US5040014A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera system
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1989-05-11
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Granted: 1991-08-13
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Expires: 2009-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A camera system, having a plurality of light measuring regions respectively corresponding to focus detecting regions, which includes a device for calculating luminance of an object based on measured light values of the light measuring regions and a device for altering the focus detecting regions.
Inventors
- 👤 Koji Hata
- 👤 Shinichi Nishimura
- 👤 Toshihiko Ishimura
- 👤 Takehiro Katoh
- 👤 Yasuteru Yamano
- 👤 Masaaki Nakai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/36; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/099; G03B7/0993; G03B7/0997; G03B7/09979
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
358 words
An exposure control system for a camera system comprising: first light measuring means for measuring light incident on a first light measuring region located at a center of a photographing image plane; second light measuring means for measuring light incident on a second light measuring region of the photographing image plane different from said first light measuring region; first focus adjusting information outputting means for outputting a first focus adjusting information representing a focus adjusting condition at a first focus detecting region corresponding to said first light measuring region; second focus adjusting information outputting means for outputting a second focus adjusting information representing a focus adjusting condition at a second focus detecting region corresponding to said second light measuring region said second focus detecting region being physically separate and distinct from the first focus detecting region; switching means for switching alternatively between first and second focus detecting modes, the first focus detecting mode detecting the focus adjusting conditions at the first and second focus detecting regions based on the first and second focus adjusting information, the second focus detecting mode detecting the focus adjusting conditions at only the first focus detecting region based on the first focus adjusting information; detecting means for detecting what relationship the focus adjusting condition at the first focus detecting region has with the focus adjusting condition at the second focus detecting region in the first focus detecting mode; deciding means for deciding a combination of weights to be applied to outputs from said first and second light measuring means based on the relationship detected by said detecting means; designating means for designating a combination of weights to be applied to outputs from said first and second light measuring means without using the first focus adjusting information and the second focus adjusting information in the second focus detecting mode; and calculating means for calculating a luminance of an object by applying the weights, which were decided by said deciding means, or the weights, which were designated by said designating means, to outputs from said first and second light measuring means; and means for controlling exposure in accordance wit the calculated luminance of said object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
358 words
An exposure control system for a camera system comprising: first light measuring means for measuring light incident on a first light measuring region located at a center of a photographing image plane; second light measuring means for measuring light incident on a second light measuring region of the photographing image plane different from said first light measuring region; first focus adjusting information outputting means for outputting a first focus adjusting information representing a focus adjusting condition at a first focus detecting region corresponding to said first light measuring region; second focus adjusting information outputting means for outputting a second focus adjusting information representing a focus adjusting condition at a second focus detecting region corresponding to said second light measuring region said second focus detecting region being physically separate and distinct from the first focus detecting region; switching means for switching alternatively between first and second focus detecting modes, the first focus detecting mode detecting the focus adjusting conditions at the first and second focus detecting regions based on the first and second focus adjusting information, the second focus detecting mode detecting the focus adjusting conditions at only the first focus detecting region based on the first focus adjusting information; detecting means for detecting what relationship the focus adjusting condition at the first focus detecting region has with the focus adjusting condition at the second focus detecting region in the first focus detecting mode; deciding means for deciding a combination of weights to be applied to outputs from said first and second light measuring means based on the relationship detected by said detecting means; designating means for designating a combination of weights to be applied to outputs from said first and second light measuring means without using the first focus adjusting information and the second focus adjusting information in the second focus detecting mode; and calculating means for calculating a luminance of an object by applying the weights, which were decided by said deciding means, or the weights, which were designated by said designating means, to outputs from said first and second light measuring means; and means for controlling exposure in accordance wit the calculated luminance of said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A camera system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deciding means comprises an operation member which is manually operated to switch between the first and second focus detecting modes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A camera system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deciding means comprises an output means for outputting a minimum aperture value of a taking lens, the second focus detecting mode being selected when the minimum aperture value of the taking lens is larger than a predetermined value, which occurs when an open aperture size of the taking lens is smaller than a predetermined value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
170 words
An exposure control system for a camera system comprising: light measuring means for measuring light incident on a plurality of regions of a photographing image plane; calculating means or calculating the luminance of an object based on outputs of said light measuring means; first focus detecting means for detecting a focusing condition at a first region of the photographing image plane; second focus detecting means for detecting a focusing condition at a second region, separate from the first region, of the photographing image plane; switching means for switching between first and second modes; output means for outputting, in the first mode, focusing condition data based only on an output of said first focus detecting means and, in the second mode, focusing condition data based on outputs of both said first and second focus detecting means; and altering means for altering a luminance calculation based on which of the modes is selected by said switching means; and means for controlling exposure in accordance with the altered luminance calculation of said object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
170 words
An exposure control system for a camera system comprising: light measuring means for measuring light incident on a plurality of regions of a photographing image plane; calculating means or calculating the luminance of an object based on outputs of said light measuring means; first focus detecting means for detecting a focusing condition at a first region of the photographing image plane; second focus detecting means for detecting a focusing condition at a second region, separate from the first region, of the photographing image plane; switching means for switching between first and second modes; output means for outputting, in the first mode, focusing condition data based only on an output of said first focus detecting means and, in the second mode, focusing condition data based on outputs of both said first and second focus detecting means; and altering means for altering a luminance calculation based on which of the modes is selected by said switching means; and means for controlling exposure in accordance with the altered luminance calculation of said object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
131 words
An exposure control system for a camera system comprising: first focus detecting means for detecting a focusing condition at a first region of the photographing image plane; second focus detecting means for detecting a focusing condition at a second region, separate from the first region, of the photographing image plane; switching means for switching between first and second modes; output means for outputting, in the first mode, focusing condition data based only on an output of said first focus detecting means and, in the second mode, focusing condition data based on outputs of both said first and second focus detecting means; and altering means for altering light measuring patterns based on the mode selected by the switching means; and means for controlling exposure in accordance with the altered light measuring patterns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
An exposure control system for a camera system comprising: first focus detecting means for detecting a focusing condition at a first region of the photographing image plane; second focus detecting means for detecting a focusing condition at a second region, separate from the first region, of the photographing image plane; switching means for switching between first and second modes; output means for outputting, in the first mode, focusing condition data based only on an output of said first focus detecting means and, in the second mode, focusing condition data based on outputs of both said first and second focus detecting means; and altering means for altering light measuring patterns based on the mode selected by the switching means; and means for controlling exposure in accordance with the altered light measuring patterns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
226 words
An exposure control system for a camera system comprising: light measuring means for measuring light incident on a plurality of regions of a photographing image plane; first focus detecting means for detecting a focusing condition at a first region of the photographing image plane; second focus detecting means for detecting a focusing condition at a second region, separate from the first region, of the photographing image plane; switching means for switching between first and second modes; output means for outputting, in the first mode, focusing condition data based only on an output of said first focus detecting means and, in the second mode, a focusing condition data based on outputs of both said first and second focus detecting means; deciding means for deciding a combination of weights to be applied to outputs of said light measuring means with outputs of said first and second focus detecting means in the first mode and for deciding a combination of weights to be applied to outputs of said light measuring means without outputs of said first and second focus detecting means int he second mode; and calculating means for calculating a luminance of an object based on outputs of said light measuring means being weighted by the combination of weights decided by said deciding means; and means for controlling exposure in accordance with the calculated luminance of said object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
226 words
An exposure control system for a camera system comprising: light measuring means for measuring light incident on a plurality of regions of a photographing image plane; first focus detecting means for detecting a focusing condition at a first region of the photographing image plane; second focus detecting means for detecting a focusing condition at a second region, separate from the first region, of the photographing image plane; switching means for switching between first and second modes; output means for outputting, in the first mode, focusing condition data based only on an output of said first focus detecting means and, in the second mode, a focusing condition data based on outputs of both said first and second focus detecting means; deciding means for deciding a combination of weights to be applied to outputs of said light measuring means with outputs of said first and second focus detecting means in the first mode and for deciding a combination of weights to be applied to outputs of said light measuring means without outputs of said first and second focus detecting means int he second mode; and calculating means for calculating a luminance of an object based on outputs of said light measuring means being weighted by the combination of weights decided by said deciding means; and means for controlling exposure in accordance with the calculated luminance of said object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A camera system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said altering means alters the luminance calculation by selectively varying a combination of weights applied to outputs of said light measuring means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
193 words
An exposure control system for a camera comprising: light measuring means for measuring light incident on a plurality of regions of a photographing image plane; focus detecting means for detecting a focus condition with respect to each one of a plurality of distinct and separate focus detection regions; determining means for determining a location of a main object based on a plurality of focus conditions detected by said focus detecting means; calculating means for calculating, in a first mode, a defocus amount based on a focus condition detected at a focus detection region corresponding to said location of said main object and, in a second mode, a defocus amount based on a focus condition detected at a predetermined focus detection region; and output means for outputting, in said first mode, a luminance value of said photographing image plane on the basis of light values measured and weighted according to a light measuring region corresponding to said object location and, in said second mode, a luminance value of said photographing image plane on the basis of light measuring values that are not weighted according to said light measuring region corresponding to said object location.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
193 words
An exposure control system for a camera comprising: light measuring means for measuring light incident on a plurality of regions of a photographing image plane; focus detecting means for detecting a focus condition with respect to each one of a plurality of distinct and separate focus detection regions; determining means for determining a location of a main object based on a plurality of focus conditions detected by said focus detecting means; calculating means for calculating, in a first mode, a defocus amount based on a focus condition detected at a focus detection region corresponding to said location of said main object and, in a second mode, a defocus amount based on a focus condition detected at a predetermined focus detection region; and output means for outputting, in said first mode, a luminance value of said photographing image plane on the basis of light values measured and weighted according to a light measuring region corresponding to said object location and, in said second mode, a luminance value of said photographing image plane on the basis of light measuring values that are not weighted according to said light measuring region corresponding to said object location.
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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) | 1994-08-12 | 1995-02-11 | 1995-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-12 | 1999-02-11 | 1999-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-12 | 2003-02-11 | 2003-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |