Photographic optical system controlling apparatus

Claim 2

An automatic focusing apparatus for automatically controlling the focusing operation of an optical system on the basis of image signals obtained in a focusing detecting area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting uniform motion of an image by correlating pixel density values of two time continuous image data and accumulatively adding the correlated pixel density values to create a uniform motion vector; and (b) focus detecting area controlling means for detecting the main object from the uniform motion vector and for varying the focus detecting area to follow the detected motion of the main object.

Claim 3

The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion vector detecting means correlates pixel density values by calculating an absolute value difference between two continuous screens of image data at each block of a plurality of separate blocks of the total or part of the screen, and by calculating the motion vector from an address of a minimum added result of each block.

Claim 4

The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: focus detecting area designating means for designating the focus detecting area in accordance with the main object to be followed.

Claim 5

The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the focus detecting area designating means includes a plurality of directional key switches.

Claim 6

The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the focus detecting area designating means is a rollerball.

Claim 7

The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the focus detecting area designating means is a joystick.

Claim 8

An automatic focusing apparatus for automatically controlling the focusing operation of an optical system based on an image signal obtained in a focusing detecting area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of an image from correlation of two time continuous frames of image data; (b) gate area controlling means for detecting a main object from an output of said motion vector detecting means, and for controlling a gate area to follow the detected motion of the main object; (c) gate area superimposing means for superimposing a moveable focusing detecting area on the image signal, and displaying the superimposed signal; and (d) gate area designating means for allowing manual shifting of the moveable focusing detecting area by a user.

Claim 9

An automatic focusing apparatus for automatically controlling the focusing operation of an optical system based on an image signal obtained in a focusing detecting area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of an image from correlation of two time continuous frames of image data; (b) gate area controlling means for detecting a main object from an output of said motion vector detecting means, and for controlling a gate area to follow the detected motion of the main object; (c) gate area superimposing means for superimposing a moveable focusing detecting area on the image signal, and displaying the superimposed signal; and (d) gate area designating means for allowing manual shifting of the moveable focusing detecting area by a user.

Claim 10

The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the gate area designating means includes a plurality of directional key switches.

Claim 11

The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the gate area designating means is a rollerball.

Claim 12

The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the gate area designating means is a joystick.

Claim 13

An automatic focusing apparatus for automatically controlling the focusing operation of an optical system based on an image signal obtained in a focusing detecting area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of an image from the correlation of two time continuous frames of image data; (b) gate area controlling means for detecting a main object from an output of said motion vector detecting means, and for controlling a gate area to follow the detected motion of the main object; (c) judging means for judging the main object as occupying one of a part and a majority of the screen; and (d) area changing means for varying the motion vector detecting area in accordance with contents of the image so as to detect the motion vector, from the image on entire screen when the main object is judged to occupy the majority of the screen, and from only a portion of the image in a vicinity of the focusing detecting area when the main object is judged to occupy only a part of the screen less than a majority.

Claim 14

An automatic focusing apparatus for automatically controlling the focusing operation of an optical system based on an image signal obtained in a focusing detecting area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of an image from the correlation of two time continuous frames of image data; (b) gate area controlling means for detecting a main object from an output of said motion vector detecting means, and for controlling a gate area to follow the detected motion of the main object; (c) judging means for judging the main object as occupying one of a part and a majority of the screen; and (d) area changing means for varying the motion vector detecting area in accordance with contents of the image so as to detect the motion vector, from the image on entire screen when the main object is judged to occupy the majority of the screen, and from only a portion of the image in a vicinity of the focusing detecting area when the main object is judged to occupy only a part of the screen less than a majority.

Claim 15

The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: (e) gate area superimposing means for superimposing a moveable focusing detecting area on the image signal and displaying the superimposed signal; and (f) gate area designating means for allowing manual shifting of the moveable focusing detecting area by a user.

Claim 16

The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gate area designating means includes a plurality of directional key switches.

Claim 17

The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gate area designating means is a rollerball.

Claim 18

The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gate area designating means is a joystick.