Distance measuring system

Claim 2

A distance measuring system comprising: (a) light emitting means for emitting light to illuminate an object; (b) light measuring means for measuring light reflected from the object; (c) means for broadening a distance measuring zone when the brightness on the object is lower from a distance measuring zone when the brightness is high; and (d) electrical output means for producing the output signal of said light measuring means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object.

Claim 3

A distance measuring system according to claim 1, wherein said light measuring means includes two light measuring elements, one element having a first distance measuring zone, and the other element having a second distance measuring zone broader than the first distance measuring zone.

Claim 4

A distance measuring system comprising: (a) light measuring means for measuring light from an object and for producing an output signal corresponding to the light; (b) means for widening a distance measuring zone of the light measuring means when the object is difficult to observe as compared to that when the object is easy to observe; and (c) output means for producing the output signal of said light measuring means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object; (d) said light measuring means including two light measuring elements, one element having a first distance measuring zone, the other element having a second distance measuring zone broader than the first distance measuring zone; (e) said widening means includes: (e1) a collection lens; (e2) a half mirror positioned between one of said light measuring elements and the other to transmit the light coming from the object through said collection lens to said light measurement elements; and (e3) selecting means for selectively supplying the outputs of said light measurement elements to said output means.

Claim 5

A distance measuring system comprising: (a) light measuring means for measuring light from an object and for producing an output signal corresponding to the light; (b) means for widening a distance measuring zone of the light measuring means when the object is difficult to observe as compared to that when the object is easy to observe; and (c) output means for producing the output signal of said light measuring means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object; (d) said light measuring means including two light measuring elements, one element having a first distance measuring zone, the other element having a second distance measuring zone broader than the first distance measuring zone; (e) said widening means includes: (e1) a collection lens; (e2) a half mirror positioned between one of said light measuring elements and the other to transmit the light coming from the object through said collection lens to said light measurement elements; and (e3) selecting means for selectively supplying the outputs of said light measurement elements to said output means.

Claim 6

A distance measuring system comprising: (a) light measuring means for measuring light from an object; (b) means for broadening a distance measuring zone when the brightness on the object is lower from a distance measuring zone when the brightness is high; and (c) output means for producing the output signal of said light measuring means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object; (d) said light measuring means includes two light measuring elements, one element having a first distance measuring zone, and the other element having a second distance measuring zone broader than the first distance measuring zone range; (e) said broadening means including; (e1) a collection lens; (e2) a half mirror positioned between one of said light measuring elements and the other to transmit the light coming from the object through said collection lens to said light measurement elements; and (e3) selecting means for selectively supplying the outputs of said light measurement elements to said output means.

Claim 7

A distance measuring system comprising: (a) light measuring means for measuring light from an object; (b) means for broadening a distance measuring zone when the brightness on the object is lower from a distance measuring zone when the brightness is high; and (c) output means for producing the output signal of said light measuring means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object; (d) said light measuring means includes two light measuring elements, one element having a first distance measuring zone, and the other element having a second distance measuring zone broader than the first distance measuring zone range; (e) said broadening means including; (e1) a collection lens; (e2) a half mirror positioned between one of said light measuring elements and the other to transmit the light coming from the object through said collection lens to said light measurement elements; and (e3) selecting means for selectively supplying the outputs of said light measurement elements to said output means.

Claim 8

A distance measuring system for a camera comprising: (a) light measuring means for measuring light from an object, (b) means for broadening a distance measuring zone when in the self-timer exposure mode from that when in the normal exposure mode; (c) output means for producing the output signal of said light measurement means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object; and (d) said light measuring means including two light measuring elements, one element having a first distance measuring zone, and the other element having a second distance measuring zone broader than the first distance measuring zone; (e) said broadening means including: (e1) a collection lens; (e2) a half mirror positioned between one of said light measuring elements and the other to transmit the light coming from the object through said collection lens to said light measuring elements; and (e3) selecting means for selectively supplying the outputs of said light measurement elements to said output means.

