Speed detection apparatus for camera

Claim 2

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam a predetermined number of times toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of a output from said light-receiving means; integration means for integrating the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected; and speed calculation means for subtracting from an output of said integration means a product of a distance signal output corresponding to a pulse beam in a last stage of the repetitively projected pulse beams and an object distance measurement time, and calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light-receiving means includes a semiconductor position detection element, and if currents output from two ends of said semiconductor position detection element are represented by I 1 and I 2 , said distance calculation means calculates I 1 /(I 1 +I 2 ).

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, further including means for changing the predetermined number of times in accordance with the distance signal.

Claim 5

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for integrating the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means and an output from said distance calculation means.

Claim 6

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for integrating the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means and an output from said distance calculation means.

Claim 7

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam a predetermined number of times toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; first and second integration means for integrating the distance signal; switching means for selectively supplying an output from said distance calculation means to one of said first and second integration means; timing means for instructing said projection means to project light, and switching said switching means to supply the output from said distance calculation means to said first integration means during light projection operations in a former half of the predetermined number times, and to supply the output from said distance calculation means to said second integration means during light projection operations in a latter half of the predetermined number times; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of a difference between outputs from said first and second integration means.

Claim 8

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam a predetermined number of times toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; first and second integration means for integrating the distance signal; switching means for selectively supplying an output from said distance calculation means to one of said first and second integration means; timing means for instructing said projection means to project light, and switching said switching means to supply the output from said distance calculation means to said first integration means during light projection operations in a former half of the predetermined number times, and to supply the output from said distance calculation means to said second integration means during light projection operations in a latter half of the predetermined number times; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of a difference between outputs from said first and second integration means.

Claim 9

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; first integration means for integrating the distance signal at a first timing at which the pulse beam is projected; second integration means for integrating the distance signal at a second timing at which the pulse beam is projected; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of a difference between outputs from said first and second integration means.

Claim 10

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; first integration means for integrating the distance signal at a first timing at which the pulse beam is projected; second integration means for integrating the distance signal at a second timing at which the pulse beam is projected; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of a difference between outputs from said first and second integration means.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first timing corresponds to former continuous projection timings of the light beams repetitively projected by said projection means, and the second timing corresponds to latter continuous projection timings of the light beams repetitively projected by said projection means.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first timing corresponds to odd-numbered projection timings of the light beams repetitively projected by said projection means, and the second timing corresponds to even-numbered projection timings of the light beams repetitively projected by said projection means.

Claim 13

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for integrating the distance signal to obtain a moving speed of the object; projection calculation means for calculating a light emission interval or the number of times of light emissions in accordance with the distance signal at an initial projection timing of the repetitively projected pulse beams; projection control means for controlling said projection means on the basis of the light emission interval or the number of times of light emissions calculated by said projection calculation means; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 14

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for integrating the distance signal to obtain a moving speed of the object; projection calculation means for calculating a light emission interval or the number of times of light emissions in accordance with the distance signal at an initial projection timing of the repetitively projected pulse beams; projection control means for controlling said projection means on the basis of the light emission interval or the number of times of light emissions calculated by said projection calculation means; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said integration means includes a first integration circuit for integrating the distance signal at a first timing, a second integration circuit for integrating the distance signal at a second timing different from the first timing, and a subtraction circuit for calculating a difference between outputs from the first and second integration circuits.

Claim 16

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a current signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; inversion means for inverting a flow direction of the current signal output from said distance calculation means; integration means for performing a positive integration based on the current signal or a negative integration based on the current signal output from said inversion means in accordance with the light projection operations; and means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 17

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a current signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; inversion means for inverting a flow direction of the current signal output from said distance calculation means; integration means for performing a positive integration based on the current signal or a negative integration based on the current signal output from said inversion means in accordance with the light projection operations; and means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said integration means includes means for performing the positive integration during a former half of the repetitive light projection operations, and operating said inversion means to perform the negative integration based on the current signal output from said inversion means in a latter half of the repetitive light projection operations.

Claim 19

An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said integration means includes means for performing the positive integration at odd-numbered projection timings of the pulse beams repetitively projected by said projection means, and performing the negative integration at even-numbered projection timings of the pulse beams repetitively projected by said projection means.

Claim 20

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for performing a positive integration a plurality of times or performing a negative integration a same number of times as the positive integrations on the basis of the distance signal; and means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 21

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for performing a positive integration a plurality of times or performing a negative integration a same number of times as the positive integrations on the basis of the distance signal; and means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 22

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for positively integrating the distance signal at odd-numbered light projection timings, and negatively integrating the distance signal at even-numbered light projection timings; discrimination means for discriminating on the basis of an output from said integration means whether or not the object is moving at a speed higher than a given limit speed, or whether or not the object is located at a far position, and for, when it is discriminated that the object is moving at a speed higher than the given limit speed or that the object is located at the far position, outputting an alarm signal; reset means for resetting an integration value of said integration means on the basis of the alarm signal; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 23

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for positively integrating the distance signal at odd-numbered light projection timings, and negatively integrating the distance signal at even-numbered light projection timings; discrimination means for discriminating on the basis of an output from said integration means whether or not the object is moving at a speed higher than a given limit speed, or whether or not the object is located at a far position, and for, when it is discriminated that the object is moving at a speed higher than the given limit speed or that the object is located at the far position, outputting an alarm signal; reset means for resetting an integration value of said integration means on the basis of the alarm signal; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 24

An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said integration means comprises inversion means for inverting a distance current signal output from said distance calculation means, said integration means performing the positive integration by integrating the distance current signal at the odd-numbered light projection timings, and performing the negative integration by integrating an output from said inversion means at the even-numbered light projection timings.

Claim 25

An apparatus according to claim 15, further including means for restarting the integration operation after said integration means is reset by said reset means, said speed calculation means calculating the speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means after the integration operation is restarted.

Claim 26

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said distance calculation means; discrimination means for discriminating on the basis of an output from said integration means whether or not detection reliability of the moving speed of the object is high, and for, when it is discriminated that the reliability is low, outputting an alarm signal; reset means for resetting an integration value of said integration means on the basis of the alarm signal; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 27

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said distance calculation means; discrimination means for discriminating on the basis of an output from said integration means whether or not detection reliability of the moving speed of the object is high, and for, when it is discriminated that the reliability is low, outputting an alarm signal; reset means for resetting an integration value of said integration means on the basis of the alarm signal; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 28

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said discrimination means includes means for, when a speed correspondent value based on the output from said integration means exceeds a predetermined value, discriminating that reliability is low.

Claim 29

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said integration means includes means for performing a positive integration at former continuous light projection timings of the repetitively projected beams, and performing a negative integration at latter continuous light projection timings of the repetitively projected beams.

Claim 30

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said integration means includes means for performing a positive integration at odd-numbered light projection timings of the repetitively projected beams, and performing a negative integration at even-numbered light projection timings of the repetitively projected beams.

Claim 31

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said distance calculation means; discrimination means for discriminating on the basis of an output from said distance calculation means whether or not detection reliability of the moving speed of the object is high, and for, when it is discriminated that the reliability is low, outputting an alarm signal; reset means for resetting an integration value of said integration means on the basis of the alarm signal; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 32

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said distance calculation means; discrimination means for discriminating on the basis of an output from said distance calculation means whether or not detection reliability of the moving speed of the object is high, and for, when it is discriminated that the reliability is low, outputting an alarm signal; reset means for resetting an integration value of said integration means on the basis of the alarm signal; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 33

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said discrimination means includes means for, when a distance correspondent value of the object based on the output from said distance calculation means indicates a farther position than that indicated by a predetermined value, discriminating that the reliability is low.

Claim 34

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said integration means includes means for performing a positive integration at former continuous light projection timings of the repetitively projected beams, and performing a negative integration at later continuous light projection timings of the repetitively projected beams.

Claim 35

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said integration means includes means for performing a positive integration of odd-numbered light projection timings of the repetitively projected beams, and performing a negative integration at even-numbered light projection timings of the repetitively projected beams.

Claim 36

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward and object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for integrating the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 37

A speed detection apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward and object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for integrating the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means.

Claim 38

A moving object distance prediction apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward and object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance equal inversely proportional to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; storage means for storing an initial position of the object at an initial projection timing of the pulse beams; displacement rate calculation means for adding the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected after the initial position is calculated, and outputting a rate of displacement over time of the object; and prediction means for obtaining a correction amount on the basis of the initial position and the rate of displacement over time, and predicting a position of the object after an elapse of a predetermined period of time.

Claim 39

A moving object distance prediction apparatus comprising: projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward and object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance equal inversely proportional to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; storage means for storing an initial position of the object at an initial projection timing of the pulse beams; displacement rate calculation means for adding the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected after the initial position is calculated, and outputting a rate of displacement over time of the object; and prediction means for obtaining a correction amount on the basis of the initial position and the rate of displacement over time, and predicting a position of the object after an elapse of a predetermined period of time.

Claim 40

An apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising memory means for storing a table for obtaining the correction amount on the basis of the initial position and the rate of displacement over time, and wherein said prediction means includes means for obtaining the correction amount on the basis of the initial position and the rate of displacement over time stored in said memory means, and predicting the position of the object.

Claim 41

An auto-focus apparatus comprising: projection means for projecting a distance measurement beam toward an object; distance measurement means for receiving the beam projected by said projection means and reflected by the object, and outputting a signal according to a distance to the object; projection control means for causing said projection means to repetitively project the beam a plurality of times; prediction means, including integration means for integrating an output from said distance measurement means every time said projection means projects the beam, for predicting a position of the object upon exposure on the basis of the integration result and an output from said distance measurement means; and drive means for driving a taking lens to the predicted position.

Claim 42

An auto-focus apparatus comprising: projection means for projecting a distance measurement beam toward an object; distance measurement means for receiving the beam projected by said projection means and reflected by the object, and outputting a signal according to a distance to the object; projection control means for causing said projection means to repetitively project the beam a plurality of times; prediction means, including integration means for integrating an output from said distance measurement means every time said projection means projects the beam, for predicting a position of the object upon exposure on the basis of the integration result and an output from said distance measurement means; and drive means for driving a taking lens to the predicted position.

Claim 43

An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said prediction means includes: integration means for integrating an output from said distance measurement means every time said projection means projects the beam; speed detection means for detecting a moving speed of the object on the basis of the integration result and an output from said distance measurement means at a predetermined timing; and position determination means for determining the position of the object upon exposure on the basis of the output from said distance measurement means at the predetermined timing, and the moving speed.

Claim 44

An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said predication means includes means for obtaining the position on the basis of the integration result and the output from said distance measurement means at the predetermined timing.

Claim 45

An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said integration means includes: first integration means for integrating output signals from said distance measurement means corresponding to the beams projected in a former half of the plurality of times of light projection operations; second integration means for integrating output signals from said distance measurement means corresponding to the beams projected in a latter half of the plurality of times of light projection operations; and difference calculation means for calculating a difference between the integration results from said first and second integration means.

Claim 46

An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said integration means includes: first integration means for integrating output signals from said distance measurement means corresponding to the beams projected at odd-numbered timings of the plurality of times of light projection operations; second integration means for integrating output signals from said distance measurement means corresponding to the beams projected at even-numbered timings of the plurality of times of light projection operations; and difference calculation means for calculating a difference between the integration results from said first and second integration means.

Claim 47

An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said integration means includes means for dividing the outputs from said distance measurement means corresponding to the plurality of times of light projection operations into former and latter halves, and integrating the outputs while inverting an integration direction in one of the former and latter halves.

Claim 48

An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said integration means includes means for integrating the outputs from said distance measurement means on the basis of odd-numbered beams projected by said projection means by one of positive and negative integrations, and integrating the outputs from said distance measurement means on the basis of even-numbered beams projected by said projection means by the other of positive and negative integrations.

Claim 49

An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said projection control means includes projection change means for changing an interval or the number of times of the light projection operations on the basis of an initial output from said distance measurement means.

Claim 50

An apparatus according to claim 29, further including: discrimination means for discriminating whether or not an output from said distance measurement means indicates a distance farther than a predetermined distance, or whether or not an output from said integration means is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and for, when it is discriminated that the output from said distance measurement means indicates a distance farther than the predetermined distance, or that the output from said integration means is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, outputting an alarm signal; and reset means for resetting an output from said integration means in response to the alarm signal.

Claim 51

An apparatus according to claim 29, further including: discrimination means for discriminating whether or not an output from said distance measurement means indicates a distance farther than a predetermined distance, or whether or not an output from said integration means is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and for, when it is discriminated that the output from said distance measurement means indicates a distance farther than the predetermined distance, or that the output from said integration means is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, outputting an alarm signal; and alarm means for performing an alarm display in response to the alarm signal.