US4905032A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic focus detecting device
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1988-11-04
•
Granted: 1990-02-27
•
Expires: 2008-11-04
Abstract
Abstract An automatic focusing condition detecting device comprising an objective lens; a light receiving unit having a plurality of receiving portions, each receiving portion being adapted to receive through the objective lens light from one of a plurality of focusing areas, respectively; a focus detecting unit for detecting based on the output of each receiving portion a focusing condition of the objective lens in the respective focusing area; a unit for judging based on the output of each receiving portion whether or not it is possible for the focus detecting unit to detect a focusing condition of the objective lens in the respective focusing area; a unit for driving the objective lens; and a unit for controlling the driving unit to drive the objective lens when the judging unit judges that it is possible for the focus detecting unit to detect a focusing condition in at least one but not whole of the focusing areas, for the purpose of investigation whether or not there is another focusing area where the focus detecting unit can detect a focusing condition.
Inventors
- 👤 Tokuji Ishida
- 👤 Toshio Norita
- 👤 Masataka Hamada
- 👤 Hiroshi Ootsuka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:57
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/34; G02B7/346
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device comprising: an objective lens; a light receiving means having a plurality of receiving portions, each receiving portion being adapted to receive through said objective lens light from one of a plurality of focusing areas, respectively; a focus detecting means for detecting based on the output of each receiving portion a focusing condition of said objective lens in the respective focusing area; means for judging based on the output of each receiving portion whether or not it is possible for said focus detecting means to detect a focusing condition of said objective lens in the respective focusing area; means for driving said objective lens; and means for controlling said driving means to drive said objective lens when said judging means judges that it is possible for said focus detecting means to detect a focusing condition in at least one but not whole of the focusing areas, for the purpose of investigation whether or not there is another focusing area where said focus detecting means can detect a focusing condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device comprising: an objective lens; a light receiving means having a plurality of receiving portions, each receiving portion being adapted to receive through said objective lens light from one of a plurality of focusing areas, respectively; a focus detecting means for detecting based on the output of each receiving portion a focusing condition of said objective lens in the respective focusing area; means for judging based on the output of each receiving portion whether or not it is possible for said focus detecting means to detect a focusing condition of said objective lens in the respective focusing area; means for driving said objective lens; and means for controlling said driving means to drive said objective lens when said judging means judges that it is possible for said focus detecting means to detect a focusing condition in at least one but not whole of the focusing areas, for the purpose of investigation whether or not there is another focusing area where said focus detecting means can detect a focusing condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting means as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: means for calculating based on the output of said focus detecting means a defocus amount; and means for controlling based on the defocus amount said driving means to drive said objective lens in order to focus said objective lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controlling means controls said driving means to stop said objective lens when said objective lens arrives at a predetermined position different from the ends of the lens driving range without said focus detecting means detecting an infocus condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controlling means controls said driving means to reverse said objective lens when said objective lens arrives at a predetermined position different from the ends of the lens driving range without said focus detecting means detecting an infocus condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: means for calculating based on the output of said focus detecting means a defocus amount when said judging means judges that it is possible for said focus detecting means to detect the focusing condition in a focusing area where it was impossible for said focus detecting means to detect the focusing condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said controlling means controls said driving means to stop said objective lens when said objective lens arrives at a predetermined position different from the ends of the lens driving range without said focus detecting means detecting an infocus condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
175 words
An automatic focus condition detecting device comprising: an objective lens; a light receiving means having a plurality of receiving portions, each receiving portion being adapted to receive through said objective lens light from one of a plurality of focusing areas, respectively; a focus detecting means for detecting based on the output of each receiving portion a focusing condition of said objective lens respective focusing area; means for judging based on the output of the receiving portion corresponding to a predetermined focusing area whether or not it is possible for said focus detecting means to detect the focusing condition of said objective lens in the predetermined focusing area; means for driving said objective lens; and means for controlling said driving means to drive said objective lens when said judging means judges that it is impossible for said focus detecting means to detect the focusing condition of said objective lens in the predetermined focusing area, for the purpose of investigation whether or not said focus detecting means can detect a focusing condition in the predetermined focusing area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
175 words
An automatic focus condition detecting device comprising: an objective lens; a light receiving means having a plurality of receiving portions, each receiving portion being adapted to receive through said objective lens light from one of a plurality of focusing areas, respectively; a focus detecting means for detecting based on the output of each receiving portion a focusing condition of said objective lens respective focusing area; means for judging based on the output of the receiving portion corresponding to a predetermined focusing area whether or not it is possible for said focus detecting means to detect the focusing condition of said objective lens in the predetermined focusing area; means for driving said objective lens; and means for controlling said driving means to drive said objective lens when said judging means judges that it is impossible for said focus detecting means to detect the focusing condition of said objective lens in the predetermined focusing area, for the purpose of investigation whether or not said focus detecting means can detect a focusing condition in the predetermined focusing area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: means for calculating based on the output of said detecting means a defocus amount; and means for controlling based on the defocus amount said driving means to drive said objective lens in order to focus said objective lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the predetermined focusing area is centered in the photographing frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the predetermined focusing area centers the focusing areas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: means for calculating based on the output of said focus detecting means a defocus amount when said judging means judges that it is possible for said focus detecting means to detect the focusing condition in the predetermined focusing area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device comprising: an objective lens; a light receiving means having a plurality of receiving portions, each receiving portion being adapted to receive through said objective lens light from one of a plurality of focusing areas, respectively; a focus detecting means for detecting based on the output of each receiving portion a focus condition of said objective lens in the respective focusing area; means for driving said objective lens; means for selecting one of a first mode and a second mode; and means for controlling said driving means to drive said objective lens for the purpose of investigation whether or not there is a focusing area where said focus detecting means can detect a focusing condition, said controlling means controlling said driving means to drive said lens within a predetermined part of the lens driving range in the first mode and within the full of the lens driving range in the second mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
157 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device comprising: an objective lens; a light receiving means having a plurality of receiving portions, each receiving portion being adapted to receive through said objective lens light from one of a plurality of focusing areas, respectively; a focus detecting means for detecting based on the output of each receiving portion a focus condition of said objective lens in the respective focusing area; means for driving said objective lens; means for selecting one of a first mode and a second mode; and means for controlling said driving means to drive said objective lens for the purpose of investigation whether or not there is a focusing area where said focus detecting means can detect a focusing condition, said controlling means controlling said driving means to drive said lens within a predetermined part of the lens driving range in the first mode and within the full of the lens driving range in the second mode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: means for calculating based on the output of said focus detecting means a defocus amount; and means for controlling based on the defocus amount said driving means to drive said objective lens in order to focus said objective lens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An automatic focusing condition detecting device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said selecting means selects one of the first and second modes based on the output of said focus detecting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
An automatic focus condition detecting device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said selecting means selects the first mode when it is impossible for said focus detecting means to detect a focusing condition in at least one but not whole of the focusing areas, and selects the second mode when it is impossible for said focus detecting means to detect a focusing condition in any focusing area.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US32376A
Cited
US4083056A
Cited
US4203031A
Cited
US4284335A
Cited
US4373791A
Cited
US4341953A
Cited
USRE32376E
Cited
US4416523A
Cited
US4415246A
Cited
JPS5849844A
Cited
US4681419A
Cited
US4659917A
Cited
JPS58224318A
Cited
US4589031A
Cited
US4423936A
Cited
JPS5930510A
Cited
US4560863A
Cited
JPS5948719A
Cited
US4563576A
Cited
JPS5967505A
Cited
JPS59107311A
Cited
JPS59123822A
Cited
US4636624A
Cited
JPS59129810A
Cited
US4550993A
Cited
JPS59146032A
Cited
US4575211A
Cited
US4614418A
Cited
US4687917A
Cited
JPS60101514A
Cited
JPS60120675A
Cited
JPS60144711A
Cited
US4664495A
Cited
US4650309A
Cited
US4772912A
Cited
JPS60256112A
Cited
US4614975A
Cited
JPS62138808A
Cited
US4716434A
Cited
JPS62166309A
Cited
JPS62173413A
Cited
JPS62178415A
Cited
JPS62204247A
Cited
US4768052A
Cited
US4792821A
Cited
US4792819A
Cited
JPH06310135A
Cited
JPH0614211A
Cited
JPH0637509A
Cited
JPH06129813A
Cited
JPH06155618A
Cited
JPH06170407A
Cited
JPH06214015A
Cited
JPH06267971A
Cited
JPH06310136A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-26 | 1993-08-28 | 1994-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-26 | 1997-08-28 | 1998-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-26 | 2001-08-28 | 2002-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |