US5130735A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic focus state detecting apparatus
Assignee: Nikon Corp
•
Filing: 1991-09-12
•
Granted: 1992-07-14
•
Expires: 2011-09-12
Abstract
Abstract An automatic focus state detecting apparatus is capable of focus detection with respect to an object in different focus state detection areas, such as a narrow area or a wide area of an object field, or in areas extending in different directions in the object field. The focus state detecting area may be selected automatically or manually, and the automatic selection may depend upon whether the object is stationary or moving, and the direction of movement. Automatic switching between narrow and wide focus state detecting areas may occur after an in-focus state or a nearly in-focus state is obtained in the narrow area, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the selection of the narrow area, or after a predetermined number of focus detecting operations in the narrow area. Defocus amounts may be calculated for a plurality of sub-areas of the wide area. The defocus amount or a lens driving amount may be limited when the wide area is selected.
Inventors
- 👤 Yosuke Kusaka
- 👤 Yoshio Matsuzawa
- 👤 Masaru Muramatsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:52
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 62
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: focus state detecting means for effecting a focus state detection repeatedly, said focus state detecting means having a narrow focus state detecting area and a wide focus state detecting area; discrimination means responsive to successive focus state detections for discriminating whether an object to be photographed moves in a direction along the optic axis of a photographing lens; and selection means for causing said focus state detecting means to effect the focus state detection in said wide focus state detecting area when said discrimination means determines that the object moves in the direction along the optic axis of the photographing lens.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: focus state detecting means for effecting a focus state detection repeatedly, said focus state detecting means having a narrow focus state detecting area and a wide focus state detecting area; discrimination means responsive to successive focus state detections for discriminating whether an object to be photographed moves in a direction along the optic axis of a photographing lens; and selection means for causing said focus state detecting means to effect the focus state detection in said wide focus state detecting area when said discrimination means determines that the object moves in the direction along the optic axis of the photographing lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selection means is adapted, when said object is identified as not moving by said discrimination means, to cause said focus state detecting means to effect the focus state detection in said narrow focus state detecting area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: manually actuated area mode selection means for causing said focus state detecting means to effect the focus state detection in said wide focus state detecting area or said narrow focus state detecting area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
169 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: photoelectric conversion means for receiving light which is transmitted by a photographing lens from an object to be photographed and converting the received light into electrical signals in successive manner; defocus amount calculating means responsive to said electrical signals for calculating, in successive manner, a defocus amount with respect to the distance between a predetermined plane and an image of the object formed by the photographing lens; selection means for selecting either of a narrow focus state detecting area and a wide focus state detecting area, and causing said defocus amount calculating means to calculate said defocus amount on the basis of said electrical signals corresponding to the selected focus state detecting area; and discrimination means for discriminating whether an object to be photographed moves; wherein said selection means is adapted to select said wide focus state detecting area when said discriminating means determines that the object moves in a direction along the optic axis of the photographing lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
169 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: photoelectric conversion means for receiving light which is transmitted by a photographing lens from an object to be photographed and converting the received light into electrical signals in successive manner; defocus amount calculating means responsive to said electrical signals for calculating, in successive manner, a defocus amount with respect to the distance between a predetermined plane and an image of the object formed by the photographing lens; selection means for selecting either of a narrow focus state detecting area and a wide focus state detecting area, and causing said defocus amount calculating means to calculate said defocus amount on the basis of said electrical signals corresponding to the selected focus state detecting area; and discrimination means for discriminating whether an object to be photographed moves; wherein said selection means is adapted to select said wide focus state detecting area when said discriminating means determines that the object moves in a direction along the optic axis of the photographing lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said selection means is adapted to automatically select said narrow focus state detecting area when said discrimination means determines that said object is stationary.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said discrimination means is adapted to discriminate the movement of said object, based on said repetitively calculated defocus amounts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising: manually actuated area mode selection means for causing said defocus amount calculating means to effect the focus state detection on an object in said wide focus state detecting area or to effect the focus state detection on an object in said narrow focus state detecting area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
200 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: photoelectric conversion means for receiving light which is transmitted by a photographing lens from an object to be photographed and converting the received light into electrical signals in successive manner; defocus amount calculating means responsive to said electrical signals for calculating, in successive manner, a defocus amount with respect to the distance between a predetermined plane and an image of the object formed by the photographing lens; discrimination means for discriminating, based on the successive calculated defocus amounts, whether an object to be photographed moves; selection means capable of selecting either of a narrow focus state detecting area and a wide focus state detecting area dependent upon discrimination by said discrimination means, and for causing said defocus amount calculating means to calculate said defocus amount on the basis of said electrical signals corresponding to the selected focus state detecting area; correction means responsive to said discrimination means for correcting the defocus amount to cause the photographing lens to pursue the movement of the object; and drive amount calculating means for calculating the drive amount of said photographing lens on the basis of the defocus amount corrected by said correction means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
200 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: photoelectric conversion means for receiving light which is transmitted by a photographing lens from an object to be photographed and converting the received light into electrical signals in successive manner; defocus amount calculating means responsive to said electrical signals for calculating, in successive manner, a defocus amount with respect to the distance between a predetermined plane and an image of the object formed by the photographing lens; discrimination means for discriminating, based on the successive calculated defocus amounts, whether an object to be photographed moves; selection means capable of selecting either of a narrow focus state detecting area and a wide focus state detecting area dependent upon discrimination by said discrimination means, and for causing said defocus amount calculating means to calculate said defocus amount on the basis of said electrical signals corresponding to the selected focus state detecting area; correction means responsive to said discrimination means for correcting the defocus amount to cause the photographing lens to pursue the movement of the object; and drive amount calculating means for calculating the drive amount of said photographing lens on the basis of the defocus amount corrected by said correction means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said selection means is adapted to cause said defocus amount calculating means to calculate the defocus amount on an object in said narrow focus state detecting area when said discrimination means determines that said object is stationary.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising: manually actuated area mode selection means for causing said defocus amount calculating means to calculate the defocus amount on an object in said wide focus state detecting area or to calculate the defocus amount on an object in said narrow focus state detecting area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
99 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein: said discrimination means is adapted to identify said object as moving when a change in the defocus amount successively calculated by said defocus amount calculating means exceeds a predetermined range; and said selection means is adapted, when said wide focus state detecting area is selected, to divide said wide focus state detecting area into plural small areas, to cause said defocus amount calculating means to calculate the defocus amount in each of said small areas, and to adopt a defocus amount with smallest absolute value from the calculated defocus amounts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said discrimination means is adapted to identify said object as moving, when a change in the defocus amount successively calculated by said defocus amount calculating means exceeds a predetermined range and when the camera is not in a continuous photographing operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising focusing mode selection means for manually selecting whether or not to activate said discrimination means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
122 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising manually actuatable area mode selection means for causing said defocus amount calculating means to calculate the defocus amount for an object in said wide focus state detecting area or to calculate the defocus amount for an object in said narrow focus state detecting area, and wherein said focusing mode selection means is adapted, upon selecting a focusing mode to activate said discrimination means, to cause said defocus amount calculating means to calculate the defocus amount for an object in a focus state detecting area selected by said selection means according to the result of discrimination by said discrimination means, rather than in a focus state detecting area selected by said area mode selection means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
112 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising manually actuatable area mode selection means for causing said defocus amount calculating means to calculate the defocus amount for an object in said wide focus state detecting area or to calculate the defocus amount for an object in said narrow focus state detecting area, and wherein said focusing mode selection means is adapted, upon selecting a focusing mode not activating said discrimination means, to cause said defocus amount calculating means to calculate a defocus amount for an object in a focus state detecting area selected by said area mode selection means, rather than in a focus state detecting area selected by said selection means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
121 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus, comprising: focus state detecting means capable of effecting focus state detection in each of plural focus state detecting areas of different sizes present in an object field; displacement detection means for detecting the displacement of a photographing optical system in a direction crossing an optic axis of the photographing optical system or for detecting the relative displacement between the photographing optical system and the object in the direction crossing the optic axis of the photographing optical system, and switching means for switching the focus state detection by said focus state detecting means between focus state detecting areas of different sizes, when the amount of displacement detected by said displacement detection means exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
121 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus, comprising: focus state detecting means capable of effecting focus state detection in each of plural focus state detecting areas of different sizes present in an object field; displacement detection means for detecting the displacement of a photographing optical system in a direction crossing an optic axis of the photographing optical system or for detecting the relative displacement between the photographing optical system and the object in the direction crossing the optic axis of the photographing optical system, and switching means for switching the focus state detection by said focus state detecting means between focus state detecting areas of different sizes, when the amount of displacement detected by said displacement detection means exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said switching means is adapted, in response to a displacement detection by said displacement detection means, to switch a current focus state detecting area to a wider focus state detecting area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said focus state detection means comprises: a focus state detecting optical system for forming an image of an object; and photoelectric conversion means composed of plural photosensor elements and generating object image signals corresponding to the light intensity distribution of said object image in said plural focus state detecting areas; wherein said focus state detecting means is adapted to effect the focus state detection by applying a predetermined calculation to said object image signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said displacement detection means is adapted to detect the displacement by comparing the object image signals from said photoelectric conversion means at different times.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said displacement detection means is adapted to detect the displacement by comparing said object image signals of different times by correlation calculation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein: said photoelectric conversion means comprises photosensor arrays arranged in two mutually perpendicular directions in the object field; and said displacement detection means is adapted to detect the displacement in said two directions, based on the object image signals from said photosensor arrays.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
118 words
An apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, further comprising: a photographing optical system for forming an image of an object on a predetermined plane; and wherein said focus state detecting means comprises: a focus state detecting optical system for forming an image of the object by a light beam transmitted by said photographing optical system; and photoelectric conversion means composed of plural photosensor elements and adapted to generate object image signals corresponding to the light intensity distribution of said object image; and wherein said focus state detecting means is adapted to detect the defocus amount of a current object image plane with respect to said predetermined plane, by applying a predetermined calculation to said object image signals.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said displacement detection means is adapted to detect the displacement based on a change of said defocus amount with time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said displacement detection means detects the presence of displacement, after a defocus amount close to the in-focus state is obtained by said focus state detecting means, when the absolute value of the last mentioned defocus amount exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said displacement detection means comprises a displacement sensor and is adapted to detect the displacement based on an output of said sensor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said displacement detection means is adapted to detect the displacement, based on the output of said sensor integrated over a predetermined time or during a focus state detecting cycle of said focus state detecting means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said displacement detection means is also adapted to detect the direction of the relative displacement between the photographing optical system and an object.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said switching means is adapted to switch the focus state detection, according to the direction of displacement detected by said detection means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
107 words
An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said focus state detection means comprises: a focus state detecting optical system for forming an image of an object; and photoelectric conversion means composed of plural photosensor elements and adapted for generating object image signal corresponding to the light intensity distribution of said object image in said plural focus state detecting areas; wherein said focus state detecting means is adapted to effect the focus state detection by applying a predetermined calculation to said object image signals; and said displacement detection means is adapted to detect the displacement and the direction thereof, based on the output of said photoelectric conversion means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein: said photoelectric conversion means is a linear image sensor array having plural areas corresponding to said plural focus state detecting areas; and said displacement detection means is adapted to detect displacement along the direction of array of said image sensor array and to cause said switching means to switch between said areas of said image sensor array.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said displacement detection means is adapted to detect the displacement in vertical and horizontal directions of the object field.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
174 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus, comprising: focus state detecting means comprising a first photoelectric converting element array composed of plural photoelectric converting elements arranged along a particular direction, and a second photoelectric converting element array composed of plural photoelectric converting elements arranged along a direction different from said particular direction, and adapted to effect focus state detection by detecting the position of object images on said first or second photoelectric converting element array; displacement detecting means for detecting displacement of the automatic focus state detecting apparatus in a direction crossing an optic axis of a photographing lens or for detecting the relative displacement between said focus state detecting apparatus and the object in the direction crossing the optic axis of the photographing lens; and selection means for selecting either of outputs of said first photoelectric element array or outputs of said second photoelectric element array according to a detection output of said displacement detecting means, and causing said focus state detecting means to effect focus state detection with respect to the selected outputs.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
174 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus, comprising: focus state detecting means comprising a first photoelectric converting element array composed of plural photoelectric converting elements arranged along a particular direction, and a second photoelectric converting element array composed of plural photoelectric converting elements arranged along a direction different from said particular direction, and adapted to effect focus state detection by detecting the position of object images on said first or second photoelectric converting element array; displacement detecting means for detecting displacement of the automatic focus state detecting apparatus in a direction crossing an optic axis of a photographing lens or for detecting the relative displacement between said focus state detecting apparatus and the object in the direction crossing the optic axis of the photographing lens; and selection means for selecting either of outputs of said first photoelectric element array or outputs of said second photoelectric element array according to a detection output of said displacement detecting means, and causing said focus state detecting means to effect focus state detection with respect to the selected outputs.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said displacement detecting means is adapted to detect the displacement of said automatic focus state detecting apparatus itself or the relative displacement between said focus state detecting apparatus and the object, based on the outputs of said first and second photoelectric converting element arrays.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 32 or 33, wherein said selection means is adapted, based on the output of said displacement detecting means, to select the outputs of one of said first and second photoelectric converting element arrays, in which the displacement of an object image is smaller.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said particular direction and said different direction are mutually perpendicular.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
139 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: a photographing optical system for forming an image of an object to be photographed; focus state detecting means for calculating a defocus amount of the image with respect to a predetermined plane, said focus state detecting means having a first focus state detecting area and a second focus state detecting area which is wider than said first focus state detecting area; selection means for selecting either of said first and second focus state detecting areas for focus state detection by said focus state detecting means; drive means for driving said photographing optical system on the basis of said defocus amount; and limiting means for limiting the defocus amount to be detected or the drive amount of said photographing optical system when said second focus state detecting area is selected.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
139 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: a photographing optical system for forming an image of an object to be photographed; focus state detecting means for calculating a defocus amount of the image with respect to a predetermined plane, said focus state detecting means having a first focus state detecting area and a second focus state detecting area which is wider than said first focus state detecting area; selection means for selecting either of said first and second focus state detecting areas for focus state detection by said focus state detecting means; drive means for driving said photographing optical system on the basis of said defocus amount; and limiting means for limiting the defocus amount to be detected or the drive amount of said photographing optical system when said second focus state detecting area is selected.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said limiting means has detecting means for detecting that said defocus amount is outside a predetermined range and generating a detection signal, and means for inhibiting said drive means from driving said photographing optical system in response to said detection signal.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said drive means calculates the driving amount of said photographing optical system on the basis of said defocus amount and drives said photographing optical system in accordance with said calculated driving amount, wherein said limiting means has detecting means for detecting that said calculated driving amount is outside a predetermined range and generating a detection signal, and means for inhibiting said drive means from driving said photographing optical system in response to said detection signal.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said focus state detecting means has first and second image sensor means and correlation calculation means for performing a correlation calculation between outputs of said first and said second image sensor means on the basis of a predetermined image shift range, and wherein said limiting means changes said predetermined shift range so that said predetermined shift range for said second focus state detecting area is narrower than that for said first focus state detecting area.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
143 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: a photographing optical system for forming an image of an object to be photographed; drive means for driving said photographing optical system; focus state detecting means for detecting a defocus amount of the image with respect to a predetermined plane, said focus state detecting means having a first focus state detecting area and a second focus state detecting area which is wider than said first focus state detecting area; discrimination means for discriminating, based on said defocus amount, that said photographing optical system is within a predetermined range including an in-focus position and generating a discrimination signal; selection means for selecting said second focus state detecting area for focus state detection in response to said discrimination signal; and drive control means for controlling said drive means on the basis of said defocus amount.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
143 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: a photographing optical system for forming an image of an object to be photographed; drive means for driving said photographing optical system; focus state detecting means for detecting a defocus amount of the image with respect to a predetermined plane, said focus state detecting means having a first focus state detecting area and a second focus state detecting area which is wider than said first focus state detecting area; discrimination means for discriminating, based on said defocus amount, that said photographing optical system is within a predetermined range including an in-focus position and generating a discrimination signal; selection means for selecting said second focus state detecting area for focus state detection in response to said discrimination signal; and drive control means for controlling said drive means on the basis of said defocus amount.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
129 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: a photographing optical system for forming an image of an object to be photographed; drive means for driving said photographing optical system; focus state detecting means for detecting a defocus amount of the image with respect to a predetermined plane, said focus state detecting means having a first focus state detecting area and a second focus state detecting area which is wider than said first focus state detecting area; selection means for selecting said second focus state detecting area for focus state detection after the lapse of a predetermined time from selection of said first focus state detecting area for focus state detection; and drive control means for controlling said drive means on the basis of said defocus amount.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
129 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: a photographing optical system for forming an image of an object to be photographed; drive means for driving said photographing optical system; focus state detecting means for detecting a defocus amount of the image with respect to a predetermined plane, said focus state detecting means having a first focus state detecting area and a second focus state detecting area which is wider than said first focus state detecting area; selection means for selecting said second focus state detecting area for focus state detection after the lapse of a predetermined time from selection of said first focus state detecting area for focus state detection; and drive control means for controlling said drive means on the basis of said defocus amount.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said selection means is adapted to select said second focus state detecting area if the detection of the defocus amount by said focus state detecting means is not possible before the lapse of said predetermined time.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said predetermined time is variable.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
126 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: a photographing optical system for forming an image of an object to be photographed; drive means for driving said photographing optical system; focus state detecting means for repeatedly detecting a defocus amount of the image with respect to a predetermined plane, said focus state detecting means having a first focus state detecting area and a second focus state detecting area which is wider than said first focus state detecting area; selection means for selecting said second focus state detecting area for focus state detection after a predetermined number of focus state detections in said first focus state detecting area only; and drive control means for controlling said drive means on the basis of said defocus amount.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
126 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: a photographing optical system for forming an image of an object to be photographed; drive means for driving said photographing optical system; focus state detecting means for repeatedly detecting a defocus amount of the image with respect to a predetermined plane, said focus state detecting means having a first focus state detecting area and a second focus state detecting area which is wider than said first focus state detecting area; selection means for selecting said second focus state detecting area for focus state detection after a predetermined number of focus state detections in said first focus state detecting area only; and drive control means for controlling said drive means on the basis of said defocus amount.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said selection means is adapted to select said second focus state detecting area if the detection of the defocus amount by said focus state detecting means is not possible, even before the completion of focus state detections of said predetermined number.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said predetermined number is variable.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 40, 41, or 44, further comprising limiting means for limiting the defocus amount to be detected or the drive amount of the photographing optical system, when said second focus state detecting area is selected by said selection means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said limiting means is adapted to vary said defocus amount or said drive amount, according to photographing image magnification.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 40, 41 or 44, wherein said selection means is adapted to select the first focus state detecting area immediately after transition from an unoperated state to a preparatory state of a releasing member which can assume at least an unoperated state, a preparatory state and a releasing state.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
148 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: focus state detecting means for effecting a focus state detection repeatedly, said focus state detecting means having a narrow focus state detecting area and a wide focus state detecting area; displacement detection means for detecting the displacement of a photographing optical system in a direction crossing an optic axis of the photographing optical system or detecting the relative displacement between the photographing optical system and the object in the direction crossing the optical axis of the photographing optical system; and means for causing said focus state detecting means to effect the focus state detection in said wide focus state detecting area when said displacement detecting means detects the displacement of the photographing optical system or the relative displacement between the photographing optical system and the object in the direction crossing the optic axis of the photographing optical system.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
148 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus of a camera, comprising: focus state detecting means for effecting a focus state detection repeatedly, said focus state detecting means having a narrow focus state detecting area and a wide focus state detecting area; displacement detection means for detecting the displacement of a photographing optical system in a direction crossing an optic axis of the photographing optical system or detecting the relative displacement between the photographing optical system and the object in the direction crossing the optical axis of the photographing optical system; and means for causing said focus state detecting means to effect the focus state detection in said wide focus state detecting area when said displacement detecting means detects the displacement of the photographing optical system or the relative displacement between the photographing optical system and the object in the direction crossing the optic axis of the photographing optical system.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
150 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus, comprising: focus state detecting means capable of effecting focus state detection in each of plural focus state detecting areas of different sizes present in an object field; displacement detection means for detecting the displacement of a photographing optical system in a direction crossing an optic axis of the photographing optical system or for detecting the relative displacement between the photographing optical system and the object in the direction crossing the optic axis of the photographing optical system, and switching means for switching the focus state detection by said focus state detecting means between focus state detecting areas of different sizes, according to the result of displacement detection by said displacement detection means, wherein said switching means is adapted in response to a displacement detection by said displacement detection means, to switch a current focus state detecting area to a wider focus state detecting area.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
150 words
An automatic focus state detecting apparatus, comprising: focus state detecting means capable of effecting focus state detection in each of plural focus state detecting areas of different sizes present in an object field; displacement detection means for detecting the displacement of a photographing optical system in a direction crossing an optic axis of the photographing optical system or for detecting the relative displacement between the photographing optical system and the object in the direction crossing the optic axis of the photographing optical system, and switching means for switching the focus state detection by said focus state detecting means between focus state detecting areas of different sizes, according to the result of displacement detection by said displacement detection means, wherein said switching means is adapted in response to a displacement detection by said displacement detection means, to switch a current focus state detecting area to a wider focus state detecting area.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-07-14 | 1996-01-13 | 1996-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-14 | 2000-01-13 | 2000-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-14 | 2004-01-13 | 2004-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |