Patent US4905032A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4905032A
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US
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Automatic focus detecting device
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-11-04
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Granted: 1990-02-27
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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 17:49
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.
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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 |