US5029998A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Focus state detecting device
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1990-10-23
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Granted: 1991-07-09
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Expires: 2010-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A focus state detecting device for a camera has plural areas for focus state detection for an object, and is capable of securing wide focus state detecting areas. The device has a pair of first photo-detector arrays arranged in a first direction and a pair of second photo-detector arrays arranged in a second direction, wherein the light receiving area of the first arrays is wider than that of the second arrays, and the first direction is the same as the longitudinal direction of the photographing field.
Inventors
- 👤 Ken Utagawa
- 👤 Yosuke Kusaka
- 👤 Shigeyuki Uchiyama
- 👤 Shozo Yamano
- 👤 Kenji Ishizuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:50
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/34; G02B7/346
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
415 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a pair of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of first photoelectric converting array means being arranged along said first direction; b) a pair of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of second photoelectric converting array means being arranged along said second direction; wherein the length of each of said paired first photoelectric converting array means in the first direction is selected larger than that of each of said paired second photoelectric converting array means in said second direction; c) an optical system for guiding the light fluxes from two different areas in the exit pupil of a photographing lens of the camera to said pair of first photoelectric converting array means, and guiding the light fluxes from two other different areas of the exit pupil of the photographing lens of the camera to said pair of second photoelectric converting array means; d) a first output circuit having a first output terminal; e) a second output circuit having a second output terminal; f) a shift register for transferring the outputs of said paired first photoelectric converting array means to said first output circuit, said shift register being so constructed that at least a part thereof are adjacent to said paired first photoelectric converting means and that the outputs of one of said paired first photoelectric converting array means is transferred to said first outputs circuit after the output of the other of said paired first photoelectric converting array means is transferred to said first output circuit, whereby said first output circuit releases, from said first output terminal, signals corresponding to the outputs from said shift register; g) transfer means for transferring the outputs of said paired second photoelectric converting array means to said second output circuit in such a manner that the outputs of one of said paired second photoelectric converting array means are transferred to said second output circuit after the outputs of the other of said paired second photoelectric converting array means are transferred to said second output circuit, whereby said second output circuit releases, from said second output terminal, signals corresponding to the outputs from said transfer means; and h) operation means for effecting a focus state detecting operation according to the signals from said first and second output terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
415 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a pair of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of first photoelectric converting array means being arranged along said first direction; b) a pair of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of second photoelectric converting array means being arranged along said second direction; wherein the length of each of said paired first photoelectric converting array means in the first direction is selected larger than that of each of said paired second photoelectric converting array means in said second direction; c) an optical system for guiding the light fluxes from two different areas in the exit pupil of a photographing lens of the camera to said pair of first photoelectric converting array means, and guiding the light fluxes from two other different areas of the exit pupil of the photographing lens of the camera to said pair of second photoelectric converting array means; d) a first output circuit having a first output terminal; e) a second output circuit having a second output terminal; f) a shift register for transferring the outputs of said paired first photoelectric converting array means to said first output circuit, said shift register being so constructed that at least a part thereof are adjacent to said paired first photoelectric converting means and that the outputs of one of said paired first photoelectric converting array means is transferred to said first outputs circuit after the output of the other of said paired first photoelectric converting array means is transferred to said first output circuit, whereby said first output circuit releases, from said first output terminal, signals corresponding to the outputs from said shift register; g) transfer means for transferring the outputs of said paired second photoelectric converting array means to said second output circuit in such a manner that the outputs of one of said paired second photoelectric converting array means are transferred to said second output circuit after the outputs of the other of said paired second photoelectric converting array means are transferred to said second output circuit, whereby said second output circuit releases, from said second output terminal, signals corresponding to the outputs from said transfer means; and h) operation means for effecting a focus state detecting operation according to the signals from said first and second output terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
304 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a pair of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each composed of plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of first photoelectric converting array means being arranged along said first direction; b) a pair of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each composed of plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of second photoelectric converting array means being arranged along said second direction; wherein the length of each of said paired first photoelectric converting array means in the first direction is selected larger than that of each of said paired second photoelectric converting array means in said second direction; c) an optical system for guiding the light fluxes from two different areas in the exit pupil of a photographing lens of the camera to said pair of first photoelectric converting array means, and guiding the light fluxes from two other different areas of the exit pupil of the photographing lens of the camera to said pair of second photoelectric converting array means; d) a first output unit having a first output terminal; e) a second output unit having a second output terminal; f) first transfer means for transferring the outputs of said paired first photoelectric converting array means to said first output unit, which thereby releases, from said first output terminal, signals corresponding to the outputs from said first transfer means; g) second transfer means for transferring the outputs of said paired second photoelectric converting array means to said second output unit, which thereby releases, from said second output terminals, signals corresponding to the outputs from said second transfer means; and h) operation means for effecting focus state detection according to the signals from said first and second output terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
