Patent US5218394A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5218394A
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US
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Automatic focusing camera with improved determination of operation modes
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-11-19
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Granted: 1993-06-08
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Expires: 2010-11-19
Abstract
Abstract An automatic focusing camera according to the present invention is an automatic focusing camera having a plurality of operation modes, including an information input device for entering a plurality of types of photographing information, an information analyzer for analyzing the photographing information entered by the information input device based on a fuzzy inference, and a mode determining device for determining one of the operation modes based on the result of the analysis of the information analyzer.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Ueda
- 👤 Hiroshi Ootsuka
- 👤 Tokuji Ishida
- 👤 Toshio Norita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G03; G03B; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/005; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A camera comprising: an automatic focusing means, operable in a plurality of focusing modes, for automatically adjusting a focus condition of an object lens; brightness measuring means for measuring changes with time in brightness at plural points of an object; distance measuring means for measuring changes with time in a distance to the object; and mode determining means for determining one of said focusing modes based on measured values by said brightness measuring means and said distance measuring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A camera comprising: an automatic focusing means, operable in a plurality of focusing modes, for automatically adjusting a focus condition of an object lens; brightness measuring means for measuring changes with time in brightness at plural points of an object; distance measuring means for measuring changes with time in a distance to the object; and mode determining means for determining one of said focusing modes based on measured values by said brightness measuring means and said distance measuring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A camera according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of focusing modes includes a first mode in which a focus adjusting operation is not carried out after in-focus state is once realized, and a second mode in which a focus adjusting operation is repeated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A camera according to claim 2 wherein said second mode includes a mode in which focus adjustment is carried out by predicting the movement of the object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A camera according to claim 1 wherein said brightness measuring means measures change of brightness at the center of the photographing plane and change of brightness in the periphery of the photographing plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A camera comprising: focus detecting means for detecting a focus condition of an object lens; automatic focus adjusting means, operable in a plurality of focus adjusting modes, for automatically adjusting a focus condition of said object lens based on the focus condition detected by said focus detecting means; brightness measuring means for measuring changes with time in brightness of an object; and mode determining means for determining one of said focus adjusting modes based on measured values obtained by said brightness measuring means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
A camera comprising: focus detecting means for detecting a focus condition of an object lens; automatic focus adjusting means, operable in a plurality of focus adjusting modes, for automatically adjusting a focus condition of said object lens based on the focus condition detected by said focus detecting means; brightness measuring means for measuring changes with time in brightness of an object; and mode determining means for determining one of said focus adjusting modes based on measured values obtained by said brightness measuring means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A camera according to claim 5 wherein said plurality of modes includes a first mode in which a focus adjusting operation is not carried out after in-focus state in once realized, and a second mode in which a focus adjusting operation is repeated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A camera according to claim 6 wherein said second mode includes a mode in which focus adjustment is carried out by predicting the movement of the object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A camera according to claim 5 wherein said brightness measuring means measures change of brightness at the center of the photographing plane and change of brightness in the periphery of the photographing plane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A camera according to claim 5 wherein said focus detecting means detects defocus amount of said object lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A camera according to claim 5 wherein said focus detecting means includes a sensor for receiving light coming through said object lens, and means for calculating a focus condition based on an output of said sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
A camera comprising: an automatic focusing means, operable in a plurality of focusing modes, for automatically adjusting a focus condition of an object lens; first brightness measuring means for detecting change in brightness of a first area in the photographing plane; second brightness measuring means for detecting change of brightness in a second area in the photographing plane; and mode determining means for determining one of said focusing modes based on measured values obtained by said first and second brightness measuring means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
A camera comprising: an automatic focusing means, operable in a plurality of focusing modes, for automatically adjusting a focus condition of an object lens; first brightness measuring means for detecting change in brightness of a first area in the photographing plane; second brightness measuring means for detecting change of brightness in a second area in the photographing plane; and mode determining means for determining one of said focusing modes based on measured values obtained by said first and second brightness measuring means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A camera according to claim 11, wherein said first area includes a central area of the photographing plane and said second area includes a peripheral area of the photographing plane.
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) | 1996-06-07 | 1996-12-07 | 1997-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-12-07 | 2001-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-07 | 2004-12-07 | 2005-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |