Apparatus for adjusting focus in the macro-photographing mode of an automatic focus camera

Claim 2

In an apparatus for adjusting the focus in a macro-photographing mode in an automatic focusing camera having a triangulation measuring principle type of object distance measuring optical system having an optical axis, including a light emitter which emits a measuring light and a light receiver which receives the measuring light reflected by an object to be photographed to output distance data, and a zoom photographing optical system which is moved to the focal point thereof in accordance with the distance data and which is, in the macro-photographing mode, at least partially moved by a predetermined displacement beyond an extreme focal point in a normal photographing mode, the improvement comprising: a mask which has an aperture having a center which is offset from said optical axis of said object distance measuring optical system, and means for deflecting measuring light which passes through said aperture of the mask toward said light receiver, said mask and said means for deflecting being retractably located in front of said light receiver in said macro-photographing mode.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light receiver comprises a light receiving lens.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said light emitter comprises a light projecting lens.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for deflecting comprises a deflecting prism.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said mask and said prism are retracted on the opposite side of said optical axis of said light receiving lens with respect to said light emitting lens.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said aperture of said mask is in the form of a slit which extends in a direction perpendicular to the base length between said light emitting lens and said light receiving lens.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said aperture of said mask is in the form of a pin-hole.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said prism and said mask are integral with each other.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said prism and said mask are interconnected by means of an adhesive applied therebetween.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said mask is located on the side of the prism far from said light receiving lens.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said mask is located on the side of the prism adjacent to said light receiving lens.

Claim 13

An object distance measuring optical system comprising: (a) an optical axis; (b) means for emitting measuring light; (c) means for receiving said measuring light reflected by an object; (d) a mask adapted to be located between said object and said means for receiving said measuring light; (e) an aperture located in said mask adapted to permit said measuring light to pass therethrough, said aperture having a center which is offset from said optical axis; and (f) means for deflecting said measuring light which passes through said aperture.

Claim 14

An object distance measuring optical system comprising: (a) an optical axis; (b) means for emitting measuring light; (c) means for receiving said measuring light reflected by an object; (d) a mask adapted to be located between said object and said means for receiving said measuring light; (e) an aperture located in said mask adapted to permit said measuring light to pass therethrough, said aperture having a center which is offset from said optical axis; and (f) means for deflecting said measuring light which passes through said aperture.

Claim 15

An object distance measuring optical system according to claim 12, wherein said means for receiving said measuring light comprises a measuring light receiving lens positioned along said optical axis.

Claim 16

An object distance measuring optical system according to claim 13, wherein said means for receiving said measuring light further comprises a light position detecting element for receiving said measuring light from said measuring light receiving lens.

Claim 17

An object distance measuring optical system according to claim 12, wherein said means for deflecting said measuring light comprises a prism having a single light reflecting surface.

Claim 18

A focus adjusting apparatus for a camera, said apparatus incorporating the object distance measuring optical system of claim 14, wherein said light position detecting element is adapted to generate an output signal for moving at least a portion of a photographic optical system of said camera.

Claim 19

A focus adjusting apparatus for a camera according to claim 16, further comprising a zoom photographing optical system comprising at least two lens groups, wherein said output signal is adapted to move at least one of said at least two lens groups.

Claim 20

A focus adjusting apparatus for a camera according to claim 17, wherein said zoom photographing optical system further comprises means to enable focusing in a macro-photographing mode.

Claim 21

A focus adjusting apparatus for a camera according to claim 18, wherein said mask and said means for deflecting said measuring light are retractable from a position adjacent said light receiving lens, which position they are in during said macro-photographing mode.

Claim 22

A focus adjusting apparatus for a camera according to claim 19, wherein said mask and said means for deflecting said measuring light are integral.

Claim 23

A focus adjusting apparatus for a camera according to claim 19, wherein said mask and said means for deflecting said measuring light are connected by an adhesive.

Claim 24

A focus adjusting apparatus for a camera according to claim 20, wherein said means for deflecting said measuring light comprises a prism having a surface through which said measuring light is received, and wherein said mask is located on said surface.

Claim 25

A focus adjusting apparatus for a camera according to claim 20, wherein said means for deflecting said measuring light comprises a prism having a surface through which said measuring light is emitted, and wherein said mask is located on said surface.

Claim 26

An object distance measuring optical system having an optical axis, said object distance measuring optical system comprising: a measuring light emitting means for emitting measuring light toward an object, the distance from which is to be measured; and a measuring light receiving lens positioned along said optical axis and which is adapted to receive only reflected measuring light from said object in which said reflected measuring light is not coaxial with said optical axis as said measuring light is received by said measuring light receiving lens.

Claim 27

An object distance measuring optical system having an optical axis, said object distance measuring optical system comprising: a measuring light emitting means for emitting measuring light toward an object, the distance from which is to be measured; and a measuring light receiving lens positioned along said optical axis and which is adapted to receive only reflected measuring light from said object in which said reflected measuring light is not coaxial with said optical axis as said measuring light is received by said measuring light receiving lens.