Claim 9

A distance measuring system for a camera comprising: (a) light measuring means for measuring light from an object, (b) means for broadening a distance measuring zone when in the self-timer exposure mode from that when in the normal exposure mode; (c) output means for producing the output signal of said light measurement means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object; and (d) said light measuring means including two light measuring elements, one element having a first distance measuring zone, and the other element having a second distance measuring zone broader than the first distance measuring zone; (e) said broadening means including: (e1) a collection lens; (e2) a half mirror positioned between one of said light measuring elements and the other to transmit the light coming from the object through said collection lens to said light measuring elements; and (e3) selecting means for selectively supplying the outputs of said light measurement elements to said output means.

Claim 10

A distance measuring system comprising: (a) light measuring means for measuring light from an object whose distance is to be measured and for producing an output signal corresponding to the light; (b) means for widening a scanning range of the distance measuring system when the object is difficult to observe from that when the object is easy to observe; (c) output means for producing the output signal of said light measuring means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object; and (d) said light measuring means including two light measuring elements, one element having a first light measurement range the other element having a second light measurement range broader than the first light measurement range; (e) said widening means includes: (e1) a collection lens; (e2) a half mirror positioned between one of said light measuring elements and the other to transmit the light coming from the object through said collection lens to said light measurement element; and (e3) selecting means for selectively supplying the outputs of said light measurement elements to said output means.

Claim 11

A distance measuring system comprising: (a) light measuring means for measuring light from an object whose distance is to be measured and for producing an output signal corresponding to the light; (b) means for widening a scanning range of the distance measuring system when the object is difficult to observe from that when the object is easy to observe; (c) output means for producing the output signal of said light measuring means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object; and (d) said light measuring means including two light measuring elements, one element having a first light measurement range the other element having a second light measurement range broader than the first light measurement range; (e) said widening means includes: (e1) a collection lens; (e2) a half mirror positioned between one of said light measuring elements and the other to transmit the light coming from the object through said collection lens to said light measurement element; and (e3) selecting means for selectively supplying the outputs of said light measurement elements to said output means.

Claim 12

A distance measuring system comprising: (a) light emitting means for emitting light to illuminate an object; (b) light measuring means for measuring light reflected from the object whose distance is to be measured; (c) means for broadening a scanning range when the brightness on the object is low from a scanning range when the brightness is high; and (d) output means for producing the output signal of said light measuring means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object; (e) said light measuring means including two light measuring elements, one element having a first light measurement range, and the other element having a second light measurement range broader than the first light measurement range.

Claim 13

A distance measuring system comprising: (a) light emitting means for emitting light to illuminate an object; (b) light measuring means for measuring light reflected from the object whose distance is to be measured; (c) means for broadening a scanning range when the brightness on the object is low from a scanning range when the brightness is high; and (d) output means for producing the output signal of said light measuring means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object; (e) said light measuring means including two light measuring elements, one element having a first light measurement range, and the other element having a second light measurement range broader than the first light measurement range.

Claim 14

A distance measuring system according to claim 7, wherein said broadening means includes: (a) a collection lens; (b) a half mirror positioned between one of said light measuring elements and the other to transmit the light coming from the object through said collection lens to said light measurement elements; and (c) selection means for selectively supplying the outputs of said light measurement elements to said output means.

Claim 15

A distance measuring system for a camera comprising: (a) light measuring means for measuring light from an object whose distance is to be measured; (b) means for broadening a scanning range when in the self-timer exposure mode from that when in the normal exposure mode; and (c) output means for producing the output signal of said light measurement means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object; (d) said light measuring means including two light measuring elements, one element having a first light (e) said broadening means includes: (e1) a collection lens; (e2) a half mirror positioned between one of said light measuring elements and the other to transmit the light coming from the object through said collection lens to said light measurement elements; and (e3) selecting means for selectively supplying the outputs of said light measurement elements to said output means.

Claim 16

A distance measuring system for a camera comprising: (a) light measuring means for measuring light from an object whose distance is to be measured; (b) means for broadening a scanning range when in the self-timer exposure mode from that when in the normal exposure mode; and (c) output means for producing the output signal of said light measurement means in the form of a signal representing a distance to the object; (d) said light measuring means including two light measuring elements, one element having a first light (e) said broadening means includes: (e1) a collection lens; (e2) a half mirror positioned between one of said light measuring elements and the other to transmit the light coming from the object through said collection lens to said light measurement elements; and (e3) selecting means for selectively supplying the outputs of said light measurement elements to said output means.