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US4595271A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

In-focus state detection device

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1984-10-29
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Granted: 1986-06-17
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Expires: 2004-10-29
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Abstract

Abstract An in-focus state detection device having a light source for emitting a near-infrared light for detecting an in-focus state of an object lens by sensing the light of the light source reflected by an object by a sensor through the object lens is disclosed. The in-focus state of the object lens to a visible light is exactly detected by correcting a relation between the light of the light source transmitted through the object lens and the sensor in accordance with a change in chromatic aberration information of the object lens to the light of the light source.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shigeyuki Suda
  • 👤 Yukichi Niwa
  • 👤 Yasuo Ogino
  • 👤 Mitsutoshi Ohwada

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 16:12
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/34

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 141 words
An in-focus state detection device for detecting an in-focus state of an object lens, comprising: light generating means for generating a detection light; projection means for projecting said detection light on said object through a first aperture of said objective lens; sensing means having a first and a second area for producing a signal concerning the light intensity balance between said two areas, said signal indicating a focusing state of said objective lens; guiding means for guiding the detection light reflected from said object into said sensing means through second aperture of said objective lens different from said first aperture; and correction means for moving the boundary between said first and second areas in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said objective lens in accordance with a chromatic aberration information of said objective lens to correct the detection error.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 141 words
An in-focus state detection device for detecting an in-focus state of an object lens, comprising: light generating means for generating a detection light; projection means for projecting said detection light on said object through a first aperture of said objective lens; sensing means having a first and a second area for producing a signal concerning the light intensity balance between said two areas, said signal indicating a focusing state of said objective lens; guiding means for guiding the detection light reflected from said object into said sensing means through second aperture of said objective lens different from said first aperture; and correction means for moving the boundary between said first and second areas in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said objective lens in accordance with a chromatic aberration information of said objective lens to correct the detection error.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 1 wherein said correction means is disposed between the object lens and said sensing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 2 wherein said correction means includes a lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 2 wherein said correction means includes a prism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 2, wherein said correction means moves the sensing means thereby to move the boundary.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 93 words
An in-focus state detection device for detecting an in-focus state of an object lens, comprising: light emitting means; sensing means for producing a signal for detecting the in-focus state of the object lens by sensing the light emitted from said light emitting means and reflected by an object, through the object lens; said sensing means having a plurality of pixels; and correction means for correcting the output of said sensing means by selecting the pixels used for said sensing means in accordance with a change in a chromatic aberration of the object lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 93 words
An in-focus state detection device for detecting an in-focus state of an object lens, comprising: light emitting means; sensing means for producing a signal for detecting the in-focus state of the object lens by sensing the light emitted from said light emitting means and reflected by an object, through the object lens; said sensing means having a plurality of pixels; and correction means for correcting the output of said sensing means by selecting the pixels used for said sensing means in accordance with a change in a chromatic aberration of the object lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 6, wherein said sensing means serially produces pixel information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 56 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 7, wherein said correction means includes a first timer for generating a first signal a first time period after start of output by said sensing means and a second timer for generating a second signal a second time period after the start of output by said sensing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 31 words
in-focus state detection device according to claim 8, wherein said correction means validates the information outputted by said sensing means for a period from said first signal to said second signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 9, wherein said correction means includes a third timer for generating a third signal at a third time between said first time and said second time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 59 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 10 said correction means includes operating means for calculating a difference between a summation of the pixel information outputted by said sensing means between said first signal and said second signal and a summation of the pixel information outputted by said sensing means between said second signal and said third signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 33 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 11, wherein the period between said first signal and said second signal and the period between said second signal and said third signal are equal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 59 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 12, wherein said operating means includes first and second amplifiers for amplifying the pixel information from said sensing means in opposite polarities to each other, an integrator and a switch for switching the connection of said integrator from said first amplifier to said second amplifier in response to said third signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 21 words
in-focus state detection device according to claim 13 wherein integration by said integrator is controlled by said first and second signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 31 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 14, wherein said integrator starts the integration in response to said first signal and stops the integration in response to said second signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 32 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 15, wherein said first and second times change the output timings in accordance with the change in the chromatic aberration of the object lens.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 97 words
An in-focus state detection device for detecting an in-focus state of an object lens, comprising: light emitting means; sensing means for producing a signal for detecting the in-focus state of the object lens by sensing the light emitted by said light emitting means and reflected by an object, through the object lens; and correction means for moving said sensing means along a photosensing plane in accordance with a change in a chromatic aberration of the object lens to correct a relation between the light impinged to said sensing means and a photosensing plane of said sensing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 97 words
An in-focus state detection device for detecting an in-focus state of an object lens, comprising: light emitting means; sensing means for producing a signal for detecting the in-focus state of the object lens by sensing the light emitted by said light emitting means and reflected by an object, through the object lens; and correction means for moving said sensing means along a photosensing plane in accordance with a change in a chromatic aberration of the object lens to correct a relation between the light impinged to said sensing means and a photosensing plane of said sensing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 46 words
An in-focus state detection device according to claim 17, wherein said sensing means has a plurality of photosensing areas and said correction means moves said sensing means such that the light in the in-focus state impinges to a vicinity of a boundary of the photosensing areas.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE2420731A1 Cited
US4357085A Cited
JPS5722210A Cited
JPS5758110A Cited
US4483602A Cited
US4473287A Cited
US4504135A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-06-16 1989-12-16 1990-06-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-06-16 1993-12-16 1994-06-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-06-16 1997-12-16 1998-06-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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