304 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a pair of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each composed of plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of first photoelectric converting array means being arranged along said first direction; b) a pair of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each composed of plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of second photoelectric converting array means being arranged along said second direction; wherein the length of each of said paired first photoelectric converting array means in the first direction is selected larger than that of each of said paired second photoelectric converting array means in said second direction; c) an optical system for guiding the light fluxes from two different areas in the exit pupil of a photographing lens of the camera to said pair of first photoelectric converting array means, and guiding the light fluxes from two other different areas of the exit pupil of the photographing lens of the camera to said pair of second photoelectric converting array means; d) a first output unit having a first output terminal; e) a second output unit having a second output terminal; f) first transfer means for transferring the outputs of said paired first photoelectric converting array means to said first output unit, which thereby releases, from said first output terminal, signals corresponding to the outputs from said first transfer means; g) second transfer means for transferring the outputs of said paired second photoelectric converting array means to said second output unit, which thereby releases, from said second output terminals, signals corresponding to the outputs from said second transfer means; and h) operation means for effecting focus state detection according to the signals from said first and second output terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 2, wherein said first transfer means is so constructed that the outputs of one of said paired first photoelectric converting array means are transferred to said first output unit after those of the other of said paired first photoelectric converting array means are transferred to said first output unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 3, wherein said first transfer means comprises a shift register extended along said first direction, said shift register being so positioned that at least a part thereof is adjacent to said paired first photoelectric converting array means and being adapted to transfer the outputs from said paired first photoelectric converting array means to said first output unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 3, wherein said second transfer means is so constructed that the outputs of one of said paired second photoelectric converting array means are transferred to said second output unit after those of the other of said paired second photoelectric converting array means are transferred to said second output unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 5, wherein said second transfer means comprises a shift register, which is so positioned that at least a part thereof is adjacent to one of said paired second photoelectric converting array means and that at least a part of the remainder thereof is adjacent to the other of said paired second photoelectric converting array means, whereby the outputs from said paired second photoelectric converting array means are transferred to said second output unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 5, wherein said second transfer means comprises two shift registers, which are so positioned that at least a part of one of said two shift registers is adjacent to one of said paired second photoelectric converting array means and that at least a part of the other of said two shift registers is adjacent to the other of said paired second photoelectric converting array means, whereby said two shift registers transfer the outputs from said paired second photoelectric converting array means to said second output unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 2, wherein said first and second output units respectively have amplifying circuits.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a pair of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each composed of photoelectric converting elements; b) a pair of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each composed of plural photoelectric converting elements; wherein the length of each of said paired first photoelectric converting array means in the first direction is selected larger than that of each of said paired second photoelectric converting array means in said second direction; c) an optical system for guiding the light fluxes from two different areas in the exit pupil of a photographing lens of the camera to said pair of first photoelectric converting array means, and guiding the light fluxes from two other different areas of the exit pupil of the photographing lens of the camera to said pair of second photoelectric converting array means; and d) operation means for effecting focus state detection according to the outputs of said paired first photoelectric converting array means and the outputs of said paired second photoelectric converting array means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
189 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a pair of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each composed of photoelectric converting elements; b) a pair of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each composed of plural photoelectric converting elements; wherein the length of each of said paired first photoelectric converting array means in the first direction is selected larger than that of each of said paired second photoelectric converting array means in said second direction; c) an optical system for guiding the light fluxes from two different areas in the exit pupil of a photographing lens of the camera to said pair of first photoelectric converting array means, and guiding the light fluxes from two other different areas of the exit pupil of the photographing lens of the camera to said pair of second photoelectric converting array means; and d) operation means for effecting focus state detection according to the outputs of said paired first photoelectric converting array means and the outputs of said paired second photoelectric converting array means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 9, wherein said pair of first photoelectric converting array means is arranged along said first direction, and said pair of second photoelectric converting array means is arranged along said second direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 10, wherein said pair of first photoelectric converting array means is arranged substantially along the longitudinal direction of the photographing field of said camera.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 11, wherein said first direction is substantially perpendicular to said second direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
124 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a pair of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of first photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said first direction; b) a pair of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of second photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said second direction; c) a terminal connected to both said pair of first photoelectric converting array means and said pair of second photoelectric converting array means; and d) operation means for effecting focus detecting operation according to an output from said terminal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