Claim 28

An object distance measuring optical system according to claim 24, further comprising a mask having an aperture therethrough, wherein said mask is adapted to be positioned adjacent said measuring light receiving lens so that said aperture is offset from said optical axis.

Claim 29

An object distance measuring optical system according to claim 25, further comprising measuring light deflecting means adapted to be positioned adjacent said measuring light receiving lens and said mask and between said measuring light receiving lens and said object.

Claim 30

A focus adjusting apparatus for a camera, said apparatus incorporating said object distance measuring optical system of claim 26, wherein said mask and said measuring light deflecting means are retractable from said position adjacent said measuring light receiving lens wherein said mask blocks measuring light from being received by said measuring light receiving lens along said optical axis, to a position wherein said mask blocks substantially no measuring light from being received by said measuring light receiving lens.

Claim 31

A focus adjusting apparatus for a camera according to claim 27, further comprising a photographing optical system which comprises at least one photographic lens, and wherein said measuring light receiving means further comprises a light position detecting element which is adapted to generate a signal for moving said at least one photographic lens to thereby focus said photographing optical system.

Claim 32

An automatic focus adjusting apparatus for a camera which comprises a zoom photographing optical system adapted for operation in a normal photographing mode and a close photographing mode, wherein at least a portion of said zoom photographing optical system is moved a predetermined amount for operation in said close photographing mode, said apparatus comprising: (a) a light source for emitting measuring light toward an object to be photographed; (b) a measuring light receiving lens positioned along an optical axis adapted to receive measuring light reflected from said object to be photographed; (c) a light position detection element adapted to receive measuring light from said measuring light receiving lens and to detect thereupon a deviation of said measuring light depending upon the distance between said object and a predetermined point on said camera; (d) a mask adapted to be moved to a position adjacent said measuring light receiving lens when said camera is set for operation in said close photographing mode and adapted to be retracted from said position when said camera is set for operation in said normal photographing mode, said mask comprising at least one aperture offset from said optical axis; and (e) a measuring light deflecting means adapted to be located adjacent said mask and said measuring light receiving lens; whereby said apparatus further comprises a predetermined number of feed movement measurement steps for focusing said camera in both said normal photographing mode and said close photographing mode between predetermined ranges of object distances, respectively, and wherein the deviation detected by said light position detection element at each of said steps when said camera is set at said normal photographing mode is substantially the same as the deviation detected by said light position detection element at each of said steps when said camera is set at said close photographing mode.

Claim 33

An automatic focus adjusting apparatus for a camera which comprises a zoom photographing optical system adapted for operation in a normal photographing mode and a close photographing mode, wherein at least a portion of said zoom photographing optical system is moved a predetermined amount for operation in said close photographing mode, said apparatus comprising: (a) a light source for emitting measuring light toward an object to be photographed; (b) a measuring light receiving lens positioned along an optical axis adapted to receive measuring light reflected from said object to be photographed; (c) a light position detection element adapted to receive measuring light from said measuring light receiving lens and to detect thereupon a deviation of said measuring light depending upon the distance between said object and a predetermined point on said camera; (d) a mask adapted to be moved to a position adjacent said measuring light receiving lens when said camera is set for operation in said close photographing mode and adapted to be retracted from said position when said camera is set for operation in said normal photographing mode, said mask comprising at least one aperture offset from said optical axis; and (e) a measuring light deflecting means adapted to be located adjacent said mask and said measuring light receiving lens; whereby said apparatus further comprises a predetermined number of feed movement measurement steps for focusing said camera in both said normal photographing mode and said close photographing mode between predetermined ranges of object distances, respectively, and wherein the deviation detected by said light position detection element at each of said steps when said camera is set at said normal photographing mode is substantially the same as the deviation detected by said light position detection element at each of said steps when said camera is set at said close photographing mode.

Claim 34

An object distance measuring optical system having an optical axis, said object distance measuring optical system comprising: a measuring light emitting means for emitting measuring light toward an object, the distance from which is to be measured; a measuring light receiving lens positioned along said optical axis at its center; and means for enabling said measuring light receiving lens to receive only reflected measuring light from said object in which said reflected measuring light does not pass through said center or said measuring light receiving lens.

Claim 35

An object distance measuring optical system having an optical axis, said object distance measuring optical system comprising: a measuring light emitting means for emitting measuring light toward an object, the distance from which is to be measured; a measuring light receiving lens positioned along said optical axis at its center; and means for enabling said measuring light receiving lens to receive only reflected measuring light from said object in which said reflected measuring light does not pass through said center or said measuring light receiving lens.

Claim 36

An object distance measuring optical system according to claim 30, wherein said means for enabling comprises a mask having an aperture therethrough, wherein said mask is positioned for movement to and from a position adjacent said measuring light receiving lens such that said aperture has a center which is offset from said optical axis.