US4965443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Focus detection apparatus using neural network means
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1989-09-29
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Granted: 1990-10-23
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Expires: 2009-09-29
Abstract
Abstract An optical image transmitted through a photographing lens is incident on a light-receiving unit of a two-dimensional matrix. An output from the light-receiving unit is input to a first arithmetic logic unit, and the first arithmetic logic unit calculates actual object brightness values in consideration of an aperture value of an aperture. An output from the first arithmetic logic unit is supplied to a multiplexer and a neural network. The neural network determines a main part of the object from a pattern of brightness values of the respective photoelectric transducer elements and outputs a position signal of the main part. The multiplexer selectively passes the brightness value of the photoelectric transducer element corresponding to the main part of the object from the outputs generated by the first arithmetic logic unit. An output from the multiplexer is supplied to a second arithmetic logic unit. The second arithmetic logic unit performs a focus detection calculation based on only the brightness of the main part. The photographing lens is moved along the optical axis, thereby performing a focusing operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Masafumi Yamasaki
- 👤 Toshiyuki Toyofuku
- 👤 Junichi Itoh
- 👤 Shinichi Kodama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:15
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/36; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/67
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A focus detection apparatus comprising: light-receiving means having a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements arranged in a two dimensional matrix; an optical system for focusing an object image on said light-receiving means and outputting analog signals representing brightnesses of respective parts of an object; means for converting the analog signals output from said light-receiving means into digital signals; neural network means for receiving the digital signals output from said converting means and determining a main part of the object; means for selecting a signal representing the brightness of the main part determined by said neural network means from the digital signals output from said converting means; and focus detecting means for performing focus detection on the basis of an output from said selecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A focus detection apparatus comprising: light-receiving means having a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements arranged in a two dimensional matrix; an optical system for focusing an object image on said light-receiving means and outputting analog signals representing brightnesses of respective parts of an object; means for converting the analog signals output from said light-receiving means into digital signals; neural network means for receiving the digital signals output from said converting means and determining a main part of the object; means for selecting a signal representing the brightness of the main part determined by said neural network means from the digital signals output from said converting means; and focus detecting means for performing focus detection on the basis of an output from said selecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said neural network means comprises: an input layer having a plurality of units, connected to an output of said converting means, for respectively receiving outputs from said photoelectric transducer elements; one or a plurality of intermediate layers having a plurality of units coupled to individual units of said input layer at predetermined coupling strengths; and an output layer having a plurality of units coupled to individual units of said intermediate layer at predetermined coupling strengths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, in which said neural network means further comprises a coefficient memory for storing coefficients representing the coupling strengths of the units.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said neural network means comprises a plurality of microprocessors connected in parallel with each other to perform distributed processing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for moving said optical system along an optical axis in accordance with an output of said focus detecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
146 words
A focus detection apparatus comprising: light-receiving means having a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements arranged in a two-dimensional matrix; an optical system for focusing an object image on said light-receiving means; neural network means for receiving brightnesses output from said light-receiving means and determining a position of a main part of an object, said neural network means comprising an input layer having a plurality of units for respectively connected to a group of said photoelectric transducer elements, one or a plurality of intermediate layers having a plurality of units coupled to individual units of said input layer at predetermined coupling strengths, an output layer having a plurality of units coupled to individual units of said intermediate layer at predetermined coupling strengths, and means for causing learning of each unit of said input layer; and means for performing a focus detection calculation of the object main part.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
146 words
A focus detection apparatus comprising: light-receiving means having a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements arranged in a two-dimensional matrix; an optical system for focusing an object image on said light-receiving means; neural network means for receiving brightnesses output from said light-receiving means and determining a position of a main part of an object, said neural network means comprising an input layer having a plurality of units for respectively connected to a group of said photoelectric transducer elements, one or a plurality of intermediate layers having a plurality of units coupled to individual units of said input layer at predetermined coupling strengths, an output layer having a plurality of units coupled to individual units of said intermediate layer at predetermined coupling strengths, and means for causing learning of each unit of said input layer; and means for performing a focus detection calculation of the object main part.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
A focus detection apparatus comprising: light-receiving means having a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements; an optical system for focusing an object image on said light-receiving means; neural network means, connected to an output of said light-receiving means, for outputting a signal representing a position of a main part of an object; and means for performing a focus detection on the basis of a signal selected on the basis of an output of said neural network means from outputs of said light-receiving means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
A focus detection apparatus comprising: light-receiving means having a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements; an optical system for focusing an object image on said light-receiving means; neural network means, connected to an output of said light-receiving means, for outputting a signal representing a position of a main part of an object; and means for performing a focus detection on the basis of a signal selected on the basis of an output of said neural network means from outputs of said light-receiving means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, in which said neural network means comprises: an input layer having a plurality of units connected to the output of said light-receiving means; one or a plurality of intermediate layers having a plurality of units coupled to the individual units of said input layer at predetermined coupling strengths; and an output layer having a plurality of units coupled to the individual units of said intermediate layer at predetermined coupling strengths.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, in which said neural network means further comprises: means for learning the coupling strengths; and a memory for storing learning results.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
A focus detection apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements, arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, for detecting a brightness of an object; and a back projection model type neural network, having a large number of units coupled to each other at predetermined coupling strengths determined by prelearning, for receiving outputs from said plurality of photoelectric transducer elements and performing a focus calculation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
A focus detection apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements, arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, for detecting a brightness of an object; and a back projection model type neural network, having a large number of units coupled to each other at predetermined coupling strengths determined by prelearning, for receiving outputs from said plurality of photoelectric transducer elements and performing a focus calculation.
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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) | 1993-10-22 | 1994-04-23 | 1994-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-22 | 1998-04-23 | 1998-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-22 | 2002-04-23 | 2002-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |