← Back to Patent Explorer
US4717819A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Focus detecting device

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1984-12-03
•
Granted: 1988-01-05
•
Expires: 2004-12-03
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A focus detecting device arranged to detect the focusing condition of an objective lens by projecting a light flux from a light source onto an object through the objective lens and by sensing the light flux after it is reflected from the object. The focus detecting device is provided with sensors which produce information necessary for detecting the focal point of the objective lens by sensing the light of the light source reflected by the object. Degradation of the device's detection accuracy due to the eccentrically mounted objective lens is prevented when these sensors are symmetrically arranged relative to a plane containing the optical axis of the objective lens.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kikuo Momiyama
  • 👤 Kazuo Fujibayashi
  • 👤 Keiji Ohtaka

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 16:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B3/00; G03B3/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 69 words
An optical device having an objective lens, comprising: light projecting means for projecting detection light on an object through the objective lens; and a plurality of light receiving means, for receiving light reflected by the object without passing through the objective lens, arranged substantially symmetrically relative to a plane including a predetermined optical axis of the objective lens, to generate a signal relative to the distance of the object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 69 words
An optical device having an objective lens, comprising: light projecting means for projecting detection light on an object through the objective lens; and a plurality of light receiving means, for receiving light reflected by the object without passing through the objective lens, arranged substantially symmetrically relative to a plane including a predetermined optical axis of the objective lens, to generate a signal relative to the distance of the object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said light receiving means has a lens and a sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
An optical device according to claim 2, wherein said sensor includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
An optical device according to claim 3, wherein said sensor produces a signal relative to difference of the signals of said plurality photoelectric conversion elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 42 words
An optical device according to claim 1, further comprising operation means for compensation of detection error due to displacement of an actual optical axis from the predetermined optical axis on the basis of the outputs of the plurality of light receiving elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 49 words
An optical device according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of light receiving elements are respectively, a sensor composed of two photoelectric conversion elements and generates a signal of difference in the signals of plural photoelectric conversion elements, said operation means performing addition of the outputs of the sensors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said light receiving elements are arranged symmetrically about the predetermined optical axis of the objective lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 105 words
A camera body attachable with an objective lens, comprising: light projecting means for projecting detection light on an object through the objective lens; a plurality of light receiving optical means, for receiving the detection light reflected by the object, arranged on a surface of a camera body; a photosensor for sensing the detection light passing through the light receiving optical means; and operation means for operating an adjustment amount for the objective lens for focusing on the basis of the output of the photosensor, said light receiving optical means being arranged substantially symmetrically on a plane including a predetermined optical axis of the objective lens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 105 words
A camera body attachable with an objective lens, comprising: light projecting means for projecting detection light on an object through the objective lens; a plurality of light receiving optical means, for receiving the detection light reflected by the object, arranged on a surface of a camera body; a photosensor for sensing the detection light passing through the light receiving optical means; and operation means for operating an adjustment amount for the objective lens for focusing on the basis of the output of the photosensor, said light receiving optical means being arranged substantially symmetrically on a plane including a predetermined optical axis of the objective lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
A camera body according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of light receiving optical means are arranged symmetrically about the predetermined optical axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
A camera body according to claim 8, wherein said photosensor has two light receiving elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 40 words
A camera body according to claim 8, wherein said operation means compensates detection error due to displacement of an actual optical axis of the objective lens from the predetermined optical axis on the basis of the output of the photosensors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 115 words
An optical device attachable with an objective lens, comprising: light projection means for projecting detection light on an object through the objective lens; a plurality of light receiving means for receiving the light reflected by the object without passing through the objective lens; said plurality of light receiving means being arranged substantially symmetrically relative to a plane including a predetermined optical axis of the objective lens; and operation means for compensating detection error due to displacement of an actual optical axis of the objective lens from the predetermined optical axis on the basis of an output from the plurality of light receiving means, and for operating an adjustment amount of the objective lens for focusing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 115 words
An optical device attachable with an objective lens, comprising: light projection means for projecting detection light on an object through the objective lens; a plurality of light receiving means for receiving the light reflected by the object without passing through the objective lens; said plurality of light receiving means being arranged substantially symmetrically relative to a plane including a predetermined optical axis of the objective lens; and operation means for compensating detection error due to displacement of an actual optical axis of the objective lens from the predetermined optical axis on the basis of an output from the plurality of light receiving means, and for operating an adjustment amount of the objective lens for focusing.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS5773709A Cited
US4563576A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-01-04 1991-07-06 1992-01-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-01-04 1995-07-06 1996-01-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-01-04 1999-07-06 2000-01-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag