Control device for preventing red-eye effect on camera

• US 5,815,749 A
• Filed: 06/26/1997
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Kato, Minoru, Tsukahara, Daiki, Inoue, Hideya, Machida, Kiyosada, Kotani, Noriyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Application Number:
  US08/883,311
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 396/158, 396/157, 396/264
• US Class Current: 396/158
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/40 with delayed or timed action
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/16 in accordance with both the intensity of the flash source and the distance of the flash source from the object, e.g. in accordance with the "guide number" of the flash bulb and the focusing of the camera

Abstract

A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.

Claims

1. A photographing apparatus which is used with a flash device which emits flash for illuminating an object to be photographed, including a person, at the time of exposure, comprising:

a self-timer device which is made operative upon manual operation, and which counts a predetermined time from the start of the manual operation and causes said photographing apparatus to effect exposure after completion of counting of the predetermined time; and

a pre-illumination device which is made operable upon said manual operation and which emits light toward said object, before said flash device emits flash at the time of exposure, for causing pupils of said person'"'"'s eyes to contract.

2. A photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said photographing apparatus effects said exposure with regard to a photosensitive film.

3. A photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flash device includes a single light emission tube for emitting said flash, and said pre-illumination device emits light from said light emission tube.

4. A photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a command device for outputting a flash operation command to cause said flash device to operate, wherein said pre-illumination device is enabled to emit light when said flash operation command is outputted and said manual operation is effected, but is not enabled to emit light when said flash operation command is not outputted, irrespective of said manual operation.

5. A photographing device according to claim 4, further comprising a photometry circuit which outputs luminance information related to luminance of said object to be photographed, wherein said command device outputs said flash operation command when the luminance information outputted by said photometry device indicates a low luminance.

6. A method of performing flash photography in which a flash device emits flash for illuminating a person to be photographed at the time of exposure and in which a self-timer device, upon manual operation, counts a predetermined time from the start of the manual operation and effects exposure after completion of counting of the predetermined time, wherein, upon said manual operation, a pre-illumination device emits light toward said person, before said flash device emits flash, for causing the pupils of the person'"'"'s eyes to contract.