Patent US7180543B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7180543B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Imaging apparatus, imaging method and recording medium for minimizing a release time lag
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 2004-01-27
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Granted: 2007-02-20
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Expires: 2024-01-27
Abstract
Abstract An imaging apparatus including a device for discharging charge or F/E-IC for discharging charge accumulated in an imaging device or CCD and for canceling exposure in a discharging term of the charge. The apparatus also includes a light shielding device or mechanical shutter unit for a mechanical shutter, which shields light by the mechanical shutter, and a control device or CPU block for controlling the discharging term of the discharging device and the light shielding timing of the mechanical shutter. The charge discharging term of the CCD in the discharging device is shortened and a light shielding timing of the mechanical shutter in the light shielding device is hastened by the control device or CPU block, when a computer exposure time computed by the control device or CPU block for recording a subject is shorter than an image recording term of one frame.
Inventors
- 👤 Noriaki Ojima
- 👤 Tatsutoshi Kitajima
- 👤 Kohichi Sugiura
- 👤 Toshiaki Nakahira
- 👤 Akihiro Yoshida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/73
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An imaging apparatus comprising: a charge discharging device configured to discharge charge accumulated in an imaging device for a term and for canceling exposure in the term for discharging the charge; a mechanical shutter configured to shield light, a control device configured to control the discharging term for discharging the charge and a shielding timing of the mechanical shutter device, wherein the control device includes a computing device for measuring a brightness of a subject and computing an exposure time for recording the subject from the measured brightness, and comparing the computed exposure time with an image recording term of one frame, if the computed exposure time is shorter than the image recording term of one frame, the discharging term is shortened and the shielding timing is hastened under the control of the control device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
An imaging apparatus comprising: a charge discharging device configured to discharge charge accumulated in an imaging device for a term and for canceling exposure in the term for discharging the charge; a mechanical shutter configured to shield light, a control device configured to control the discharging term for discharging the charge and a shielding timing of the mechanical shutter device, wherein the control device includes a computing device for measuring a brightness of a subject and computing an exposure time for recording the subject from the measured brightness, and comparing the computed exposure time with an image recording term of one frame, if the computed exposure time is shorter than the image recording term of one frame, the discharging term is shortened and the shielding timing is hastened under the control of the control device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computed exposure time is shorter than half time of the image recording term of one frame.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for imaging a subject, comprising the steps of: discharging charge accumulated in an imaging device for a term and canceling exposure in the term for discharging the charge; shielding light by a mechanical shutter device; measuring brightness of a subject and computer an exposure time for recording the subject from the measured brightness, controlling the discharging term for discharging the charge and a shielding timing of the mechanical shutter device, wherein the computed exposure time is compared with an image recording term of one frame, and the discharging term for discharging the charge is shortened and the light shielding timing of the mechanical shutter device is hastened, if the computed exposure time for recording the subject is shorter than the image recording term of one frame.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for imaging a subject, comprising the steps of: discharging charge accumulated in an imaging device for a term and canceling exposure in the term for discharging the charge; shielding light by a mechanical shutter device; measuring brightness of a subject and computer an exposure time for recording the subject from the measured brightness, controlling the discharging term for discharging the charge and a shielding timing of the mechanical shutter device, wherein the computed exposure time is compared with an image recording term of one frame, and the discharging term for discharging the charge is shortened and the light shielding timing of the mechanical shutter device is hastened, if the computed exposure time for recording the subject is shorter than the image recording term of one frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A recording medium for recording a program to perform said imaging method as recited in claim 3 , the program being readable and executable by a computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method for imaging a subject according to claim 4 , wherein the computed exposure time is shorter than half of the image recording term of one frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A recording medium for recording a program to perform said imaging method as recited in claim 5 , the program being readable and executable by a computer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-02-19 | 2010-08-21 | 2011-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-02-19 | 2014-08-21 | 2015-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-02-19 | 2018-08-21 | 2019-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |