Patent US2466957A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4637705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic focusing camera
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1985-02-15
•
Granted: 1987-01-20
•
Expires: 2005-02-15
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a camera having a plurality of range finder areas in the field of view upon distance measurement thereof to provide information for focusing adjustment of the photographic lens, wherein the number of the aforesaid rangefinder spots contributing to focal adjustment of the photographic lens is changed by automatically depending upon the object distance, whereby focusing is properly performed by taking into account the number of laterally spaced objects in a target area and the back- or fore-ground by a very simple operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Kawabata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/46; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/30; G02B7/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An automatic focusing camera comprising: (a) light projecting means for projecting a signal light toward an object to be photographed; (b) deflecting means for deflecting the projection of the signal light from said light projecting means to discrete directions successively; (c) photosensitive means for receiving the reflection of said signal light from the object, said photosensitive means including a plurality of photosensitive elements positioned to receive the reflections from target points existing only in respective certain prescribed directions; (d) focusing adjustment information forming means responsive to detection of an object distance information from the output states of said plurality of photosensitive elements related to the reflected position of the signal light by said deflecting means for forming a focusing adjustment information for a photographic lens; and (e) selecting means for selecting those of said plurality of photosensitive elements which contribute to a formation of the focusing adjustment information depending upon the deflected position of said deflecting means so that the size of a distance measurable area within a picture frame is varied as a function of the distance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
An automatic focusing camera comprising: (a) light projecting means for projecting a signal light toward an object to be photographed; (b) deflecting means for deflecting the projection of the signal light from said light projecting means to discrete directions successively; (c) photosensitive means for receiving the reflection of said signal light from the object, said photosensitive means including a plurality of photosensitive elements positioned to receive the reflections from target points existing only in respective certain prescribed directions; (d) focusing adjustment information forming means responsive to detection of an object distance information from the output states of said plurality of photosensitive elements related to the reflected position of the signal light by said deflecting means for forming a focusing adjustment information for a photographic lens; and (e) selecting means for selecting those of said plurality of photosensitive elements which contribute to a formation of the focusing adjustment information depending upon the deflected position of said deflecting means so that the size of a distance measurable area within a picture frame is varied as a function of the distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said deflecting means includes an optical system for light projection arranged to move in such a way as to deflect the projection of the signal light to discrete directions successively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said focusing adjustment information forming means includes an analog shift register into which the outputs of said plurality of photosensitive elements are put and serially shifted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A camera according to claim 3, wherein said focusing adjustment information forming means includes computing means for computing the object distance based on that position of said analog shift register which contains a signal of maximum value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said focusing adjustment information forming means includes subtracting means for computing the difference between the outputs of each of said photosensitive elements when said light projecting means does and does not project the signal light in any one of the deflected position of said deflecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said selecting means includes switching means for allowing the outputs of only prescribed ones of said plurality of photosensitive elements depending on the deflected position of the signal light by said defelecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A camera according to claim 3, wherein said selecting means includes switching means for applying the outputs of only the prescribed ones of said plurality of photosensitive elements which depend on the deflected position of the signal light by said deflecting means to said analog shift register.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said selecting means includes means for extending the distance measurable area within said picture frame in a particular distance range.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A camera according to claim 8, wherein said area extending means is arranged to operate when said particular distance range is an intermediate region of the entire distance range.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A distance measuring device for a camera, comprising: (a) signal projection means for projecting a distance measurement signal toward a first area and a second area in a picture scene; (b) signal receiving means for determining an object distance by receiving a reflected signal of the distance measurement signal projected from said signal projection means; and (c) restriction means for causing the signal receiving means to neglect the object distance if the object is not at a predetermined distance in connection with the second area within the picture scene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
A distance measuring device for a camera, comprising: (a) signal projection means for projecting a distance measurement signal toward a first area and a second area in a picture scene; (b) signal receiving means for determining an object distance by receiving a reflected signal of the distance measurement signal projected from said signal projection means; and (c) restriction means for causing the signal receiving means to neglect the object distance if the object is not at a predetermined distance in connection with the second area within the picture scene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein the signal receiving means includes a first signal receiving portion for receiving the reflected signal from the first area and a second signal receiving portion for receiving the reflected signal from the second area, and wherein the restriction means includes inhibition means for inhibiting the output of the second signal receiving portion if the second signal receiving portion receives the reflected signal from a distance other than the predetermined distance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 11, wherein the inhibition means includes a switch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein the restriction means sets the predetermined distance as an intermediate distance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein the intermediate distance is about 3 to 8 meters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein the signal receiving means includes discriminating means for outputting a predetermined object distance when the distance measurement is impossible.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein the signal projection means includes a signal generating portion and an optical system for projecting the signal output from the signal generating portion toward the first area and a second within the picture scene.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein the signal receiving means includes a signal receiving portion for receiving the reflected signal and a shift resistor for transmitting the output of the signal receiving portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein the signal projecting means includes an intermittent projection circuit for intermittently projecting the distance measurement signal, and the signal receiving means includes an exterior light removing circuit for removing an exterior light in synchronism with the intermittent projection.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein the signal projecting means includes illumination means for projecting the distance measurement signal as a signal light.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
86 words
A distance measuring device, comprising: (a) signal projection means for projecting a distance measurement signal toward a first area and a second area in a picture scene; (b) signal receiving means for determining an object distance by receiving a reflected signal of the distance measurement signal projected from said signal projection means; and (c) restriction means for causing the signal receiving means to neglect the object distance if the object is not at a predetermined distance in connection with the second area within the picture scene.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
A distance measuring device, comprising: (a) signal projection means for projecting a distance measurement signal toward a first area and a second area in a picture scene; (b) signal receiving means for determining an object distance by receiving a reflected signal of the distance measurement signal projected from said signal projection means; and (c) restriction means for causing the signal receiving means to neglect the object distance if the object is not at a predetermined distance in connection with the second area within the picture scene.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
72 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein the signal receiving means includes a first signal receiving portion for receiving the reflected signal from the first area, and a second signal receiving portion for receiving the reflected signal from the second area, and the restriction means includes inhibition means for inhibiting the output of the second signal receiving portion if the reflected signal is received from a distance other than the predetermined distance.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 21, wherein the restriction means includes a switch.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein the restriction means sets the predetermined distance as an intermediate distance.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 23, wherein the intermediate distance is about 3 to 8 meters.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein the signal receiving means includes a discriminating means for outputting a predetermined object distance if the distance measurement is impossible.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein the signal projection means includes a signal generating portion and an optical system for projecting a signal output from the signal generating portion toward the first and second areas in the picture scene.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein the signal receiving means includes a signal receiving portion for receiving the reflected signal and a shift resistor for transmitting the output of the signal receiving portion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein the signal projection means includes an intermittent projection circuit for intermittently projecting the distance measurement signal, and an external light removing circuit for removing an external light in synchronism with the intermittent projection.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein the signal projection means includes illumination means for projecting the distance measurement signal as a signal light.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-19 | 1990-07-21 | 1991-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-19 | 1994-07-21 | 1995-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-19 | 1998-07-21 | 1999-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |