according to claim 7, wherein when said photographing film is not present at the photographing position and said second operation mode is selected by said manually operable selector, said feeding system maintains the position of said photographing film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 43 words
The camera according to claim 1, wherein a rear surface of said pressure plate formed of a transparent plate member having a predetermined gradient distribution of refractive index is separated from and does not contact said image receiving plane of said imaging device.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4348086A Cited
US4531818A Cited
JPH02101874A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-02-08 2002-08-10 2003-02-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-02-08 2006-08-10 2007-02-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-02-08 2010-08-10 2011-02-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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