Image pick-up device

Claim 2

An image pick-up device comprising: (A) focus adjustable image forming lens means for forming an image of an object; (B) image pick-up means arranged to receive the object image formed by said lens means and to produce an electrical signal indicative of the picked up image; (C) image signal handling means receptive of the signal produced by said pick-up means; (D) focus detecting means receptive of the signal produced by said pick-up means and detecting the focusing condition of said lens means on the basis of the received signal; and (E) control means for alternatively enabling said focus detecting means and said signal handling means; and wherein said focus detecting means produces a characteristic indication upon detecting an in-focus state of said lens means relative to the object, and wherein said control means enables said signal handling means, while disabling said focus detecting means, on the basis of said characteristic indication.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes a memory circuit for memorizing the in-focus state of the lens means in response to said characteristic indication.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1, further comprising: focus indicating means coupled to said focus detecting means for indicating the focusing condition of the lens means on the basis of the focus detection result of the detecting means.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1, wherein said signal handling means includes video output means for putting out a video signal.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 1, wherein said signal handling means includes video recording means for recording a video signal.

Claim 7

An image pick-up device comprising: (A) focus adjustable image forming lens means for forming an image of an object; (B) image pick-up means arranged to receive the object image formed by said lens means and to produce an electrical signal indicative of the picked up image; (C) image signal handling means receptive of the signal produced by said pick-up means; (D) focus detecting means receptive of the signal produced by said pick-up means and detecting the focusing condition of said lens means on the basis of the received signal; and (E) focus adjusting means responsive to the detection output of said focus detecting means for adjusting the focus of said lens means; and (F) control means for alternatively enabling said focus detecting means and said signal handling means; and wherein said focus detecting means produces a characteristic indication upon detecting an in-focus state of said lens means relative to the object, and wherein said control means enables said signal handling means, while disabling said focus adjusting means, on the basis of said characteristic indication.

Claim 8

An image pick-up device comprising: (A) focus adjustable image forming lens means for forming an image of an object; (B) image pick-up means arranged to receive the object image formed by said lens means and to produce an electrical signal indicative of the picked up image; (C) image signal handling means receptive of the signal produced by said pick-up means; (D) focus detecting means receptive of the signal produced by said pick-up means and detecting the focusing condition of said lens means on the basis of the received signal; and (E) focus adjusting means responsive to the detection output of said focus detecting means for adjusting the focus of said lens means; and (F) control means for alternatively enabling said focus detecting means and said signal handling means; and wherein said focus detecting means produces a characteristic indication upon detecting an in-focus state of said lens means relative to the object, and wherein said control means enables said signal handling means, while disabling said focus adjusting means, on the basis of said characteristic indication.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 6, wherein said control means includes a memory circuit for memorizing the in-focus state of the lens means in response to said characteristic indication.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 6, further comprising: focus indicating means coupled to said focus detecting means for indicating the focusing condition of the lens means on the basis of the focus detection output of the detecting means.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 6, wherein said signal handling means includes video output means for putting out a video signal.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 6, wherein said signal handling means includes video recording means for recording a video signal.

Claim 13

A camera comprising: (A) focus adjustable image forming lens means for forming an image of an object; (B) image pick-up means arranged to receive the object image formed by said lens means and to produce an electrical signal indicative of the picked up image; (C) image signal handling means receptive of the signal produced by said pick-up means; (D) radiation projecting means for projecting a beam of radiation toward the object so that the radiation reflected by the object impinges upon said pick-up means through said lens means; (E) focus detecting means for detecting the focusing condition of said lens means relative to the object on the basis of the signal obtained from a portion of said pick-up means, which portion is adapted for receiving said reflected radiation; and (F) control means for alternatively enabling said focus detecting means and said signal handling means; and wherein said focus detecting means produces a characteristic indication upon detecting an in-focus state of said lens means relative to the object, and wherein said control means enables said signal handling means, while disabling said focus detecting means, on the basis of said characteristic indication.

Claim 14

A camera comprising: (A) focus adjustable image forming lens means for forming an image of an object; (B) image pick-up means arranged to receive the object image formed by said lens means and to produce an electrical signal indicative of the picked up image; (C) image signal handling means receptive of the signal produced by said pick-up means; (D) radiation projecting means for projecting a beam of radiation toward the object so that the radiation reflected by the object impinges upon said pick-up means through said lens means; (E) focus detecting means for detecting the focusing condition of said lens means relative to the object on the basis of the signal obtained from a portion of said pick-up means, which portion is adapted for receiving said reflected radiation; and (F) control means for alternatively enabling said focus detecting means and said signal handling means; and wherein said focus detecting means produces a characteristic indication upon detecting an in-focus state of said lens means relative to the object, and wherein said control means enables said signal handling means, while disabling said focus detecting means, on the basis of said characteristic indication.

Claim 15

A camera according to claim 11, wherein said control means is arranged to disable said projecting means at least when enabling said signal handling means.

Claim 16

A camera according to claim 11, wherein said control means includes a memory circuit for memorizing the in-focus state of the lens means in response to said characteristic indication.

Claim 17

A camera according to claim 11, wherein said signal handling means includes video output means for putting out a video signal.

Claim 18

A camera according to claim 11, wherein said signal handling means includes video recording means for recording a video signal.

Claim 19

A camera according to claim 11, further comprising: display means for displaying the image picked up by said pick-up means on the basis of the signal produced by the pick-up means.

Claim 20

A camera comprising: (A) focus adjustable image forming lens means for forming an image of an object; (B) image pick-up means arranged to receive the object image formed by said lens means and to produce an electrical signal indicative of the picked up image; (C) image signal handling means receptive of the signal produced by said pick-up means; (D) radiation projecting means for projecting a beam of radiation toward the object so that the radiation reflected by the object impinges upon said pick-up means through said lens means; (E) focus detecting means for detecting the focusing condition of said lens means relative to the object on the basis of the signal obtained from a portion of said pick-up means, which portion is adapted for receiving said reflected radiation, said detecting means producing a detection output indicative of the focusing condition of the lens means; (F) focus adjusting means responsive to the detection output of said focus detecting means for adjusting the focus of said lens means; and (G) control means for alternatively enabling said focus adjusting means and said signal handling means; and wherein said focus detecting means produces a characteristic indication upon detecting an in-focus state of said lens means relative to the object, and wherein said control means enables said signal handling means, while disabling said focus adjusting means, on the basis of said characteristic indication.

Claim 21

A camera comprising: (A) focus adjustable image forming lens means for forming an image of an object; (B) image pick-up means arranged to receive the object image formed by said lens means and to produce an electrical signal indicative of the picked up image; (C) image signal handling means receptive of the signal produced by said pick-up means; (D) radiation projecting means for projecting a beam of radiation toward the object so that the radiation reflected by the object impinges upon said pick-up means through said lens means; (E) focus detecting means for detecting the focusing condition of said lens means relative to the object on the basis of the signal obtained from a portion of said pick-up means, which portion is adapted for receiving said reflected radiation, said detecting means producing a detection output indicative of the focusing condition of the lens means; (F) focus adjusting means responsive to the detection output of said focus detecting means for adjusting the focus of said lens means; and (G) control means for alternatively enabling said focus adjusting means and said signal handling means; and wherein said focus detecting means produces a characteristic indication upon detecting an in-focus state of said lens means relative to the object, and wherein said control means enables said signal handling means, while disabling said focus adjusting means, on the basis of said characteristic indication.

Claim 22

A camera according to claim 17, wherein said control means is arranged to disable said projecting means at least when enabling said signal handling means.

Claim 23

A camera according to claim 17, wherein said control means includes a memory circuit for memorizing the in-focus state of the lens means in response to said characteristic indication.

Claim 24

A camera according to claim 17, wherein said signal handling means includes video output means for putting out a video signal.

Claim 25

A camera according to claim 17, wherein said signal handling means includes video recording means for recording a video signal.

Claim 26

A camera according to claim 17, further comprising: display means for displaying the image picked up by said pick-up means on the basis of the signal produced by the pick-up means.