Nikon Corporation

Masakuni Ohta

Nobuyoshi Hagiuda

Hideki Matsui

A flash apparatus operates on power supplied from internal batteries and an external battery in an auxiliary battery apparatus. A battery check is executed by detecting the charge speed at which a main capacitor is charged and comparing the charge speed with a threshold value. The threshold value is set higher when the auxiliary battery apparatus is mounted than the threshold value set when the auxiliary battery apparatus is not mounted. Thus, an accurate battery check reflecting the presence/absence of the auxiliary battery apparatus can be achieved.

Flash apparatus and auxiliary battery apparatus

A device that is to be fitted to an accessory shoe provided to a main device, includes: an insertion portion that is inserted into the accessory shoe; a shift member; an actuation member; and a shift device that shifts the shift member according to actuation of the actuation member, and the shift device: presses a portion of the shift member against an inner wall surface of the accessory shoe according to actuation of the actuation member, when the insertion portion is to be inserted and fixed in the accessory shoe; and releases this pressing of the portion of the shift member against the inner wall surface of the accessory shoe according to actuation of the actuation member in order to remove the insertion portion from the accessory shoe.

Device and camera accessory mounted on accessory shoe

A variable illuminating angle mechanism which can vary the illuminating angle of a flash unit. The variable illuminating angle mechanism includes a device which prevents a light emitting body or an illuminating lens from being moved in excess of a range of normal movement. The variable illuminating angle mechanism includes a drive shaft having a screw thread formed on a circumferential surface of the drive shaft and a drive device to rotationally drive the drive shaft. A transmission member in threaded connection to the drive shaft is moved by rotation of the drive shaft, and a transmission device moves the light emitting unit or the illuminating lens via movement of the transmission member. An escape device is positioned at at least one end of the drive shaft to disconnect the transmission member from the drive shaft when the transmission member is moved beyond a normal operating range of the light emitting unit or illuminating lens. When the escape device disconnects the drive shaft from the transmission member, the drive shaft rotates without driving the transmission member to prevent the variable illuminating angle mechanism from locking and causing damage to the variable illuminating angle mechanism components.

Variable illuminating angle mechanism for a flash unit

A camera accessory mounting and fixing device, having an outer periphery of a mounting foot member to be inserted into an accessory shoe of a camera to which a camera accessory is fixed. The camera accessory mounting and fixing device has a clamping member which is engaged with the mounting foot member and clamps the mounting foot member to the accessory shoe. A cam member is engaged with the clamping member and rotates during an initial rotation of the clamping member. While the cam member is rotated, a stop pin is urged toward or away from a stop hole formed in the accessory shoe.

Growing community of inventors

Ohta-ku, Japan

Masakuni Ohta