124 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a pair of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of first photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said first direction; b) a pair of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of second photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said second direction; c) a terminal connected to both said pair of first photoelectric converting array means and said pair of second photoelectric converting array means; and d) operation means for effecting focus detecting operation according to an output from said terminal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 13, which further comprises means for transferring the outputs of said paired first and said second photoelectric converting array means through said terminal to said operation means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 14, wherein the length of each of said paired first photoelectric converting array means in said first direction is selected larger than that of each of said paired second photoelectric converting array means in said second direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 15, wherein said transferring means transfers the outputs of said paired first photoelectric converting array means before transferring the outputs of said paired second photoelectric converting array means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
191 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a first group constituted by a plurality of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said plurality of first photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said first direction; b) a second group constituted by a plurality of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said plurality of second photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said second direction; and c) an optical system for guiding light fluxes from the exit pupil of a photographing lens of the camera to said first and said second groups; d) said first group comprising a plurality of pairs of photoelectric converting array means and detecting light intensity distribution on a plurality of first detection areas on a predetermined plane between said photographing lens and said optical system, said second group detecting light intensity distribution on a second detection area on said predetermined plane, said plurality of first detection areas crossing said second detection area but not each other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
191 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a first group constituted by a plurality of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said plurality of first photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said first direction; b) a second group constituted by a plurality of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said plurality of second photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said second direction; and c) an optical system for guiding light fluxes from the exit pupil of a photographing lens of the camera to said first and said second groups; d) said first group comprising a plurality of pairs of photoelectric converting array means and detecting light intensity distribution on a plurality of first detection areas on a predetermined plane between said photographing lens and said optical system, said second group detecting light intensity distribution on a second detection area on said predetermined plane, said plurality of first detection areas crossing said second detection area but not each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
71 words
A focus state detecting device according to claim 17, wherein said optical system has a first pair of lenses for guiding light fluxes from two different areas in the exit pupil of the photographing lens of the camera to said first group, and having a second pair of lenses for guiding the light fluxes from two other different areas in the exit pupil of the photographing lens to said second group.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
176 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a first group constituted by a plurality of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each containing plurality photoelectric converting elements, said plurality of first photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said first direction; b) a second group constituted by a plurality of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said plurality of second photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said second direction; and c) an optical system having a first pair of lenses for guiding light fluxes from two different areas in the exit pupil of a photographing lens of the camera to said first group, and having a second pair of lenses for guiding light fluxes from two other different areas in the exit pupil of the photographing lens to said second group; d) at least one of said first and said second groups comprising plural pairs of photoelectric converting array means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
176 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a first group constituted by a plurality of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each containing plurality photoelectric converting elements, said plurality of first photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said first direction; b) a second group constituted by a plurality of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said plurality of second photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said second direction; and c) an optical system having a first pair of lenses for guiding light fluxes from two different areas in the exit pupil of a photographing lens of the camera to said first group, and having a second pair of lenses for guiding light fluxes from two other different areas in the exit pupil of the photographing lens to said second group; d) at least one of said first and said second groups comprising plural pairs of photoelectric converting array means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
214 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a pair of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of first photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said first direction; b) a pair of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of second photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said second direction, the length of each of said paired first photoelectric converting array means in said first direction being selected larger than that of each of said paired second photoelectric converting array means in said second direction; and c) an optical system having a first pair of lenses for guiding light fluxes from two different areas in the exit pupil of a photographing lens of the camera to said pair of first photoelectric converting array means, and having a second pair of lenses for guiding light fluxes from two other different areas in the exit pupil of said photographing lens to said pair of second photoelectric converting array means, the aperture of each of said first pair of lenses being larger than that of each of said second pair of lenses.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
214 words
A focus state detecting device for a camera, comprising: a) a pair of first photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of first photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said first direction; b) a pair of second photoelectric converting array means, each extended in a second direction crossing said first direction and each containing plural photoelectric converting elements, said pair of second photoelectric converting array means being aligned along said second direction, the length of each of said paired first photoelectric converting array means in said first direction being selected larger than that of each of said paired second photoelectric converting array means in said second direction; and c) an optical system having a first pair of lenses for guiding light fluxes from two different areas in the exit pupil of a photographing lens of the camera to said pair of first photoelectric converting array means, and having a second pair of lenses for guiding light fluxes from two other different areas in the exit pupil of said photographing lens to said pair of second photoelectric converting array means, the aperture of each of said first pair of lenses being larger than that of each of said second pair of lenses.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-08 | 1995-01-07 | 1995-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-08 | 1999-01-07 | 1999-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-08 | 2003-01-07 | 2003-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |