Autofocusing system for camera

Claim 2

An autofocusing system for a camera, wherein a defocus amount is detected with a light-amount-integration type detecting means, in response to which a focusing operation is executed, comprising: means for driving a photographic lens associated with said camera; means for detecting a focal length of said photographic lens; means for outputting a delivery-amount-of-lens conversion factor for converting said defocus amount into a drive amount to drive said photographic lens in compliance with the output of said focal length detecting means; means for calculating said conversion factor from the outputs of said delivery-amount-of-lens conversion factor outputting means from the time when said integration terminates; means for determining whether said photographic lens has moved while said light-amount-integration is being executed; and means for calculating said drive amount of said photographic lens from the output of said factor output means, at the time when said integration terminates, and said defocus amount if said determining means determines that said photographic lens has not moved, while calculating said drive amount of said photographic lens from said conversion factor computed by said factor calculation means and said defocus amount if said determining means determines that said photographic lens has moved.

Claim 3

The autofocusing system according to claim 1, wherein said factor calculation means is arranged so as to compute a mean value of said conversion factor outputted from the time when said integration starts to the time when said integration terminates.

Claim 4

The autofocusing system according to claim 2, wherein said conversion factor calculating means compensates said conversion factor in accordance with a direction of change of said focal length of said photographic lens if said focal length varies while said integration is being executed.

Claim 5

An autofocusing system for a camera, wherein a defocus amount is detected with a light-amount-integration type detecting means, upon which a focusing operation is executed, comprising: means for driving a photographic lens associated with said camera; means for monitoring focal length changes of said photographic lens; and means for computing an amount to drive said photographic lens, corresponding to said defocus amount detected by said light-amount-integration type detecting means with a driving-amount-of-lens conversion factor for converting said defocus amount of said photographic lens; wherein said computing means compensates said conversion factor in accordance with a direction of change of said focal length monitored by said monitoring means if said focal length varies while said integration is being executed.

Claim 6

An autofocusing system for a camera, wherein a defocus amount is detected with a light-amount-integration type detecting means, upon which a focusing operation is executed, comprising: means for driving a photographic lens associated with said camera; means for monitoring focal length changes of said photographic lens; and means for computing an amount to drive said photographic lens, corresponding to said defocus amount detected by said light-amount-integration type detecting means with a driving-amount-of-lens conversion factor for converting said defocus amount of said photographic lens; wherein said computing means compensates said conversion factor in accordance with a direction of change of said focal length monitored by said monitoring means if said focal length varies while said integration is being executed.

Claim 7

An autofocusing system for a camera, comprising: a zoom motor for zooming a photographic lens associated with said camera; a focusing motor for focusing said photographic lens; means for driving said focusing motor; means for monitoring a drive amount that said zoom motor is driven; means for detecting a defocus amount of said photographic lens; means for outputting a delivery-amount-of-lens conversion factor for converting said defocus amount into said drive amount for driving said focusing motor in compliance with the output of said monitoring means; and means for computing said drive amount to be transmitted to said driving means from said conversion factor and said defocus amount.

Claim 8

An autofocusing system for a camera, comprising: a zoom motor for zooming a photographic lens associated with said camera; a focusing motor for focusing said photographic lens; means for driving said focusing motor; means for monitoring a drive amount that said zoom motor is driven; means for detecting a defocus amount of said photographic lens; means for outputting a delivery-amount-of-lens conversion factor for converting said defocus amount into said drive amount for driving said focusing motor in compliance with the output of said monitoring means; and means for computing said drive amount to be transmitted to said driving means from said conversion factor and said defocus amount.

Claim 9

An autofocusing system for a camera, comprising: a zoom motor for zooming a photographic lens associated with said camera; a focusing motor for focusing said photographic lens; means for driving said focusing motor; means for monitoring a drive amount that said zoom motor is driven; means for detecting a focal length of said photographic lens by indicating one of a plurality of divided sections of said focal length, depending upon the output of said monitoring means; means for detecting a defocus amount of said photographic lens; means for outputting a reference value of a delivery-amount-of-lens conversion factor for converting said defocus amount into said drive amount of said focusing motor in compliance with the output of said focal length detecting means; correction factor output means for outputting a change-rate of said conversion factor in said section indicated by said focal length detecting means; means for computing said conversion factor as a primary function within said same section with said reference factor, the output of said monitoring means and said change-rate; and means for calculating said drive amount to be transmitted to said driving means from said conversion factor and said defocus amount.

Claim 10

An autofocusing system for a camera, comprising: a zoom motor for zooming a photographic lens associated with said camera; a focusing motor for focusing said photographic lens; means for driving said focusing motor; means for monitoring a drive amount that said zoom motor is driven; means for detecting a focal length of said photographic lens by indicating one of a plurality of divided sections of said focal length, depending upon the output of said monitoring means; means for detecting a defocus amount of said photographic lens; means for outputting a reference value of a delivery-amount-of-lens conversion factor for converting said defocus amount into said drive amount of said focusing motor in compliance with the output of said focal length detecting means; correction factor output means for outputting a change-rate of said conversion factor in said section indicated by said focal length detecting means; means for computing said conversion factor as a primary function within said same section with said reference factor, the output of said monitoring means and said change-rate; and means for calculating said drive amount to be transmitted to said driving means from said conversion factor and said defocus amount.

Claim 11

An autofocusing system for a camera, wherein a defocus amount is detected with a light-amount-integration type detecting means while a focusing operation is being executed, comprising: first means for determining whether a photographic lens associated with said camera has moved while said light-amount-integration is being executed by said detecting means; and second means for determining whether a focal length of said photographic lens has changed while said light-amount-integration is being executed by said detecting means, wherein said focusing operation is adjusted in a predetermined fashion if it is determined by said first and second determining means that said photographic lens has moved and said focal length thereof has changed while said light-amount-integration is being executed.

Claim 12

An autofocusing system for a camera, wherein a defocus amount is detected with a light-amount-integration type detecting means while a focusing operation is being executed, comprising: first means for determining whether a photographic lens associated with said camera has moved while said light-amount-integration is being executed by said detecting means; and second means for determining whether a focal length of said photographic lens has changed while said light-amount-integration is being executed by said detecting means, wherein said focusing operation is adjusted in a predetermined fashion if it is determined by said first and second determining means that said photographic lens has moved and said focal length thereof has changed while said light-amount-integration is being executed.

Claim 13

An autofocusing system for a camera, wherein a defocus amount is detected with a light-amount-integration type detecting means while a focusing operation is executed, comprising: means for determining whether a focal length of a photographic lens associated with said camera has varied while said light-amount-integration is being executed by said detecting means; and means for adjusting said focusing operation in a predetermined fashion if it is determined by said determining means that the focal length of said photographic lens has varied while said light-amount-integration is being executed.

Claim 14

An autofocusing system for a camera, wherein a defocus amount is detected with a light-amount-integration type detecting means while a focusing operation is executed, comprising: means for determining whether a focal length of a photographic lens associated with said camera has varied while said light-amount-integration is being executed by said detecting means; and means for adjusting said focusing operation in a predetermined fashion if it is determined by said determining means that the focal length of said photographic lens has varied while said light-amount-integration is being executed.

Claim 15

An autofocus system for a camera, comprising: means for setting a photographic lens associated with said camera to a particular focal length; means for detecting said focal length of said photographic lens; means for analyzing a quantity of light that passes through said photographic lens when a photographer is about to take a photograph of an object in order to obtain a value representing an amount of defocus of said object to be photographed; means for calculating a conversion factor in response to inputted data, wherein said inputted data includes said defocus amount, said conversion factor calculating means being arranged so as to compute a mean value of said conversion factor from the time when a light-amount-integration starts to the time when said light-amount-integration stops, said conversion factor calculating means compensating said conversion factor in accordance with a direction of change of said focal length of said photographic lens if said focal length of said photographic lens varies as said light-amount-integration is being executed; means for determining whether said photographic lens has moved while said conversion factor is being calculated; and means for calculating an amount to move said photographic lens, based upon said conversion factor calculating means and said defocus value, if said determining means determines that said photographic lens has been moved.

Claim 16

An autofocus system for a camera, comprising: means for setting a photographic lens associated with said camera to a particular focal length; means for detecting said focal length of said photographic lens; means for analyzing a quantity of light that passes through said photographic lens when a photographer is about to take a photograph of an object in order to obtain a value representing an amount of defocus of said object to be photographed; means for calculating a conversion factor in response to inputted data, wherein said inputted data includes said defocus amount, said conversion factor calculating means being arranged so as to compute a mean value of said conversion factor from the time when a light-amount-integration starts to the time when said light-amount-integration stops, said conversion factor calculating means compensating said conversion factor in accordance with a direction of change of said focal length of said photographic lens if said focal length of said photographic lens varies as said light-amount-integration is being executed; means for determining whether said photographic lens has moved while said conversion factor is being calculated; and means for calculating an amount to move said photographic lens, based upon said conversion factor calculating means and said defocus value, if said determining means determines that said photographic lens has been moved.

Claim 17

An autofocus system for a camera, comprising: means for setting a photographic lens associated with said camera to a particular focal length; means for detecting said focal length of said photographic lens; means for analyzing a quantity of light that passes through said photographic lens when a photographer is about to take a photograph of an object in order to obtain a value representing an amount of defocus of said object to be photographed; means for calculating a conversion factor in response to inputted data, wherein said inputted data includes said defocus amount, said calculating means reducing said conversion factor when said photographic lens is zoomed from a wide side of said photographic lens to a tele side of said photographic lens; means for determining whether said photographic lens has moved while said conversion factor is being calculated; and means for calculating an amount to move said photographic lens, based upon said conversion factor calculating means and said defocus value, if said determining means determines that said photographic lens has been moved.

Claim 18

An autofocus system for a camera, comprising: means for setting a photographic lens associated with said camera to a particular focal length; means for detecting said focal length of said photographic lens; means for analyzing a quantity of light that passes through said photographic lens when a photographer is about to take a photograph of an object in order to obtain a value representing an amount of defocus of said object to be photographed; means for calculating a conversion factor in response to inputted data, wherein said inputted data includes said defocus amount, said calculating means reducing said conversion factor when said photographic lens is zoomed from a wide side of said photographic lens to a tele side of said photographic lens; means for determining whether said photographic lens has moved while said conversion factor is being calculated; and means for calculating an amount to move said photographic lens, based upon said conversion factor calculating means and said defocus value, if said determining means determines that said photographic lens has been moved.

Claim 19

An autofocus system for a camera, comprising: means for setting a photographic lens associated with said camera to a particular focal length; means for detecting said focal length of said photographic lens; means for analyzing a quantity of light that passes through said photographic lens when a photographer is about to take a photograph of an object in order to obtain a value representing an amount of defocus of said object to be photographed; means for calculating a conversion factor in response to inputted data, wherein said inputted data includes said defocus amount, said calculating means increasing said conversion factor when said photographic lens is zoomed from a tele side of said photographic lens to a wide side of said photographic lens; means for determining whether said photographic lens has moved while said conversion factor is being calculated; and means for calculating an amount to move said photographic lens, based upon said conversion factor calculating means and said defocus value, if said determining means determines that said photographic lens has been moved.

Claim 20

An autofocus system for a camera, comprising: means for setting a photographic lens associated with said camera to a particular focal length; means for detecting said focal length of said photographic lens; means for analyzing a quantity of light that passes through said photographic lens when a photographer is about to take a photograph of an object in order to obtain a value representing an amount of defocus of said object to be photographed; means for calculating a conversion factor in response to inputted data, wherein said inputted data includes said defocus amount, said calculating means increasing said conversion factor when said photographic lens is zoomed from a tele side of said photographic lens to a wide side of said photographic lens; means for determining whether said photographic lens has moved while said conversion factor is being calculated; and means for calculating an amount to move said photographic lens, based upon said conversion factor calculating means and said defocus value, if said determining means determines that said photographic lens has been moved.

Claim 23

The method of claim 12, wherein the step of compensating the conversion factor reduces the conversion factor when zooming of the photographic lens is conducted from a wide side to a tele side of the photographic lens.

Claim 24

The method of claim 12, wherein the step of compensating the conversion factor comprises increasing the conversion factor when zooming of the photographic lens is conducted from a tele side of the photographic lens to a wide side of the photographic lens.

Claim 25

An autofocusing system for a camera comprising: a light-amount-integration type detector for obtaining a defocus value of a light source that passes through a photographic lens associated with said camera; means for detecting a focal length of said photographic lens; means for driving a focusing motor associated with said photographic lens so as to vary the focal length of said photographic lens; means for converting said defocus value into a drive amount for driving said defocusing motor; and means for calculating a compensation value for adjusting said drive amount used to drive said focusing motor when the focal length of said photographic lens is varied during the time that said light-amount-integration type detector obtains said defocus value.

Claim 26

An autofocusing system for a camera comprising: a light-amount-integration type detector for obtaining a defocus value of a light source that passes through a photographic lens associated with said camera; means for detecting a focal length of said photographic lens; means for driving a focusing motor associated with said photographic lens so as to vary the focal length of said photographic lens; means for converting said defocus value into a drive amount for driving said defocusing motor; and means for calculating a compensation value for adjusting said drive amount used to drive said focusing motor when the focal length of said photographic lens is varied during the time that said light-amount-integration type detector obtains said defocus value.

Claim 27

The autofocus system of claim 15, wherein said calculating means increases said drive amount of driving said focusing motor when said photographic lens is moved from a tele side to a wide side.

Claim 28

The autofocus system of claim 15, wherein said calculating means decreases said drive amount for driving said focusing motor when said photographic lens is moved from a wide side to a tele side.

Claim 29

The autofocus system of claim 15, wherein said light-amount-integration type detector comprises a charge-coupled-device.

Claim 30

The autofocus system of claim 15, further comprising means for storing data inherent to said photographic lens, said data being used by said converting means.

Claim 31

The autofocus system of claim 19, wherein said storing means comprises a memory.

Claim 32

The autofocus system of claim 20, wherein said memory is located in said photographic lens.

Claim 33

The autofocus system of claim 15, wherein said converting means comprises a lens processor that computes said drive amount.

Claim 34

The autofocus system of claim 19, wherein said converting means comprises a lens processor that computes said drive amount while referring to said inherent data stored in said storing means upon receipt of said defocus value detector by said light-amount-integrator type detector.

Claim 35

The autofocus system of claim 23, wherein said storing means comprises a memory located in said photographic lens.