Camera apparatus capable of freely setting objective area within viewed subject

Claim 2

A camera apparatus characterized by comprising: optical image forming means (1, 14, 15) for forming an optical image; image sensing means (21) having a photoelectric converting area (50) comprised of a plurality of frame areas (50), for producing electric signals in response to said optical image formed by said optical image forming means (1, 14, 15); area designating means (41) for designating a desired frame area from said plurality of frame area; selecting means (4, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30) for selecting from the electric signals produced by the whole electric converting area, electric signals produced by said desired frame area designated by said area designated means; and, producing means for producing a video signal based on said electric signals produced by said image sensing means (21) and said selecting means (4, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30).

Claim 3

The camera apparatus of claim 1, characterized by further comprising: on-focusing detecting means (32) for detecting whether or not said optical image formed by said optical image forming means (1, 14, 15) is just focused on said image sensing means (21), based on said electric signals selected by said selecting means (4, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30); and, focusing control means (12) for controlling said optical image forming means (1, 14, 15) based on an on-­focusing detecting signal obtained by said on-focusing detecting means (32), so as to focus said optical image formed by said optical image forming means (1, 14, 15) just on said image sensing means (21).

Claim 4

The camera apparatus of claim 1, characterized by further comprising: luminousenergy determining means (21, 61, 62, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 80, 81) for determining a level of a luminousenergy of said optical image formed by said optical image forming means (1, 14, 15), in response to said selected electric signals selected by said selecting means (4, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30; and, luminousenergy control means (63, 76, 84, 85, 86) for controlling the level of the luminousenergy of said optical image formed by said optical image forming means (1, 14, 15), based on a luminousenergy determining signal obtained by said luminousenergy determining means (21, 61, 62, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 80, 81), so as to set a predetermined exposure condition.

Claim 5

The camera apparatus of claim 3, characterized by comprising: diaphragm means (13, 16) for controlling the level of the luminousenergy of said optical image (1, 14, 15); and, diaphragm control means (63, 76, 84, 85) for controlling said diaphragm means (13, 16) based on said luminousenergy determining signal obtained by said luminousenergy determining means (21, 61, 62, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 80, 81), so as to set the predetermined exposure condition.

Claim 6

The camera apparatus of claim 4, characterized by comprising: exposure means (22, 23, 25, 26) for exposing the optical image incident upon said image sensing means (21) for enabling said image sensing means (21) to produce said electric signals; and, exposure control means (63, 76, 84, 86) for controlling said exposure means (22, 23, 25, 26), based on said luminousenergy determining signal obtained by said luminousenergy determining means (21, 61, 62, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 80, 81).

Claim 7

The camera apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: on-focusing detecting means (32) for detecting whether or not said optical image formed by said optical image forming means (1, 14, 15) is just focused on said image sensing means (21), based on said electric signals selected by said selecting means (4, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30); focusing control means (12) for controlling said optical image forming means (1, 14, 15) based on an on-­focusing detecting means obtained by said on-focus detecting means, so as to focus said optical image formed by said optical image forming means (1, 14, 15) just on said image sensing means (21); luminousenergy determining means (21, 61, 62, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 80, 81) for determining a level of a luminousenergy of said optical image formed by said optical image forming means (1, 14, 15), in response to said selected electric signals selected by said selecting means (4, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30); and, luminousenergy control means (63, 76, 84, 85, 86) for controlling the level of said luminousenergy of said optical image formed by said optical image forming means (1, 14, 15), in response to a luminousenergy determining signal obtained by said luminousenergy determining means (21, 61, 62, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 80, 81), so as to set a predetermined exposure condition.

Claim 8

The camera apparatus of claim 1, characterized by further comprising: viewfinder means (40, 41) for displaying a subject to be formed into said optical image by said optical image forming means (1, 14, 15) and for indicating a part of said subject to be formed into said optical image corresponding to said photoelectric converting area designated by said area designating means (36).

Claim 9

The camera apparatus of claim 7, characterized in that said viewfinder means (40, 41) includes display means (41) for indicating said part of said subject to be formed into said optical image corresponding to said photoelectric converting area designated by said area designating means (36).

Claim 10

The camera apparatus of claim 8, characterized in that said display means (41) includes a liquid-­crystal display device (41).

Claim 13

The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: detecting whether or not said optical image is just focused on said image sensing means, based on said selected second electric signals; and, controlling said optical image based on an on-­focusing detecting signal obtained by said detecting step, so as to focus said optical image just on said image sensing means.

Claim 14

The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: determining a level of a luminousenergy of said optical image, based on said selected second electric signals; and, controlling said optical image based on a luminousenergy level determining signal obtained by said determining step, so as to set a predetermined exposure condition.

Claim 15

The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: focus-detecting whether or not said optical image is just focused on said image sensing means, based on said selected second electric signal; controlling said optical image based on an on-­focusing detecting signal obtained by said focus-­detecting step, so as to focus said optical image just on said image sensing means; luminous-determining a level of a luminousenergy of said optical image, based on said selected second electric signals; and, controlling said optical image based on a luminousenergy detecting signal obtained by said luminous-detecting step, so as to set a predetermined exposure condition.