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US4982219A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Focus detecting device

Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1990-03-21
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Granted: 1991-01-01
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Expires: 2010-03-21
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Abstract

Abstract A focus detecting device is provided with an objective lens, a re-imaging device for separating the optical image of an object obtained through the objective lens into a plurality of identical secondary optical images and re-imaging the same, a first photodetector device for detecting two of the secondary optical images and outputting relative position information thereof, a second photodetector device for detecting at least one of the secondary optical images and outputting photodetection information (e.g., infrared) of the at least one optical image, and a correcting device for correcting the relative position information on the basis of the photodetection information.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shigeyuki Uchiyama

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 09:56
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/34

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 93 words
A focus detecting device comprising: an objective lens; re-imaging means for separating the optical image of an object obtained,, through said objective lens into a plurality of substantially identical secondary optical images and re-imaging the same; first photodetector means for detecting two of said secondary optical images and outputting relative position information thereof; second photodetector means for detecting at least one of said secondary optical images and outputting photodetection information of said at least one optical image; and correcting means for correcting said relative position information on the basis of said photodetection information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 93 words
A focus detecting device comprising: an objective lens; re-imaging means for separating the optical image of an object obtained,, through said objective lens into a plurality of substantially identical secondary optical images and re-imaging the same; first photodetector means for detecting two of said secondary optical images and outputting relative position information thereof; second photodetector means for detecting at least one of said secondary optical images and outputting photodetection information of said at least one optical image; and correcting means for correcting said relative position information on the basis of said photodetection information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 102 words
A focus detecting device comprising: an objective lens; re-imaging means for separating the optical image of an object obtained through said objective lens into at least three substantially identical secondary optical images and re-imaging the same; first photodetector means for detecting two of said secondary optical images and outputting relative position information thereof; second photodetector means for detecting at least one of said secondary optical images, detecting the proportion of infrared light included in said at least one optical image, and outputting it as photodetection information; and correcting means for correcting said relative position information on the basis of said photodetection information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 102 words
A focus detecting device comprising: an objective lens; re-imaging means for separating the optical image of an object obtained through said objective lens into at least three substantially identical secondary optical images and re-imaging the same; first photodetector means for detecting two of said secondary optical images and outputting relative position information thereof; second photodetector means for detecting at least one of said secondary optical images, detecting the proportion of infrared light included in said at least one optical image, and outputting it as photodetection information; and correcting means for correcting said relative position information on the basis of said photodetection information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 106 words
A focus detecting device according to claim 2, wherein said first photodetector means includes four image sensor for detecting the quantity of light, said image sensors being radially provided about the optic axis of said objective lens so as to be orthogonal to adjacent image sensors, said second photodetector means includes at least one color sensor disposed substantially at an intermediate position of one of said four image sensors without overlapping said one image sensor and perpendicularly thereto, and said re-imaging means includes a field mask having an opening, a field lens, a diaphragm member having four diaphragm portions, and a re-imaging lens having four lenses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
A focus detecting device according to claim 3, wherein said color sensor is comprised of two kinds of photosensors of different spectral characteristics alternately combined.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 88 words
A focus detecting device according to claim 2, wherein said first photodetector means includes two image sensors for detecting the quantity of light, said second photodetector means includes a color sensor for detecting the wavelength of light, said color sensor being disposed substantially at an intermediate position between said image sensors without overlapping said image sensors and in parallelism thereto, and said re-imaging means comprises a field mask having an opening, a field lens, a diaphragm member having three diaphragm portions, and a re-imaging lens having three lenses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
A focus detecting device according to claim 5, wherein said color sensor is comprised of two kinds of photosensors of different spectral characteristics alternately combined.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
A focus detecting device according to claim 5, wherein said color sensor has a length substantially equal to the length of said image sensors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 89 words
A focus detecting device according to claim 2, wherein said first photodetector means includes two image sensors for detecting the quantity of light, said second photodetector means includes two color sensors for detecting the wavelength of light, said color sensors being disposed substantially at intermediate positions between said image sensors and parallel to each other with said image sensors interposed therebetween, and said re-imaging means includes a field mask having an opening, a field lens, a diaphragm member having four diaphragm portions, and a re-imaging lens having four lenses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
A focus detecting device according to claim 8, wherein said two color sensors have different spectral characteristics from each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 82 words
A focus detecting device according to claim 2, wherein said at least re-imaging means forms said three secondary optical images at different positions on a detecting surface, said first photodetector means includes a pair of image sensors provided at positions on said detecting surface which correspond to two of said secondary optical images, said second photodetector means includes a color sensor provided at a position on said detecting surface which corresponds to the remaining at least one of said secondary optical images.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 52 words
A focus detecting device according to claim 10, wherein said pair of image sensors, said color sensor and their images reversely projected onto the imaging plane of said objective lens by said re-imaging means are disposed so that they are superposed one upon another on the imaging plane of said objective lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 101 words
A focus detecting device comprising: an objective lens; re-imaging means for separating the optical image of an object obtained through said objective lens into at least three substantially identical secondary optical images and re-imaging the same; position detector means for detecting first and second optical images of said three secondary optical images and outputting relative position information thereof; color detector means for detecting a third optical image of said three secondary optical images different from said first and second optical images, and outputting color information thereof; and means for correcting said relative position information on the basis of said color information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 101 words
A focus detecting device comprising: an objective lens; re-imaging means for separating the optical image of an object obtained through said objective lens into at least three substantially identical secondary optical images and re-imaging the same; position detector means for detecting first and second optical images of said three secondary optical images and outputting relative position information thereof; color detector means for detecting a third optical image of said three secondary optical images different from said first and second optical images, and outputting color information thereof; and means for correcting said relative position information on the basis of said color information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 95 words
A focus detecting device comprising: an objective lens; re-imaging means for separating the optical image of an object obtained through said objective lens into at least four substantially identical secondary optical images and re-imaging the same; position detector means for detecting a first pair of said four secondary optical images and outputting relative position information thereof; color detector means for detecting a second pair of said four secondary optical images different from said first pair, and outputting color information thereof; and means for correcting said relative position information on the basis of said color information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 95 words
A focus detecting device comprising: an objective lens; re-imaging means for separating the optical image of an object obtained through said objective lens into at least four substantially identical secondary optical images and re-imaging the same; position detector means for detecting a first pair of said four secondary optical images and outputting relative position information thereof; color detector means for detecting a second pair of said four secondary optical images different from said first pair, and outputting color information thereof; and means for correcting said relative position information on the basis of said color information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 50 words
A focus detecting device according to claim 13, wherein said color detector means produces first color information on the basis of one of said second pair of said secondary optical images and second color information on the basis of the other of said second pair of said secondary optical images.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 28 words
A focus detecting device according to claim 13, wherein said color detector means includes first and second color sensor means for outputting first and second photodetection information, respectively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 36 words
A focus detecting device according to claim 15, wherein said first color sensor means has a first spectral characteristic and said second color sensor means has a second spectral characteristic different from said first spectral characteristic.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4746948A Cited
US4859842A Cited
JPS62174710A Cited
US4835561A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-12-31 1994-07-02 1995-01-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-12-31 1998-07-02 1999-01-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-12-31 2002-07-02 2003-01-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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