Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Pentax Corporation

Hoya Corporation

Sony Corporation

Sony Mobile Communications Inc.

Hidefumi Kaneko

Tetsuya Abe

Tetsuo Hosokawa

Toshihiro Hamamura

Tadahisa Ohkura

Shigeru Iwamoto

Masaaki Haga

Hiroyuki Takahashi

Toshio Kimijima

Hiromitsu Takao

Takaaki Yano

Tadayuki Kirigaya

Katsumi Aoyagi

Katsuki Machida

Tomohiro Ichikawa

Yasuyuki Hirao

Akihiro Sugiyama

Miki Suzuki

Atsuo Kabeta

Takeshi Kanemoto

A terminal device may include: a communication interface to receive, from a server via a network, a file for updating software in a memory device coupled with the terminal device, and a software update table that includes data regarding one or more performance values and one or more time values indicative of one or more lengths of time taken to update the software using the file; a processor to obtain data regarding a performance value of the memory device, select, from the software update table, one of the one or more performance values based on the performance value of the memory device, and obtain, from the software update table, a time value associated with the selected performance value; and an output device to provide an output corresponding to the obtained time value. Each performance value is associated with one of the one or more time values, respectively.

Device and method for time notification for updating software

A light-emitting unit for superimposement is provided. The light-emitting unit is applied to one of a pentagonal roof-mirror or a pentagonal Dach-prism of a viewfinder optical system of a camera. The unit comprises a light source, a light-emitting lens, and a second mirror. The light source emits superimposing light. The second mirror reflects light emitted from the light source and passed through the light-emitting lens toward a third reflection face of one of a pentagonal roof-mirror or a pentagonal Dach-prism. The light source, the light-emitting lens, and the second mirror are integrally assembled as a unit.

Light-emitting unit and superimposing device

In a viewfinder for a single lens reflex camera, in which a focused image of an object formed on a ground glass by a photographing lens is transmitted to an ocular optical system through a pentagonal prism or a pentagonal mirror and an information image displayed on an indication surface of an indication block is transmitted to the pentagonal prism or pentagonal mirror, through an indication prism, so that the object image and the information image are indicated in the finder view field of the ocular optical system, the indication surface of the indicator is inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to an incident surface of the image-erecting optical member toward the incident surface, and an angle between the indication surface of the indicator and the incident surface of the image-erecting optical member is smaller than 90&#xb0;.

Viewfinder for single lens reflex camera

A superimpose-plate is put on a focusing glass, on which a subject image obtained through the photographing optical system is formed. The superimpose-plate and the focusing glass are provided in an incident opening of a hollow pentagonal mirror. The superimpose-plate comprises a plurality of micro-prisms that are formed on the superimpose-plate. Each of the micro-prisms shows a triangle in a cross-section. The vertical angle of the triangle is identical in each of the micro-prisms. A ridgeline of each of the micro-prisms is parallel to the right-left direction of the picture plane of the view finder.

Superimpose-plate for view finder

A light-projecting device comprises an ocular optical system facing an emergent opening of a hollow pentagonal mirror. A superimpose-plate is provided in an incident opening of the hollow pentagonal mirror so that a subject image obtained through a photographing optical system is formed. The superimpose-plate is put on a focusing glass. A mark, indicated in a picture plane of the view finder, is formed on the superimpose-plate. A light source radiates an illumination light beam. A light-projecting prism reflects the illumination light beam toward the emergent opening. The light-projecting prism has a light-projecting plane. The light-projecting plane is located below the optical axis of the ocular optical system.

Light-projecting device

A light-projecting device comprises a superimpose-plate, which is put on a focusing glass. A hollow pentagonal mirror has a roof reflecting plane, reflecting a light beam passing through the focusing glass and the superimpose-plate, a third reflecting plane, reflecting the light beam reflected on the roof reflecting plane, and an emergent opening through which the light beam reflected on the third reflecting plane passes. An illumination light beam output from a light source of a light-projecting optical system is reflected on a light-projecting prism, and radiated from the emergent opening to the third reflecting plane. The illumination light beam is reflected on the third reflecting plane and the roof reflecting plane, and is approximately perpendicularly radiated on the superimpose-plate.

A light-projecting device comprises an ocular optical system facing an emergent opening of a hollow pentagonal mirror. A light source is provided outside the emergent opening, to output an illumination light beam, by which a superimpose-plate is illuminated so that a focusing mark formed on the superimpose-plate is radiated. A light-projecting prism is provided beside the ocular optical system, to reflect the illumination light beam output from the light source, toward the emergent opening. The optical axis, extending between the light source and the light-projecting prism, is approximately parallel to the plane of the emergent opening.

A lock device is provided for locking an accessory-grip to a camera body. A lock lever is movably supported by a housing. The lock lever is moved and can be stopped at a lock position, a partial release position, and a complete release position. First and second connecting members are movably supported by the housing, and can be displaced in association with the lock lever. When the lock lever is positioned at the lock position, the first and second connecting members are engaged with the camera body. When the lock lever is positioned at the partial release position, the first connecting member is released from the camera body and the second connecting member maintains the engaged state.

Lock device for accessory-grip

A camera includes a built-in flash and a controller for controlling the camera. The controller includes different photographic modes; an auto-exposure-mode selecting mode in which an appropriate photographic mode is automatically selected from the different photographic modes based on photographic conditions, the controller allowing the built-in flash to discharge automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode when the built-in flash discharges at a most appropriate time of exposure; and a flash-prohibiting/auto-exposure-mode selecting mode in which an appropriate photographic mode is automatically selected from the different photographic modes based on photographic conditions, the controller prohibiting the built-in flash from discharging automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode at a time of exposure. The controller selects either the auto-exposure-mode selecting mode or the flash-prohibiting/auto-exposure-mode selecting mode in response to an operation of the manual operation member.

Controller for controlling a camera having a built-in flash

A camera includes a retractable built-in flash unit which is movable between a retracted position and a discharge position, and a controller which controls the built-in flash and provides an auto flash mode in which the controller allows the built-in flash to discharge automatically when necessary. In the auto flash mode, the controller moves the built-in flash from the retracted position to the discharge position when predetermined conditions are satisfied, and subsequently controls the retractable built-in flash unit to discharge automatically at a time of exposure. Furthermore, the controller temporarily prohibits the retractable built-in flash unit from automatically discharging if the retractable built-in flash unit is pushed down to the retracted position after the controller moves the retractable built-in flash unit from the retracted position to the discharge position.

Controller for controlling a built-in flash of a camera

An operation device of a camera includes an indication member comprising a plurality of characters, an operation member which is movable relative to the indication member and includes an index mark for pointing at one of the plurality of characters when the operation member stops at a corresponding stop position thereof; and an illuminating device which illuminates at least one of the plurality of characters at which the index mark points. Also disclosed is a control device for controlling the illuminating device to be turned ON and OFF in a predetermined particular pattern immediately after the power of the camera is turned ON, wherein the control device does not turn the illuminating device ON and OFF in the predetermined particular pattern thereafter, in a power-ON state of the camera.

Operation dial with an illuminator for a camera

A camera system including a camera, and an accessory to be secured to the camera by means of a screw provided to an upper surface of the accessory and a threaded hole formed on a bottom surface of the camera. At least first and second circuits are respectively provided in the camera and the accessory. First and second connectors, each of which are electrically connected to the first circuit, are provided on the bottom surface of the camera. The first and second connectors arranged at opposite portions, with respect to the threaded holes on the bottom surface of the camera. Further, third and fourth connectors to be respectively connected to the first and second connectors are provided on the upper surface of the accessory. Each of the third and fourth connectors, which are electrically connected to the second circuit, are arranged at portions corresponding to the first and second connectors.

Connection structure for camera and accessory

A flexible printed circuit board, comprises a single board on which a circuit arrangement is provided, a main body formed as a part of the single board, a folding portion formed as another part of the single board, a set of copper foil lines, provided on the main body, a set of copper foil lines, provided on the folding portion, and wherein the folding portion is folded toward the main body so that the copper foil lines on both the main body and the folding portion are electrically connected.

Flexible printed circuit board

A flexible printed circuit board, having a single board, on which a circuit arrangement is provided, a main body formed as a part of the single board, a folding portion formed as another part of the single board, a set of copper foil lines, provided on the main body, a set of copper foil lines, provided on the folding portion, and wherein the folding portion is folded toward the main body so that the copper foil lines on both the main body and the folding portion are electrically connected.

A dial rotatably mounted on a camera is provided with at least two kinds of information, corresponding to variable settings, functions, or modes. The dial may be rotated to set one of the kinds of information at a time, when an index mark points to symbols on the dial representative of individual settings or of a setting change mode to be performed in combination with other operating members provided to the camera. An LCD provided on the camera displays changes in the information in response to the rotation of the dial. The dial can have the kinds of information provided to the dial in adjacent angular ranges, or alternatively in concentric form, the kinds of information switchable by an additional member.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Hidefumi Kaneko