Automatic focus control device

Claim 2

An automatic focus control camera, comprising: (a) optical means; (b) light receiving means for receiving light passing through the optical means and converting the light into an electrical signal; (c) defocus amount calculating means for repeatedly calculating the defocus amount for a predetermined focal plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electrical signal generated by the light receiving means; (d) an operable member to be operated manually for starting a photographing operation of the camera; (e) a photographing operation control means for starting the photographing operation of the camera in response to the manual operation of the operable member; (f) first judging means for judging whether or not the calculating defocus amount is within a first in-focus zone determined for discriminating an in-focus condition of the photographic lens; (g) second judging means for judging whether or not the calculated defocus amount is within a second in-focus zone, said second in-focus zone being determined the addition of the first in-focus zone and an amount of the lens shifting caused during a time period from the manual operation of the operable member to an actual start of the photographing operation; (h) indicating means for indicating the in-focus condition of the photographic lens when the second judging means judges that the calculated defocus amount is within the second in-focus zone, and (i) lens shifting means for shifting the photographic lens in accordance with the defocus amount calculated by the defocus amount calculating means even in said time period.

Claim 3

An automatic focus control camera according to claim 1, wherien said indicating means includes means for indicating the in-focus condition of the photographic lens when the first judging means judges that the calculated defocus amount is within the first in-focus zone in the case where the lens shifting is stopped, and for indicating the in-focus condition of the photographic lens when the second judging means judges that the calculated defocus amount is within the second in-focus zone irrespective of the stoppage and shifting of the photographic lens.

Claim 4

An automatic focus control camera according to claim 2, further comprising means for interrupting the photographing operation until the first judging means judges that the calculated defocus amount is within the first in-focus zone, and means for permitting the start of the photographing operation when the second judging means judges that the calculated defocus amount is within the second in-focus zone.

Claim 5

An automatic focus control camera of a type in which a photographing operation is interrupted until the in-focus condition of a photographic lens is detected, comprising: (a) optical means; (b) light receiving means for receiving light passing through the optical means and converting the light into an electrical signal; (c) defocus amount calculating means for repeatedly calculating the defocus amount for a predetermined focal plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electrical signal generated by the light receiving means; (d) first lens shifting amount calculating means for calculating a first lens shifting amount to be shifted for bringing the photographic lens into its in-focus condition on the basis of the calculated defocus amount; (e) first lens shifting means for shifting the photographic lens in accordance with the first lens shifting amount calculated by the first lens shifting amount calculating means; (f) an operable member to be operated manually for starting a photographing operation of the camera; (g) a photographing operation starting means for starting the photographing operation of the camera in response to the manual operation of the operable member; (h) second lens shifting amount calculating means for calculating a second lens shifting amount which corresponds to a lens shifting amount to be shifted during a time period from the manual operation of the operable member to an actual start of the photographing operation; (i) means, operated in response to the manual operation of the operable member, for comparing said second lens shifting amount with a remaining first lens shifting amount to be shifted; (j) control means for controlling the photographing operation starting means so that the photographing operation is started when the remaining first lens shifting amount is smaller than the second lens shifting amount, and that the photographing operation is inhibited when the remaining first lens shifting amount is larger than the second lens shifting amount, and (k) second lens shifting means for shifting the photogrpahic lens in accordance with the remaining first lens shifting amount during said time period.

Claim 6

An automatic focus control camera of a type in which a photographing operation is interrupted until the in-focus condition of a photographic lens is detected, comprising: (a) optical means; (b) light receiving means for receiving light passing through the optical means and converting the light into an electrical signal; (c) defocus amount calculating means for repeatedly calculating the defocus amount for a predetermined focal plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electrical signal generated by the light receiving means; (d) first lens shifting amount calculating means for calculating a first lens shifting amount to be shifted for bringing the photographic lens into its in-focus condition on the basis of the calculated defocus amount; (e) first lens shifting means for shifting the photographic lens in accordance with the first lens shifting amount calculated by the first lens shifting amount calculating means; (f) an operable member to be operated manually for starting a photographing operation of the camera; (g) a photographing operation starting means for starting the photographing operation of the camera in response to the manual operation of the operable member; (h) second lens shifting amount calculating means for calculating a second lens shifting amount which corresponds to a lens shifting amount to be shifted during a time period from the manual operation of the operable member to an actual start of the photographing operation; (i) means, operated in response to the manual operation of the operable member, for comparing said second lens shifting amount with a remaining first lens shifting amount to be shifted; (j) control means for controlling the photographing operation starting means so that the photographing operation is started when the remaining first lens shifting amount is smaller than the second lens shifting amount, and that the photographing operation is inhibited when the remaining first lens shifting amount is larger than the second lens shifting amount, and (k) second lens shifting means for shifting the photogrpahic lens in accordance with the remaining first lens shifting amount during said time period.

Claim 7

An automatic focus control camera according to claim 4, further comprising moving object detecting means for detecting whether or not an object to be photographed is moving in accordance with a plurality of defocus amounts calculated repeatedly, and third lens shifting amount calculating means for calculating a third lens shifting amount which corresponds to a defocus amount caused by the movement of the object during said time period, and wherein said comparing means includes means for comparing the sum of said second and third lens shifting amount with said remaining first lens shifting amount.

Claim 8

An automatic focus control camera, comprising: (a) optical means; (b) light receiving means for receiving light passing through the optical means and converting the light into an electrical signal; (c) defocus amount calculating means for repeatedly calculating the defocus amount for a predetermined focal plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electrical signal generated by the light receiving means; (d) an operable member to be operated manually for starting a photographing operation of the camera; (e) a photographing operation control means for starting the photographing operation of the camera in response to the manual operation of the operable member; (f) moving object detecting means for detecting whether or not an object to be photographed is moving in accordance with a plurality of defocus amounts calculated repeatedly; (g) lens shifting amount calculating means for calculating a lens shifting amount which corresponds to a defocus amount caused by the movement of the object during a time period from the manual operation of the operable member to an actual start of the photographing operation, and (h) lens shifting means for shifting the photographic lens in said time period by at least said calculated lens shifting amount.

Claim 9

An automatic focus control camera, comprising: (a) optical means; (b) light receiving means for receiving light passing through the optical means and converting the light into an electrical signal; (c) defocus amount calculating means for repeatedly calculating the defocus amount for a predetermined focal plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electrical signal generated by the light receiving means; (d) an operable member to be operated manually for starting a photographing operation of the camera; (e) a photographing operation control means for starting the photographing operation of the camera in response to the manual operation of the operable member; (f) moving object detecting means for detecting whether or not an object to be photographed is moving in accordance with a plurality of defocus amounts calculated repeatedly; (g) lens shifting amount calculating means for calculating a lens shifting amount which corresponds to a defocus amount caused by the movement of the object during a time period from the manual operation of the operable member to an actual start of the photographing operation, and (h) lens shifting means for shifting the photographic lens in said time period by at least said calculated lens shifting amount.

Claim 10

An automatic focus control camera, comprising: (a) optical means; (b) light receiving means for receiving light passing through the optical means and converting the light into an electrical signal; (c) defocus amount calculating means for repeatedly calculating the defocus amount for a predetermined focal plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electrical signal generated by the light receiving means; (d) an operable member to be operated manually for starting a photographing operation of the camera; (e) a photographing operation control means for starting the photographing operation of the camera in response to the manual operation of the operable member; (f) judging means, operable in response to a manual operation of the operable member, for judging whether a remaining defocus amount is smaller than a predetermined amount; (g) lens shifting means for shifting the photographic lens, and (h) control means for controlling said photographing operation starting means and said lens shifting means in accordance with a result of said judging means, so that the lens shifting means is operated in a predetermined time period and thereafter the photographing operation starting means is operated when said judging means judges that the remaining defocus amount is larger than said predetermined amount, and that said photographing operation starting means is immediately operated in response to the manual operation of the operable member when said judging means judges that the remaining defocus amount is smaller than said predetermined amount.

Claim 11

An automatic focus control camera, comprising: (a) optical means; (b) light receiving means for receiving light passing through the optical means and converting the light into an electrical signal; (c) defocus amount calculating means for repeatedly calculating the defocus amount for a predetermined focal plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electrical signal generated by the light receiving means; (d) an operable member to be operated manually for starting a photographing operation of the camera; (e) a photographing operation control means for starting the photographing operation of the camera in response to the manual operation of the operable member; (f) judging means, operable in response to a manual operation of the operable member, for judging whether a remaining defocus amount is smaller than a predetermined amount; (g) lens shifting means for shifting the photographic lens, and (h) control means for controlling said photographing operation starting means and said lens shifting means in accordance with a result of said judging means, so that the lens shifting means is operated in a predetermined time period and thereafter the photographing operation starting means is operated when said judging means judges that the remaining defocus amount is larger than said predetermined amount, and that said photographing operation starting means is immediately operated in response to the manual operation of the operable member when said judging means judges that the remaining defocus amount is smaller than said predetermined amount.

Claim 12

An automatic focus control camera according to claim 7, further comprising means for interrupting the photographing operation until the calculated defocus amount indicates that the photographic lens is in in-focus condition, and means for making said control means operate when the calculated defocus amount indicates that the photographing lens is in in-focus condition in response to the manual operation of said operable member.

Claim 13

An automatic focus control camera, comprising: (a) optical means; (b) light receiving means for receiving light passing through the optical means and converting the light into an electrical signal; (c) defocus amount calculating means for repeatedly calculating the defocus amount for a predetermined focal plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electrical signal generated by the light receiving means; (d) an operable member to be operated manually for starting a photographing operation of the camera; (e) a photographing operation control means for starting the photographing operation of the camera in response to the manual operation of the operable member; (f) lens shifting amount calculating means for calculating a lens shifting amount which corresponds to the defocus amount during a time period from the manual operation of the operable member to an actual start of the photographing operation; (g) lens shifting means for shifting the photographic lens in said time period by at least said calculated lens shifting amount, and (h) control means for controlling said photographing operation control means so that the actual photographing operation is started after a termination of a shifting operation of said lens shifting means.

Claim 14

An automatic focus control camera, comprising: (a) optical means; (b) light receiving means for receiving light passing through the optical means and converting the light into an electrical signal; (c) defocus amount calculating means for repeatedly calculating the defocus amount for a predetermined focal plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electrical signal generated by the light receiving means; (d) an operable member to be operated manually for starting a photographing operation of the camera; (e) a photographing operation control means for starting the photographing operation of the camera in response to the manual operation of the operable member; (f) lens shifting amount calculating means for calculating a lens shifting amount which corresponds to the defocus amount during a time period from the manual operation of the operable member to an actual start of the photographing operation; (g) lens shifting means for shifting the photographic lens in said time period by at least said calculated lens shifting amount, and (h) control means for controlling said photographing operation control means so that the actual photographing operation is started after a termination of a shifting operation of said lens shifting means.