US4943824A — Device for measuring object distance used for cam…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 126 words

In a device for measuring object distance or in-focus position used for a camera in which object distances or focus adjustment states are measured in a plurality of distance measuring areas in the photographing scene, said device comprising: calculating means having a plurality of weight data predetermined in correspondence with the position of each distance measuring area in the photographing scene and the object distance, for calculating a weight value by reading the weight data of each distance measuring area in correspondence with the position of an object in the photographing scene and the measured object distance, and means for judging to be a main object, an object in the distance measuring area of which the weight value calculated by the calculating means is the largest.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 126 words

In a device for measuring object distance or in-focus position used for a camera in which object distances or focus adjustment states are measured in a plurality of distance measuring areas in the photographing scene, said device comprising: calculating means having a plurality of weight data predetermined in correspondence with the position of each distance measuring area in the photographing scene and the object distance, for calculating a weight value by reading the weight data of each distance measuring area in correspondence with the position of an object in the photographing scene and the measured object distance, and means for judging to be a main object, an object in the distance measuring area of which the weight value calculated by the calculating means is the largest.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 45 words

A device for measuring as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weight data is predetermined according to the position, such that weight data of the distance measuring areas in the central position of the photographing scene is larger than that in the peripheral portion thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

A device for measuring as claimed in claim 2, wherein the peripheral portion of the photographing scene, the weight data of the upper distance measuring area is smaller than that of the lower distance measuring area.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

A device for measuring as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weight data of each distance measuring area in correspondence with the position is changed-over with attitude of a camera body between the horizontal position and the vertical position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 34 words

A device for measuring as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weight data of each distance measuring area in correspondence with the position is changed-over in correspondence with focal length of a photographic lens.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 79 words

A device for measuring as claimed in claim 1, further comprising second judging means for judging whether a first object distance in a first distance measuring area having the largest weight value and a second object distance in a second distance measuring area having weight value next to the largest one are within depth of field of the photographic lens, and determining either of the distance as that to be focussed when they are within the depth of field.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 105 words

In a device for measuring object distance or in-focus position used for a camera in which object distances or focus adjustment states are measured in a plurality of the distance measuring areas in the photographing scene, said device comprising: means for comparing a difference between object distances of adjacent distance measuring areas with a predetermined value and means for judging adjacent objects to be the same object when the difference of the object distances is within the predetermined value, and determining means for determining whether the judged object is a main object in accordance with the size of the same object in the photographing scene.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 105 words

In a device for measuring object distance or in-focus position used for a camera in which object distances or focus adjustment states are measured in a plurality of the distance measuring areas in the photographing scene, said device comprising: means for comparing a difference between object distances of adjacent distance measuring areas with a predetermined value and means for judging adjacent objects to be the same object when the difference of the object distances is within the predetermined value, and determining means for determining whether the judged object is a main object in accordance with the size of the same object in the photographing scene.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

A device for measuring as claimed in claim 7, wherein said determining means determines the judged same object as a main object, when the size of the same object is larger than a predetermined reference size.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

A device for measuring as claimed in claim 8, wherein said a process means for successively processing judgements of the main object in the order of subsequent near object distance from the object having the nearest object distance.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

A device for measuring as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reference size for judging a main object is changed in correspondence with the focal length of a photographic lens.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 124 words

In a device for measuring object distance or in-focus position used for a camera in which the object distance or focus adjustment states are measured in a plurality of distance measuring areas in the photographing scene, said device comprising: first judging means for judging a main object based on the size of an object within the photographing scene when there are one or more objects in the position nearer than a predetermined distance, and second judging means for judging a main object based on the position of an object in the photographing scene and the object distance when there is no object in the position nearer than a predetermined distance or when there is no object of a predetermined size in the photographing scene.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 124 words

In a device for measuring object distance or in-focus position used for a camera in which the object distance or focus adjustment states are measured in a plurality of distance measuring areas in the photographing scene, said device comprising: first judging means for judging a main object based on the size of an object within the photographing scene when there are one or more objects in the position nearer than a predetermined distance, and second judging means for judging a main object based on the position of an object in the photographing scene and the object distance when there is no object in the position nearer than a predetermined distance or when there is no object of a predetermined size in the photographing scene.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

A device for measuring as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second judging means has weight data predetermined in correspondence with the position of each distance measuring area in the photographing scene and the object distance.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 55 words

A device for measuring as claimed in claim 11, further comprising third judging means for judging a main object by comparing a difference between object distances of adjacent distance measuring areas with a predetermined value and judging adjacent objects as the same object when the difference of the object distance is within the predetermined value.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 92 words

In a device for measuring object distance or in-focus position used for a camera in which the object distance or focus adjustment states are measured in a plurality of distance measuring areas in the photographing scene, said device comprising: means for comparing, in flashlight photography, the object distance of each distance measuring area within the flashlight reaching distance, and means for carrying out a process of judging a main object with respect only to the distance measuring areas in which there are one or more objects nearer than the flashlight reaching distance.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 92 words

In a device for measuring object distance or in-focus position used for a camera in which the object distance or focus adjustment states are measured in a plurality of distance measuring areas in the photographing scene, said device comprising: means for comparing, in flashlight photography, the object distance of each distance measuring area within the flashlight reaching distance, and means for carrying out a process of judging a main object with respect only to the distance measuring areas in which there are one or more objects nearer than the flashlight reaching distance.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 36 words

A device for measuring as claimed in claim 14, wherein said carrying out means has weight data predetermined in correspondence with the position of each distance measuring area in the photographing scene and the object distance.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-07-23	1994-01-22	1994-07-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-07-23	1998-01-22	1998-07-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-07-23	2002-01-22	2002-07-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Device for measuring object distance used for camera

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