Output device for range information for use in an interchangeable lens

Claim 2

An output device for developing range information in an interchangeable lens, comprising: an interchangeable lens detachably mounted on a camera body and having an objective lens movable in two directions toward or away from said camera body and including a rotatable range ring for moving said objective lens; rotation detecting means for producing pulses corresponding to rotation of said range ring of the interchangeable lens; extreme position preset means for moving said range ring to an extreme position prior to calculation of range information; a first CPU disposed in the interchangeable lens and having data necessary for controlling the focussing of the individual lens of the interchangeable lens as part of a program, for calculating an absolute range value of the interchangeable lens at its focal point on the side of an object being photographed on the basis of the data and the pulses obtained from movement of the range ring from said extreme position; and means for outputting said absolute range value to said camera body.

Claim 3

An output device according to claim 1, in which said rotation detecting means comprises a comblike electrode of a comblike conductor pattern which is formed on the range ring along its rotational direction, a contact point which is slidably in abutment with said electrode and pulse generating means for producing pulses by turning on and off contact between said first electrode and said contact point in response to rotation of the range ring.

Claim 4

An output device according to claim 1, in which said CPU stores said pulses and clears the stored contents whenever the range ring reaches the extreme position.

Claim 5

An output device according to claim 1, in which said first CPU is connected to a second CPU disposed within the camera body through bus lines which are capable of selectively transmitting absolute range information to said second CPU which is disposed in the camera body.

Claim 6

An output device according to claim 1, in which said first CPU includes data tables for converting a count value obtained from said pulses to an absolute range value representative of a distance to an object on the basis of data stored in said data table.

Claim 7

An interchangeable lens detachably mountable to a camera body, the interchangeable lens comprising: focus movement detecting means for producing a series of pulses representative of the movement of a range ring of said interchangeable lens, said range ring movable in two directions; counter means for providing a pulse count value of said pulses by selectively adding and subtracting said pulses from said pulse count value based on the direction of movement of said range ring; detecting means for detecting the arrival of said range ring at an extreme position; reset means for resetting said counter means in response to an output produced by said detecting means; and calculation means for calculating an absolute range to an object on the basis of said pulse count value.

Claim 8

An interchangeable lens detachably mountable to a camera body, the interchangeable lens comprising: focus movement detecting means for producing a series of pulses representative of the movement of a range ring of said interchangeable lens, said range ring movable in two directions; counter means for providing a pulse count value of said pulses by selectively adding and subtracting said pulses from said pulse count value based on the direction of movement of said range ring; detecting means for detecting the arrival of said range ring at an extreme position; reset means for resetting said counter means in response to an output produced by said detecting means; and calculation means for calculating an absolute range to an object on the basis of said pulse count value.

Claim 9

An interchangeable lens according to claim 6, wherein said focus movement detecting means includes a comblike electrode provided on said range ring and a contact point disposed in sliding abutment to said electrode.

Claim 10

An interchangeable lens according to claim 6, wherein said calculation means includes data tables which provide data for converting said count value to an absolute range to an object.

Claim 11

A camera system, comprising: an interchangeable lens, a camera body, and bus lines; said interchangeable lens being detachably mounted to said camera body, said lens having a focus position and including focus position detecting means for producing a series of pulses corresponding to movement of said focus position of said interchangeable lens; detecting means for detecting the arrival of said focus position at an extreme position associated with said interchangeable at lens; and a first CPU for calculating an absolute range value from said pulses on the basis of using said extreme position as a reference; said camera body including: a drive motor for moving the focus position of said interchangeable lens; a second CPU for controlling said drive motor and at least one other camera element of said camera body; said bus lines interconnecting said first and second CPUs and being effective for permitting information and other signals to be transmitted between said first and second CPUs.

Claim 12

A camera system, comprising: an interchangeable lens, a camera body, and bus lines; said interchangeable lens being detachably mounted to said camera body, said lens having a focus position and including focus position detecting means for producing a series of pulses corresponding to movement of said focus position of said interchangeable lens; detecting means for detecting the arrival of said focus position at an extreme position associated with said interchangeable at lens; and a first CPU for calculating an absolute range value from said pulses on the basis of using said extreme position as a reference; said camera body including: a drive motor for moving the focus position of said interchangeable lens; a second CPU for controlling said drive motor and at least one other camera element of said camera body; said bus lines interconnecting said first and second CPUs and being effective for permitting information and other signals to be transmitted between said first and second CPUs.

Claim 13

A camera system according to claim 9, said interchangeable lens having a range ring and said focus position detector means being effective for detecting rotation of said range ring.

Claim 14

A camera system according to claim 9, wherein said bus lines include a clock line for delivering a clock signal, a REQ line for singalling whether a given system is transmitting or receiving data; an EN line for signalling whether a system is ready or is not ready to receive data; and a DB line for transferring said information serially over said DB line.

Claim 15

A camera system according to claim 9, further including a respective unique identification code respectively for each of said first and second CPUs.

Claim 16

An output device for outputting range information developed in an interchangeable lens, said output device comprising: an interchangeable lens detachably mountable to a camera body and having a lens which is movable toward or away from said camera body and including a range ring; rotation detection means for generating a series of pulses representive rotation of said range ring of said interchangeable lens; counting means for producing a count of said pulses by adding and subtracting said pulses independence on the direction of rotation of said range ring; initial position setting means for moving a focus position associated with said interchangeable lens to a predetermined position when a power source for said camera system is turned on; calculation means for calculating an absolute range to an object on the basis of said count value; and means for outputting said absolute range value to said camera body.

Claim 17

An output device for outputting range information developed in an interchangeable lens, said output device comprising: an interchangeable lens detachably mountable to a camera body and having a lens which is movable toward or away from said camera body and including a range ring; rotation detection means for generating a series of pulses representive rotation of said range ring of said interchangeable lens; counting means for producing a count of said pulses by adding and subtracting said pulses independence on the direction of rotation of said range ring; initial position setting means for moving a focus position associated with said interchangeable lens to a predetermined position when a power source for said camera system is turned on; calculation means for calculating an absolute range to an object on the basis of said count value; and means for outputting said absolute range value to said camera body.

Claim 18

An output device according to claim 13, further including reset means for resetting said counting means whenever said focus position is at said predetermined position.

Claim 19

An output device for outputting range information developed in an interchangeable lens, said output device located in said interchangeable lens and comprising: focus movement detecting means for producing a series of pulses representative of a focus position associated with said interchangeable lens; counter means for producing a count of the number of said pulses by adding or subtracting said pulses in dependence on a direction of focussing of said focus position; reset means for resetting said count of said counter means in response to the detection of the arrival of said focus position at a predetermined position; data tables for converting said count to an absolute range value; and reading out means for reading out said absolute range value from said data tables.

Claim 20

An output device for outputting range information developed in an interchangeable lens, said output device located in said interchangeable lens and comprising: focus movement detecting means for producing a series of pulses representative of a focus position associated with said interchangeable lens; counter means for producing a count of the number of said pulses by adding or subtracting said pulses in dependence on a direction of focussing of said focus position; reset means for resetting said count of said counter means in response to the detection of the arrival of said focus position at a predetermined position; data tables for converting said count to an absolute range value; and reading out means for reading out said absolute range value from said data tables.

Claim 21

An output device according to claim 15, comprising a plurality of data tables, each data table being respectively dedicated for a given type of an interchangeable lens.

Claim 22

An output device according to claim 15, comprising a plurality of data sections, each data table section corresponding to a given type of an interchangeable lens and means for selecting a given one of said data table sections based on the type of interchangeable lens mounted to said camera body.

Claim 25

A camera system, comprising: rotatable and manually operable operating members disposed on a camera accessory; pulse generating means for generating pulses in response to rotation of said operation members; rotation detection means for detecting rotation of said operating members on the basis of said pulses received from said pulse generating means; and a motor drive control circuit for focussing an interchangeable lens in response to an output of said detecting means.

Claim 26

A camera system, comprising: rotatable and manually operable operating members disposed on a camera accessory; pulse generating means for generating pulses in response to rotation of said operation members; rotation detection means for detecting rotation of said operating members on the basis of said pulses received from said pulse generating means; and a motor drive control circuit for focussing an interchangeable lens in response to an output of said detecting means.

Claim 27

A camera system, comprising: a first CPU for receiving a series of pulses produced in response to movement of a focus position of an interchangeable lens in first and second directions and calculating an absolute range value by respectively adding or subtracting the pulses to or from a count value on the basis of the direction of movement of said interchangeable lens; a second CPU for controlling camera elements in a camera body; a third CPU disposed within a camera accessory; and bus lines for interconnecting said first, second and third CPUs, said bus lines being effective for transmitting said absolute range value therethrough.

Claim 28

A camera system, comprising: a first CPU for receiving a series of pulses produced in response to movement of a focus position of an interchangeable lens in first and second directions and calculating an absolute range value by respectively adding or subtracting the pulses to or from a count value on the basis of the direction of movement of said interchangeable lens; a second CPU for controlling camera elements in a camera body; a third CPU disposed within a camera accessory; and bus lines for interconnecting said first, second and third CPUs, said bus lines being effective for transmitting said absolute range value therethrough.

Claim 29

A camera system, comprising: first CPU for receiving a series of pulses produced by the movement of a focus position of an interchangeable lens which is movable along two directions, said first CPU being further effective for calculating an absolute range by counting said pulses; a second CPU disposed in a camera body for controlling camera elements of said camera body; and a third CPU disposed in an electronic flash unit for transmitting information characteristic of said electronic flash unit, said information including information indicative of the state of said electronic flash unit and said information being transmitted to said second CPU; said second CPU being effective for determining exposure factors on the basis of said absolute range information delivered by said first CPU and said electronic flash information delivered from said third CPU.

Claim 30

A camera system, comprising: first CPU for receiving a series of pulses produced by the movement of a focus position of an interchangeable lens which is movable along two directions, said first CPU being further effective for calculating an absolute range by counting said pulses; a second CPU disposed in a camera body for controlling camera elements of said camera body; and a third CPU disposed in an electronic flash unit for transmitting information characteristic of said electronic flash unit, said information including information indicative of the state of said electronic flash unit and said information being transmitted to said second CPU; said second CPU being effective for determining exposure factors on the basis of said absolute range information delivered by said first CPU and said electronic flash information delivered from said third CPU.

Claim 31

A camera system, comprising: an interchangeable lens and an absolute range detecting means disposed within the interchangeable lens for producing a count value by counting electric pulses produced in response to movement of a focus position of the interchangeable lens with respect to a given position and means for generating an absolute range value from the count value; outputting means for outputting said absolute range value from said interchangeable lens; calculation and control means, located outside said interchangeable lens and coupled to said outputting means, for determining an exposure value; and evaluation means for evaluating the status of an electronic flash unit and delivering an electronic flash unit status signal to said calculation and control means, said calculation and control means being effective to determine an exposure value on the basis of said absolute range information and said electronic flash unit status signal.

Claim 32

A camera system, comprising: an interchangeable lens and an absolute range detecting means disposed within the interchangeable lens for producing a count value by counting electric pulses produced in response to movement of a focus position of the interchangeable lens with respect to a given position and means for generating an absolute range value from the count value; outputting means for outputting said absolute range value from said interchangeable lens; calculation and control means, located outside said interchangeable lens and coupled to said outputting means, for determining an exposure value; and evaluation means for evaluating the status of an electronic flash unit and delivering an electronic flash unit status signal to said calculation and control means, said calculation and control means being effective to determine an exposure value on the basis of said absolute range information and said electronic flash unit status signal.

Claim 33

An output device for developing and outputting range information, the output device comprising: an interchangeable lens barrel detachably mounted on a camera body and variable in focal length and including a rotatable ring; movement detection means for producing electric pulses corresponding to movement of a lens of said interchangeable lens barrel; extreme position preset means for moving said lens of said interchangeable lens barrel to an extreme position prior to calculation of range information; focal length detection means for detecting focal length information in which said interchangeable lens is set; a first CPU, disposed in said interchangeable lens barrel and having data effective for controlling for focusing of individual lens of said interchangeable lens under control of a program, for calculating an absolute range value of the interchangeable lens at its focal point on the side of an object being photographed on the basis of the data, the focal length information and the electric pulses obtained from movement of the lens from extreme position; and means for outputting said absolute range value to a camera body.

Claim 34

An output device for developing and outputting range information, the output device comprising: an interchangeable lens barrel detachably mounted on a camera body and variable in focal length and including a rotatable ring; movement detection means for producing electric pulses corresponding to movement of a lens of said interchangeable lens barrel; extreme position preset means for moving said lens of said interchangeable lens barrel to an extreme position prior to calculation of range information; focal length detection means for detecting focal length information in which said interchangeable lens is set; a first CPU, disposed in said interchangeable lens barrel and having data effective for controlling for focusing of individual lens of said interchangeable lens under control of a program, for calculating an absolute range value of the interchangeable lens at its focal point on the side of an object being photographed on the basis of the data, the focal length information and the electric pulses obtained from movement of the lens from extreme position; and means for outputting said absolute range value to a camera body.

Claim 35

An output device according to claim 23, in which said movement detection means comprises a comblike electrode of a comblike conductor pattern which is formed on the rotatable ring along its rotational direction, a contact point disposed in sliding abutment to said electrode and pulse generating means for producing pulses by turning on and off contact between said electrode and said contact point in response to rotation of the rotatable ring.

Claim 36

An output device according to claim 23, in which said first CPU stores said pulses and clears the stored contents whenever the lens reaches the extreme position.

Claim 37

An output device according to claim 23, in combination with a camera body including a second CPU, said first CPU being connected to said second CPU disposed within said camera body through bus lines which are capable of selectively transmitting absolute range information to said second CPU.

Claim 38

An output device according to claim 23, in which said first CPU includes data tables for converting a count value obtained from said pulses to an absolute range value representative of a distance to an object on the basis of data stored in said data tables.

Claim 39

An interchangeable lens barrel detachably mountable to a camera body and variable in focal length, the interchangeable lens comprising: a lens movable in two directions toward or away from the camera body; focus movement detection means for producing electric pulses corresponding to movement of said lens; counter means for counting said electric pulses by addition or subtraction according to a direction of movement of said lens; extreme position detection means for detecting that said lens has reached an extreme position; reset means for resetting said counter means on the basis of an output of said extreme position detection means; focal length detection means for detecting focal length setting information of said lens; and calculation means for calculating an absolute range on the basis of a count value of said counter means and said focal length setting information.

Claim 40

An interchangeable lens barrel detachably mountable to a camera body and variable in focal length, the interchangeable lens comprising: a lens movable in two directions toward or away from the camera body; focus movement detection means for producing electric pulses corresponding to movement of said lens; counter means for counting said electric pulses by addition or subtraction according to a direction of movement of said lens; extreme position detection means for detecting that said lens has reached an extreme position; reset means for resetting said counter means on the basis of an output of said extreme position detection means; focal length detection means for detecting focal length setting information of said lens; and calculation means for calculating an absolute range on the basis of a count value of said counter means and said focal length setting information.

Claim 41

An interchangeable lens according to claim 28, wherein said focus movement detection means includes a comblike electrode provided on said range ring and a contact point disposed in sliding abutment to said electrode.

Claim 42

An interchangeable lens according to claim 28, wherein said calculation means includes data tables containing data for converting said count value to an absolute range to an object.

Claim 43

An interchangeable lens barrel according to claim 28, further including means in the interchangeable lens for receiving a demand from a camera body to transmit absolute rang information, and transmitter means, in the interchangeable lens, for transmitting the absolute range information to the camera body responsive to said demand.

Claim 44

An interchangeable lens barrel according to claim 31, wherein said focus movement detection means includes a comblike electrode provided on said range ring and a contact point disposed in sliding abutment to said electrode.

Claim 45

An interchangeable lens barrel according to claim 31, wherein said calculation means includes data tables containing data for converting said count value to an absolute range to an object.

Claim 46

An output device for developing and outputting range information, the output device comprising: an interchangeable lens barrel detachably mounted on a camera body and variable in focal length and including a rotatable ring; movement detection means for producing electric pulses corresponding to movement of a lens of said interchangeable lens barrel; extreme position preset means for moving said lens of said interchangeable lens barrel to an extreme position prior to calculation of range information; focal length detection means for detecting focal length information in which said interchangeable lens is set; a first CPU disposed in said interchangeable lens barrel and having data effective for controlling the focusing of individual lens of said interchangeable lens under control of a program, for calculating an absolute range value of the interchangeable lens at its focal point on the side of an object being photographed on the basis of the data, the focal length information and the electric pulses obtained from movement of the lens from said extreme position; means for outputting said absolute range value to said camera body; and wherein said first CPU is responsive to a second CPU disposed within a camera body to deliver absolute range information in response to a demand from said second CPU.

Claim 47

An output device for developing and outputting range information, the output device comprising: an interchangeable lens barrel detachably mounted on a camera body and variable in focal length and including a rotatable ring; movement detection means for producing electric pulses corresponding to movement of a lens of said interchangeable lens barrel; extreme position preset means for moving said lens of said interchangeable lens barrel to an extreme position prior to calculation of range information; focal length detection means for detecting focal length information in which said interchangeable lens is set; a first CPU disposed in said interchangeable lens barrel and having data effective for controlling the focusing of individual lens of said interchangeable lens under control of a program, for calculating an absolute range value of the interchangeable lens at its focal point on the side of an object being photographed on the basis of the data, the focal length information and the electric pulses obtained from movement of the lens from said extreme position; means for outputting said absolute range value to said camera body; and wherein said first CPU is responsive to a second CPU disposed within a camera body to deliver absolute range information in response to a demand from said second CPU.

Claim 48

An output device according to claim 34, in which said movement detection means comprises a comblike electrode of a comblike conductor pattern which is formed on the rotatable ring along its rotational direction, a contact point disposed in sliding abutment to said electrode and pulse generating means for producing pulses by turning on and off contact between said electrode and said contact point in response to rotation of the rotatable ring.

Claim 49

An output device according to claim 34, in which said first CPU stores said pulses and clears the stored contents whenever the lens reaches the extreme position.

Claim 50

An output device according to claim 34, in combination with a camera body and a second CPU disposed in said camera body, said first CPU being connected to said second CPU through bus lines which are capable of selectively transmitting absolute range information to said second CPU.

Claim 51

An output device according to claim 34, in which said first CPU includes data tables for converting a count value obtained from said pulses to an absolute range value representative of a distance to an object on the basis of data stored in said data tables.

Claim 52

An output device for developing range information, comprising: a camera body; an interchangeable lens barrel detachably mounted to said camera body; focus point status detection means disposed within the camera body for detecting a focus point status of a lens of said interchangeable lens barrel; drive means for driving said lens in response to an output of said focus point status detection means; movement detection means for producing electric pulses corresponding to movement of said lens disposed within said interchangeable lens barrel; extreme position preset means for moving said lens of said interchangeable lens barrel prior to calculation of range information; and a first CPU disposed in the interchangeable lens barrel and having data necessary for controlling the focusing of individual lens under control of a program, for calculating an absolute range value of the interchangeable lens at its focal point on the side of an object being photographed on the basis of the data and the electric pulses obtained from movment of the lens from said extreme position.

Claim 53

An output device for developing range information, comprising: a camera body; an interchangeable lens barrel detachably mounted to said camera body; focus point status detection means disposed within the camera body for detecting a focus point status of a lens of said interchangeable lens barrel; drive means for driving said lens in response to an output of said focus point status detection means; movement detection means for producing electric pulses corresponding to movement of said lens disposed within said interchangeable lens barrel; extreme position preset means for moving said lens of said interchangeable lens barrel prior to calculation of range information; and a first CPU disposed in the interchangeable lens barrel and having data necessary for controlling the focusing of individual lens under control of a program, for calculating an absolute range value of the interchangeable lens at its focal point on the side of an object being photographed on the basis of the data and the electric pulses obtained from movment of the lens from said extreme position.

Claim 54

An output device according to claim 39, including variable focal length means for changing a focal length of the interchangeable lens; focal length detection means for detecting focal length information which is changed by said variable focal length means; and wherein said first CPU is effective for calculating said absolute range value also on the basis of said focal length information.

Claim 55

An output device according to claim 39, further including a bus line for connecting said first CPU to a second CPU disposed within said camera body; an absolute range information output demand being transmitted from said second CPU to the first CPU when the second CPU receives the demand from the first CPU.

Claim 56

An output device for developing range information, comprising: a camera body; an interchangeable lens barrel having a lens movable in two directions toward or away from said camera body; focus point status detection means disposed within said camera body for detecting a focus point status of the lens of said interchangeable lens barrel; drive means for driving said lens in response to an output of said focus point status detection means; focus movement detection means for producing electric pulses corresponding to movement of said lens; counter means for counting said electric pulses by addition or subtraction in response to a direction movement of said lens; extreme position detection means for detecting that said lens has reached an extreme position; reset means for resetting said counter means in response to an output of said extreme position detection means; calculation means for calculating an absolute range on the basis of a count value of said counter means; and said interchangeable lens barrel further includes terminal means for receiving a demand from the camera body to transmit to the camera body absolute range information and transmitter means in the interchangeable lens barrel for transmitting the absolute range information to the camera body in response to said demand.

Claim 57

An output device for developing range information, comprising: a camera body; an interchangeable lens barrel having a lens movable in two directions toward or away from said camera body; focus point status detection means disposed within said camera body for detecting a focus point status of the lens of said interchangeable lens barrel; drive means for driving said lens in response to an output of said focus point status detection means; focus movement detection means for producing electric pulses corresponding to movement of said lens; counter means for counting said electric pulses by addition or subtraction in response to a direction movement of said lens; extreme position detection means for detecting that said lens has reached an extreme position; reset means for resetting said counter means in response to an output of said extreme position detection means; calculation means for calculating an absolute range on the basis of a count value of said counter means; and said interchangeable lens barrel further includes terminal means for receiving a demand from the camera body to transmit to the camera body absolute range information and transmitter means in the interchangeable lens barrel for transmitting the absolute range information to the camera body in response to said demand.