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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7917025 | Image pickup apparatus An image pickup apparatus is provided that can switch between an optical viewfinder mode for identifying an object using an optical viewfinder and a live view mode for identifying an image of an object using a monitor. The apparatus includes an auto-focus unit able ... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7796879 | Autofocus system The present invention provides an autofocus system comprising: a lens device interchangeably attached to a camera and provided with an autofocus device which controls focus so that a subject within a predetermined AF area range within the image-taking range of the c... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7565075 | System and method for exhibiting image focus information on a viewfinder An improved system and method for providing information concerning the level of focus of objects appearing on a viewfinder for a digital camera system. The present invention analyzes a plurality of objects or regions of an image that is being shown to a user through... | 07/21/2009 |
| 7444074 | Autofocus lens apparatus and camera system with the same An autofocus lens apparatus is disclosed which is capable of changing a focus target area in position and size without degrading the operability of manual focusing when taking images with an autofocus function. The autofocus lens apparatus comprises an operating mem... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7181135 | Coupled rangefinder/parallax camera A coupled rangefinder/parallax camera having a 4×5 format or larger utilizing the body shell of a 3¼×4¼ format camera and an adaptor that changes a 3¼×4¼ format photographic system to a different size film format. In particular, a coupled rangefinder/parallax... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7046925 | Superimpose-plate for view finder 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-plat... | 05/16/2006 |
| 6975810 | Focal point detection device and camera A camera comprises a spatial modulation optical filter that is disposed in a viewfinder optical system for subject observation at or near a position optically equivalent to an estimated image forming plane of a photographic optical system and modulates a subject lig... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6937391 | Optical viewer instrument with photographing function In an optical viewer instrument with a photographing function, there is provided a telescopic lens system for observing objects, and a digital camera system including a solid-state image sensor and a photographing lens system associated with each other such that an ... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6927906 | Binocular telescope with photographing function A binocular telescope with a photographing function includes a pair of telescopic optical systems, a casing for receiving the telescopic optical systems, and the casing has outer-side end portions. A camera system includes a photographing optical system, and a solid... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6927797 | Viewfinder for high definition video camera A viewfinder for mounting on a camera having a video signal tap, such as a professional video camera, to extend forwardly and laterally of the camera. A pivotable member is connected to a support base for selectively pivoting about a laterally extending axis and bei... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6788454 | Viewing apparatus having a photographic function A viewing apparatus with a photographing function, includes a viewing optical system by which an image of an object, formed by a positive objective optical system, is viewed though a positive eyepiece optical system, and a photographing optical system which is provi... | 09/07/2004 |
| 6532343 | Camera finder device A finder device is disclosed in which a finder optical system is provided with an auto-focus function separate from that of a photographic optical system so that the subject image can be observed sharply even when the finder optical system undergoes a cha... | 03/11/2003 |
| 6510006 | Image-forming optical system A high-performance image-forming optical system made compact and thin by folding an optical path using reflecting surfaces arranged to minimize the number of reflections. The image-forming optical system has a single prism. When image-side three surfaces ... | 01/21/2003 |
| 6453124 | Digital camera At power-on, a digital camera starts to operate with a display unit off (state S1). At a subsequent half shutter press of a shutter button, a quick return mirror is flipped down and phase difference AF is performed with live view display off (state S3). A... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6275657 | Dual image coincidence type finder system Disclosed is a dual image coincidence type finder system for a camera. Within a finder field, a dual image composed of superimposed two images is formed. A light deflecting system is provided to change degree of relative displacement between the superimpo... | 08/14/2001 |
| 6198581 | Finder prism It is an object of the present invention to provide a finder prism capable of forming some in-finder information such as an automatic focus target mark and a short distance correction mark by virtue of extremely narrow lines. In detail, the finder prism i... | 03/06/2001 |
| 6104533 | Viewfinder with diffractive optical element An optical viewfinder system comprising two optical elements, and a field stop or a reticle, to provide an image of a scene to a viewer, and further comprising a diffractive optical element to provide a clear, stationary image of the field stop or reticle... | 08/15/2000 |
| 6085045 | Adjusting mechanism for a focusing plate A focusing plate adjusting mechanism includes a focusing plate which is detachably attached to a camera body and on which an object image is formed, an adjusting frame which is adapted to adjust the axial position of the focusing plate, a biasing spring w... | 07/04/2000 |
| 6041186 | Finder system A finder system including a first optical system and a second optical system apart from the first optical system by a certain base length. Based on an object distance obtained with use of an active or passive distance measuring device, degree of coinciden... | 03/21/2000 |
| 6038405 | Automatic focus detection device A distance measurement device has a taking lens, a viewfinder, distance measurement elements for performing distance measurement in a plurality of areas on an object, a memory for storing the positional relationship between the field of view of the viewfi... | 03/14/2000 |
| 6011928 | Finder with focusing indicator A plurality of indexes which become references for focusing are successively displayed on a finder in synchronization with an focusing operation of a focus lens, and focusing is performed while the size of the displayed index and the size of the object im... | 01/04/2000 |
| 5949504 | Viewing angle control apparatus for LCD monitor of camcorder A control apparatus for a camcorder is disclosed for maintaining an optimum viewing angle for an LCD display when the camcorder is tilted at an angle in the process of aiming the camcorder at a subject. A separate drive unit moves the LCD display with res... | 09/07/1999 |
| 5926657 | Camera having real-image finder and control method thereof A camera having a real-image finder includes a photographing lens system, a real image type view finder separate from the photographing lens system, a focusing plate having a split image prism placed in the vicinity of an image forming position in which a... | 07/20/1999 |
| 5909597 | Viewfinder of a camera A viewfinder of a camera having a multi-point type auto-focus function, in which a photographing lens can be focused on one of a plurality of objects in a plurality of focus detection zones within the field of view, when viewed through a viewfinder, inclu... | 06/01/1999 |
| 5875359 | Focusing method and apparatus for camera In a camera comprising a phototaking lens system and a viewfinder lens system having a different optical axis from that of the phototaking lens system, the camera comprises a drive means, for simultaneously zooming the phototaking lens system and the view... | 02/23/1999 |
| 5819119 | Camera with a visual line position detection device and method A camera with a visual line position detection device is capable of shortening the time required for auto focus detection and capable of more accurate selection of the focus detection point. The camera includes a focus detection device to output the resul... | 10/06/1998 |
| 5749000 | Camera having voice-input device for changing focus detection A camera which can focus on one or more of multiple focus detection areas and which allows a photographer to change the focus to a new focus detection area by voicing a reference code corresponding to the new focus detection area. The camera includes a vo... | 05/05/1998 |
| 5721982 | Display device for a camera for accurately displaying a rangefinding spot A camera viewfinder device adapted for use in a camera having a photographic lens for photographing a subject and a rangefinder system for producing rangefinding information. The viewfinder device includes a display unit having multiple display parts that... | 02/24/1998 |
| 5673099 | Lens shutter camera including zoom lens A lens shutter type of camera is disclosed in which a zoom lens is positioned in a lens block (1) which has a sector gear (15) rotatably associated with the lens block and with a rotatable cam ring (14). The cam ring and sector gear are rotatable in a sub... | 09/30/1997 |
| 5664235 | Portrait photography camera and method A portrait photograph camera incorporates a taking lens assembly having a predetermined focal length, and photographs a human head on instant film. A pair of indicia are displayed within a field frame of a viewfinder. According to the indicia, the human h... | 09/02/1997 |
| 5655838 | Radiation thermometer with a focusing system A radiation thermometer assembly comprises a housing to a front end of which is movably mounted an objective lens housing. An eye piece is mounted to the radiation thermometer housing and is arranged to receive light passing through the objective lens. A ... | 08/12/1997 |
| 5634147 | Drive device for a camera A camera having a lens barrel and a compartment for holding one of a spool and a cartridge. A motor in the camera is coupled to a reduction gear train which transmits a drive force of the motor to the lens barrel. A rotary shaft, positioned between the co... | 05/27/1997 |
| 5583596 | Lens shutter camera including zoom lens A lens shutter type of camera is disclosed in which a zoom lens is positioned in a lens block (1) which has a sector gear (15) rotatably associated with the lens block and with a rotatable cam ring (14). The cam ring and sector gear are rotatable in a sub... | 12/10/1996 |
| 5485003 | Focus detecting device having light distribution detection Disclosed is a focus detecting device for use in a camera comprising a phototaking optical system for forming an image of the object on a reference plane. A focus detecting optical system separates light passing through the phototaking system from at leas... | 01/16/1996 |
| 5485002 | Focus detecting device having light distribution detection Disclosed is a focus detecting device for use in a camera comprising a phototaking optical system for forming an image of the object on a reference plane. A focus detecting optical system separates light passing through the phototaking system from at leas... | 01/16/1996 |
| 5479235 | Camera with cam-operated mirror driving mechanism A camera includes a movable mirror arranged to be movable between a finder-viewing position and an exposure-retracted position, a spring member for applying to the movable mirror a force which causes the movable mirror to move from the finder-viewing posi... | 12/26/1995 |
| 5477288 | Camera having trimming function A camera having a trimming function capable of recording trimming information includes a lens barrel having a picture-taking lens capable of moving between protruding and retracting positions, a lens barrel driver to drive the lens barrel, a zoom viewfind... | 12/19/1995 |
| 5475458 | Albada finder An Albada finder has a negative objective lens and a positive eyepiece lens. A frame is formed inside the area of the object-side surface of the positive eyepiece lens and a partial reflection area is formed on the eyepiece-side surface of the negative ob... | 12/12/1995 |
| 5465130 | Focus limiter In a camera having a lens unit and a viewfinder, a power focus limiter is provided which is capable of narrowing the focusing range by using a driving motor. The device consists of an actuator, a motor control circuit, a driving motor and a detecting sens... | 11/07/1995 |
| 5408290 | Camera with motorized drive source A camera includes a movable mirror arranged to be movable between a finder-viewing position and an exposure-retracted position, a spring member for applying to the movable mirror a force which causes the movable mirror to move from the finder-viewing posi... | 04/18/1995 |