Predetermined magnification photographing apparatus for a camera

Claim 2

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus for a camera using a zoom lens for effecting zoom photographing at a predetermined photographing magnification comprising: driving means for driving said zoom lens; detecting means for detecting distance to an object moving along an optic axis of said zoom lens and speed of movement of said object; output means for outputting an operation signal; and control means for causing said detecting means to repetitively detect the distance to said object and the speed of movement of said object as long as said operation signal is output, repetitively predicting the distance to said object after a predetermined time on the basis of said detected distance and said detected speed of movement, repetitively determining a desired zoom position of said zoom lens on the basis of said predicted distance, and operating said driving means to drive said zoom lens to said desired zoom position.

Claim 3

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus for a camera using a zoom lens for effecting zoom photographing at a predetermined photographing magnification comprising: driving means for driving said zoom lens; detecting means for detecting and outputting distance to an object; output means for outputting an operation signal; and control means responsive to said operation signal for causing, when an object moving along an optic axis of said zoom lens is to be photographed, said detecting means to be repetitively operated to thereby repetitively output the distance to said object after a predetermined time, repetitively determining a desired zoom position of said zoom lens on the basis of said predicted distance, and operating said driving means to drive said zoom lens to said desired zoom position.

Claim 4

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus for a camera using a zoom lens for effecting zoom photographing at a predetermined photographing magnification comprising: driving means for driving said zoom lens; detecting means for detecting and outputting distance to an object; output means for outputting an operation signal; and control means responsive to said operation signal for causing, when an object moving along an optic axis of said zoom lens is to be photographed, said detecting means to be repetitively operated to thereby repetitively output the distance to said object after a predetermined time, repetitively determining a desired zoom position of said zoom lens on the basis of said predicted distance, and operating said driving means to drive said zoom lens to said desired zoom position.

Claim 5

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined time is determined on the basis of driving time and focusing time of said zoom lens.

Claim 6

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control means is provided with a timer that counts a time when the latest distance is detected and a time when the distance before that is detected, and wherein said control means detects speed of movement of said object on the basis of said counted times, and predicts the distance to said object, when a release operation is performed, on the basis of said speed of movement.

Claim 7

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 4, when said control means, judges that the speed of movement of said object is higher than a predetermined value, said control means resets said desired zoom position to a predetermined position, and operates said driving means to drive said zoom lens t said predetermined position.

Claim 8

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: an alarm device for producing an alarm in response to said desired zoom position being re-set to said predetermined position.

Claim 9

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said alarm device is an LCD display device.

Claim 10

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control means receives an operable zoom range of said zoom lens as an input, and when said desired zoom position is determined, said control means compares said determined desired zoom position with said operable zoom range, said control means re-sets said desired zoom position to a predetermined position, and operates said driving means to drive said zoom lens to said predetermined position.

Claim 11

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: an alarm device for producing an alarm in response to said desired zoom position being re-set to said predetermined position.

Claim 12

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said alarm device is an LCD display device.

Claim 13

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: magnification setting means for inputting a photographing magnification; said control means determining said desired zoom position on the basis of the input photographing magnification.

Claim 14

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when an object not moving along the optic axis is to be photographed, said control means operates said detecting means only once in response to the operation signal from said output means to thereby cause said detecting means to output the distance to the last-mentioned object, and determines a desired zoom position of said zoom lens on the basis of the last-mentioned object, and determines a desired zoom position of said zoom lens on the basis of the last-mentioned distance and the photographing magnification input by said magnification setting means, and operates said driving means to drive said zoom lens to the last-mentioned desired zoom position.

Claim 15

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said output means outputs a release signal for effecting a release operation of said camera.

Claim 16

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said output means comprises a release button of said camera, and said operation signal is output upon half-depression of said release button, and said release signal is output upon full depression of said release button.

Claim 17

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: focusing means for effecting a focusing operation of said zoom lens, said focusing means being responsive to the release signal of said output means to start the focusing operation, the release operation being effected after the focusing operation is completed, said zoom lens being set by said focusing operation to a focus state determined on the basis of said predicted distance.

Claim 18

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus for a camera using a zoom lens for effecting zoom photographing at a predetermined photographic magnification comprising: driving means for driving said zoom lens; detecting means for detecting a defocus amount of an object moving along an optic axis of said zoom lens to thereby detect distance to said object and speed of movement of said object; output means for outputting an operation signal; and control means for causing said detecting means to repetitively detect the distance to said object and the speed of movement of said object as long as said operation signal is output, repetitively predicting a focusing position of said object after a predetermined time on the basis of said detected distance and said detected speed of movement, repetitively determining a desired zoom position of said zoom lens on the basis of said predicted focusing position, and operating said driving means to drive said zoom lens to said desired zoom position.

Claim 19

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus for a camera using a zoom lens for effecting zoom photographing at a predetermined photographic magnification comprising: driving means for driving said zoom lens; detecting means for detecting a defocus amount of an object moving along an optic axis of said zoom lens to thereby detect distance to said object and speed of movement of said object; output means for outputting an operation signal; and control means for causing said detecting means to repetitively detect the distance to said object and the speed of movement of said object as long as said operation signal is output, repetitively predicting a focusing position of said object after a predetermined time on the basis of said detected distance and said detected speed of movement, repetitively determining a desired zoom position of said zoom lens on the basis of said predicted focusing position, and operating said driving means to drive said zoom lens to said desired zoom position.

Claim 20

A predetermined magnification photographing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said predetermined time is determined on the basis of driving time of said zoom lens and time until a shutter release.