Minolta Company, Ltd.

Panasonic Corporation

Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha

Hidekazu Nakajima

Hiroyuki Okada

Hiroshi Ueda

Koji Shibuno

Michihiko Ootsuka

Takahiro Ikeda

Nobuyuki Taniguchi

Kenji Nakamura

Kenji Tsuji

Sadafusa Tsuji

Ikushi Nakamura

Akira Funahashi

Yoshiyuki Mizumo

Masayuki Ikemura

Nobuya Miki

Nobuyuki Mori

Makoto Kato

An intermediate adapter includes a first terminal operable to be electrically connected to a lens detecting terminal provided on the camera body when the intermediate adapter is attached to the camera body, a second terminal operable to be electrically connected to a terminal provided on the interchangeable lens for providing a ground potential when the interchangeable lens is attached to the intermediate adapter, and a first switch interposed between the first terminal and the second terminal. The first switch is operable to electrically connect the first terminal and the second terminal when the first switch is on, and disconnect the electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal when the first switch is off. While the intermediate adapter is being attached to the interchangeable lens, the first switch is off to disconnect the electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal.

Intermediate adapter and camera system

Intermediate adapter, camera body and imaging system

A camera operating from a secondary battery has a camera body, a unit including a taking lens, and a secondary battery incorporated in the unit. The secondary battery is charged by being supplied with electric power from the camera body. The unit is a lens barrel.

Camera and system operating from a secondary battery

A detecting mechanism for detecting a position of a zoom lens used in a camera, in which the same signal is output at each of a plurality of locations through which the lens passes, and in which it is possible to execute a resetting operation of the lens with a lesser mechanical load being exerted upon the lens at both ends of a region within which the lens is driven to move. The mechanism includes a position detection switch that outputs signals of 'ON' and 'OFF' alternately along a direction in which the lens is driven to move. The switch outputs the signal of 'ON' when the lens is on one end of the region, and outputs the signal of 'OFF' when the lens is on the other end thereof. When the switch is 'ON' at time of the resetting operation, the lens is driven towards the other end thereof, and when the switch is 'OFF' at time thereof, the lens is driven towards the one end. This mechanism prevents the lens from striking or hitting on each end of the region.

Device for detecting zoom lens positions and apparatus employing the

In an apparatus having a film condition judging device which judges a film condition based on data obtained by reading out bar codes of a bar code disk equipped on a film cartridge, wherein the bar code disk is initially stopped at a predetermined rotational position in response to the film condition, signals which are output from a sensor, are detected at plurality of times during a bar code disk rotation, and so inclinations in changes of the sensor's output are detected, thereby an error signal is distinguished from a correct signal according to the inclinations in the changes. Further, a sensor's output as a correct signal is counted, then the used condition of the film is judged based on the counted value of the sensor's output. Thus, even if there occurs an unstable rotation of the bar code disk, which brings the error signal, the film condition can be correctly judged by one sensor.

Apparatus having a film condition judging device

When an operation such as the operation of the shutter release button or the closing of the cover to the film container compartment is performed, any operation such as charging that was underway is stopped once and checking of the battery voltage level is performed with reference to reference levels, wherein it is determined whether or not any such operation was underway when either of said operations was performed, and if any such operation was underway, that operation is stopped once, and the battery voltage level is checked with reference to reference levels that are reduced by a preset amount. Consequently, an accurate check of the battery voltage level may be performed with regard to the battery voltage that had fallen due to the carrying out of such operation but that is rising to the original voltage level due to that operation being stopped.

Apparatus using battery

A camera is loadable with a film cartridge having a rotary spool connected with a film and a display member rotatable with the rotary spool for displaying a used state of the film. The camera includes: a driver which generates a driving force for rotation of the rotary spool; a transmission device which is operable to execute transmission of the driving force from the driver to the rotary spool; and a controller which controls the transmission device to execute the transmission of the driving force to rotate the rotary spool for rewinding of the film into the film cartridge, and to suspend the transmission of the driving force to allow the rewound film to freely loosen, and to execute the transmission of the driving force to rotate the rotary spool until the display member reaches a position to display a specified used state of the film.

Camera and method for setting a used-state display

In an auto focus camera in which a lens position is changeable in accordance with a photographing mode, based on measured object distance, it is judged whether or not measuring distance can be done, and it is presumed whether or not a person is photographed. In accordance with the result of the judgment and presumption, a focal length of a photographic lens is selected. If distance measuring can not be done or distance measuring data is invalid, focusing operation is executed, based on not the measured distance data but the predetermined distance data which is suitable to a photographing mode of the camera. By this manner, it does not occur that an object image is out of focus badly and a photograph suited for operator's intention can be obtained.

Auto focus camera in which a lens position is changeable in accordance

A camera that emits auxiliary light for the reduction of the red-eye phenomenon and auxiliary light for distance measurement when the photo object brightness is low using a single light source, wherein when auxiliary light is emitted for distance measurement immediately before a photo is taken, the emission of auxiliary light for the reduction of the red-eye phenomenon is omitted.

Camera

In a camera having auto program zoom control, eye sensing control is used to determine if an object is adjacent to a viewfinder. The eye sensing control preferably includes a light emitting source and photocell. Light is emitted at first intervals, if no object is detected as being adjacent to the viewfinder, and light is emitted at second shorter intervals, if an object is detected as being adjacent to the viewfinder. Emitting light at different intervals results in conserving electrical energy.

Camera with auto program zoom control and eye sensing control

A camera system includes a remote controller and a body of a camera. The remote controller is incorporated in a lens cap of the camera. A photographing magnification for an object is set by the remote controller. A taking lens of the camera is automatically driven to attain an in-focus position defined by a distance to the object and the magnification set by the remote controller. Thus, an image of a desired magnification can be photographed by remote control using the remote controller.

Growing community of inventors

Kawachinagano, Japan

Hidekazu Nakajima