Control device for use in a camera system

Claim 2

A control device for use in a camera system which comprises a release switch for generating a signal for starting an exposure control during operation of said release switch, means for executing a preparatory operation such as film winding for a subsequent photographing operation after finishing the exposure control, a timer for counting a predetermined time period from completion of the preparatory operation, means for stopping said timer when the operation of said release switch is canceled so that the signal for starting the exposure control is eliminated, during the counting of the predetermined time period by said timer, means for starting exposure control when said release switch is operated and the signal for starting exposure control is generated after the counting of the predetermined time period by said timer, means for detecting the focusing condition of a photographic lens, lens control means for moving the photographic lens on the basis of an output of said detecting means and inhibiting the movement of the photographic lens when the photographic lens is once placed at an in-focus position, and means for inhibiting the operation of the lens control means during the counting of the predetermined time period by said timer.

Claim 3

A control device for use in a camera system which comprises a first switch for generating a first operating signal with a shutter release button depressed to a first stage, a second switch for generating a second operating signal with the shutter release button depressed to a second stage beyond the first stage, means for detecting the focus condition of a photographic lens, lens movement means for moving the photographic lens to an in-focus position on the basis of the output of the detection means, means for starting an exposure control operation when the second operating signal is generated in the condition that the lens is placed at the in-focus position, means for executing a preparatory operation for the next photographing operation after finishing the exposure control operation, a timer for counting a predetermined time from the end of the preparatory operation, and control means for enabling the operation of the lens movement means when the first operating signal is generated while inhibiting the operation of the lens movement means once the lens is moved to the focus condition so that the inhibition is kept during the counting of the predetermined time period by the timer, and for enabling the operation of the lens movement means again when the counting by the timer is ended.

Claim 4

A control device for use in a camera system which comprises a first switch for generating a first operating signal with a shutter release button depressed to a first stage, a second switch for generating a second operating signal with the shutter release button depressed to a second stage beyond the first stage, means for detecting the focus condition of a photographic lens, lens movement means for moving the photographic lens to an in-focus position on the basis of the output of the detection means, means for starting an exposure control operation when the second operating signal is generated in the condition that the lens is placed at the in-focus position, means for executing a preparatory operation for the next photographing operation after finishing the exposure control operation, a timer for counting a predetermined time from the end of the preparatory operation, and control means for enabling the operation of the lens movement means when the first operating signal is generated while inhibiting the operation of the lens movement means once the lens is moved to the focus condition so that the inhibition is kept during the counting of the predetermined time period by the timer, and for enabling the operation of the lens movement means again when the counting by the timer is ended.

Claim 5

The control device according to claim 2, wherein said detection means includes a charge accumulation type image sensor, calculation means for calculating the focus condition on the basis of the outputs from the image sensor, and means for allowing charge accumulation in the image sensor during the counting of the predetermined period by the timer.