Camera with multiple lens driving modes

Claim 2

A camera comprising: (a) an operation member manually operable in the direction of clockwise, counterclockwise, back and forth; (b) first detecting means for detecting rotating movement of said operation member; (c) second detecting means for detecting back and forth movement of the above operation member; (d) power zooming means for executing zooming operation in response to output of one detecting means; and (e) power focusing means for executing focusing operation in response to output of the other detecting means.

Claim 3

A camera according to claim 1, wherein the power zooming means executes zooming operation in response to the output of the first detecting means, and the power focusing means drives the focusing lens in response to the output of the second detecting means.

Claim 4

A camera according to claim 1, wherein said camera includes a camera body and an interchangeable lens attachable to the camera body, wherein said operation member, and first and second detecting means are mounted on the interchangeable lens.

Claim 5

A camera according to claim 3, wherein the power focusing means comprises transmission means for transmitting the output of one detecting means to the camera body; focusing lens mounted in the interchangeable lens; and first driving means built in the camera body for driving said focusing lens, said first driving means driving said focusing lens responding to the output transmitted by the above transmission means.

Claim 6

A camera according to claim 3, wherein the power zooming means includes second driving means built in the interchangeable lens, for executing zooming operation in response to the output of one detecting means.

Claim 7

A camera comprising: an operation member, which is manually operable in at least three different directions; detecting means for detecting at least two operated directions of said operation member; controlling means responsive to the operated direction for controlling operation of said camera corresponding to the operated direction; and urging means for urging said operation member to a position.

Claim 8

A camera comprising: an operation member, which is manually operable in at least three different directions; detecting means for detecting at least two operated directions of said operation member; controlling means responsive to the operated direction for controlling operation of said camera corresponding to the operated direction; and urging means for urging said operation member to a position.

Claim 9

A camera according to claim 6, wherein the three different directions are clockwise rotation, counterclockwise rotation and forward movement or backward movement.

Claim 10

A camera according to claim 7, wherein the control means comprises; power zooming means for executing zooming in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the above operation member when the member is only rotated; and power focusing means for executing focusing in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction when the above operation member is rotated while it is moved back or forth.

Claim 11

A camera according to claim 6, wherein said camera includes a camera body and an interchangeable lens attachable to the camera body, wherein said operation member is mounted in the above interchangeable lens.

Claim 12

A camera according to claim 6, wherein the above operation member can be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise, and moved back and forth, and said control means comprises power zooming means for executing zooming in response to detected direction of rotation of said operation member and power focusing means for executing focusing in response to detected direction of back and forth of said operation member.

Claim 13

A camera comprising: power zooming means; power focusing means: mode changing means changing modes between a mode to actuate power zooming means and a mode to actuate power focusing means; a single operation member; and control means for determining the zooming direction of the above power zooming means and the focusing direction of said power focusing means, and for changing the above modes in response to operation of the above single operation member.

Claim 14

A camera comprising: power zooming means; power focusing means: mode changing means changing modes between a mode to actuate power zooming means and a mode to actuate power focusing means; a single operation member; and control means for determining the zooming direction of the above power zooming means and the focusing direction of said power focusing means, and for changing the above modes in response to operation of the above single operation member.

Claim 15

A camera according to claim 11, wherein the control means comprises operated amount detecting means for detecting the moved amount of the above operation member and speed determinating means for determining the speed of zooming or focusing corresponding to the detected operation amount.

Claim 16

A camera according to claim 11, wherein said camera includes a camera body, and an interchangeable lens attachable to the camera body, wherein the above operation member is built in the interchangeable lens.

Claim 17

A camera comprising: an operation member linearly shiftable from a first position to a second position, and further rotatable in either of first and second positions; first detecting means for detecting the rotation of said operation member; second detecting means for detecting the position of said operation member; power zooming means, for executing zooming in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction when said first detecting means detects the rotation of said operation member while an output of said second detecting means indicates that the member is located at a first position; and power focusing means, for executing focusing in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction when said first detecting means detects that said operation member is rotated while the output of said second detecting means indicates that the operation member is located at a second position.

Claim 18

A camera comprising: an operation member linearly shiftable from a first position to a second position, and further rotatable in either of first and second positions; first detecting means for detecting the rotation of said operation member; second detecting means for detecting the position of said operation member; power zooming means, for executing zooming in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction when said first detecting means detects the rotation of said operation member while an output of said second detecting means indicates that the member is located at a first position; and power focusing means, for executing focusing in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction when said first detecting means detects that said operation member is rotated while the output of said second detecting means indicates that the operation member is located at a second position.

Claim 19

A camera according to claim 14, wherein the power zooming means executes zooming at a speed corresponding to an operated amount of the operation member, and the power focusing means executes focusing at a speed corresponding to an operated amount of the operation member.

Claim 20

A camera according to claim 1, wherein said power zooming means includes a zooming motor for driving a zooming optical system in response to output of one of said detecting means, and said power focusing means includes a focusing motor for driving a focusing optical system in response to output of the other of said detecting means.

Claim 21

A camera according to claim 8, wherein said power zooming means includes a zooming motor for driving a zooming optical system and said power focusing means includes a focusing motor for driving a focusing optical system.

Claim 22

A camera according to claim 10, wherein said power zooming means includes a zooming motor for driving a zooming optical system and said power focusing means includes a focusing motor for driving a focusing optical system.

Claim 23

A camera according to claim 11, wherein said power zooming means includes a zooming motor for driving a zooming optical system, said power focusing means includes a focusing motor for driving a focusing optical system, and said controlling means determines a driving direction of said zooming motor and a driving direction of said focusing motor.

Claim 24

A camera according to claim 14, wherein said power zooming means includes a zooming motor for driving a zooming optical system and said power focusing means includes a focusing motor for driving a focusing optical system.

Claim 25

A camera comprising: an operation member; driving means for driving a photographic lens; manual focusing means for controlling a driving direction of said driving means in response to manual operation of said member in a first direction and for controlling a driving speed of said driving means based on an operation amount of said operation member in the first direction; automatic focusing means having focusing detecting means for detecting focus condition of the photographic lens, and means for controlling said driving means based on the detected focus condition; and forbidding means for forbidding an operation of said automatic focusing means in response to manual operation of said operation member in a second direction.

Claim 26

A camera comprising: an operation member; driving means for driving a photographic lens; manual focusing means for controlling a driving direction of said driving means in response to manual operation of said member in a first direction and for controlling a driving speed of said driving means based on an operation amount of said operation member in the first direction; automatic focusing means having focusing detecting means for detecting focus condition of the photographic lens, and means for controlling said driving means based on the detected focus condition; and forbidding means for forbidding an operation of said automatic focusing means in response to manual operation of said operation member in a second direction.

Claim 27

A camera according to claim 21, wherein the first direction is a rotating direction around an optical axis of the photographic lens, and the second direction is a direction parallel to the optical axis.

Claim 28

A camera according to claim 21, wherein said manual focusing means is operable while the operation of said automatic focusing means is forbidden by said forbidding means and is not operable while the operation of said automatic focusing means is performed.

Claim 29

A camera according to claim 21, wherein said operation member is movable between a first position in which the operation of said automatic focusing means is permitted and a second direction in which the operation of said automatic focusing means is forbidden, and is urged to the first position so as to start the operation of said automatic focusing means in response to releasing of the manual operation of said operation member.

Claim 30

A camera comprising: an operation member movable between a first position and a second position in a first direction and movable in a second direction; manual focusing means for manually focusing a photographic lens by moving the photographic lens in the direction corresponding to manual operation of the second direction of the operation member; automatic focusing means having focusing detecting means for detecting focus condition of the photographic lens, and means for automatically focusing the photographic lens by moving the photographic lens based on the detected focus condition; mode selecting means for selecting one of a first focusing mode in which focusing operation is performed by said automatic focusing means and a second focusing means in which focusing operation is performed by said manual focusing means, the mode selecting means selecting the first mode when said operation member is located in the first position and selecting the second mode when said operation member is located in the second position; and urging means for urging said operation member to the first position so that said mode selecting means selects the first focusing mode in response to releasing of the manual operation of said operation member.

Claim 31

A camera comprising: an operation member movable between a first position and a second position in a first direction and movable in a second direction; manual focusing means for manually focusing a photographic lens by moving the photographic lens in the direction corresponding to manual operation of the second direction of the operation member; automatic focusing means having focusing detecting means for detecting focus condition of the photographic lens, and means for automatically focusing the photographic lens by moving the photographic lens based on the detected focus condition; mode selecting means for selecting one of a first focusing mode in which focusing operation is performed by said automatic focusing means and a second focusing means in which focusing operation is performed by said manual focusing means, the mode selecting means selecting the first mode when said operation member is located in the first position and selecting the second mode when said operation member is located in the second position; and urging means for urging said operation member to the first position so that said mode selecting means selects the first focusing mode in response to releasing of the manual operation of said operation member.

Claim 32

A camera according to claim 25, wherein the first direction is a direction parallel to an optical axis of said photographic lens and the second position is a position backward of the first position.

Claim 33

A camera according to claim 26, wherein said manual focusing means includes driving means for driving a focusing optical system in the photographic lens and drive controlling means for controlling said driving means in response to the operation of said operation member in the second direction.

Claim 34

A camera comprising: an operation member movable between a first position and a second position in a direction of an optical axis of a photographic lens, the second position being backward of the first position; automatic focusing means having focusing detecting means for detecting focus condition of the photographic lens, and means for automatically focusing the photographic lens by moving the photographic lens based on the detected focus condition; forbidding means for forbidding an operation of said automatic focusing means when said operation member is located in the second position; and urging means for urging said operation member to the first position so as to start the operation of said automatic focusing means in response to releasing of the manual operation of said operation member.

Claim 35

A camera comprising: an operation member movable between a first position and a second position in a direction of an optical axis of a photographic lens, the second position being backward of the first position; automatic focusing means having focusing detecting means for detecting focus condition of the photographic lens, and means for automatically focusing the photographic lens by moving the photographic lens based on the detected focus condition; forbidding means for forbidding an operation of said automatic focusing means when said operation member is located in the second position; and urging means for urging said operation member to the first position so as to start the operation of said automatic focusing means in response to releasing of the manual operation of said operation member.

Claim 36

A camera according to claim 28, wherein said operation member is an operation ring disposed around a lens barrel of said photographic lens.

Claim 37

A camera comprising: an operation member movable in a first direction and a second direction; automatic focusing means having focusing detecting means for detecting focus condition of a photographic lens, and means for automatically focusing the photographic lens by moving the photographic lens based on the detected focus condition; controlling means for controlling said automatic focusing means so that an automatic focusing operation of said automatic focusing means is performed when said operation member is not manually operated, and is forbidden when said operation member is manually operated in the first direction; and manual focusing means, operable while said operation member is manually operated in the first direction, for manually focusing a photographic lens by moving the photographic lens in the direction corresponding to manual operation of the operation member in the second direction.

Claim 38

A camera comprising: an operation member movable in a first direction and a second direction; automatic focusing means having focusing detecting means for detecting focus condition of a photographic lens, and means for automatically focusing the photographic lens by moving the photographic lens based on the detected focus condition; controlling means for controlling said automatic focusing means so that an automatic focusing operation of said automatic focusing means is performed when said operation member is not manually operated, and is forbidden when said operation member is manually operated in the first direction; and manual focusing means, operable while said operation member is manually operated in the first direction, for manually focusing a photographic lens by moving the photographic lens in the direction corresponding to manual operation of the operation member in the second direction.

Claim 39

A camera comprising: an operation member movable in a first direction and a second direction; power zooming means having driving means for driving a zooming optical system in a photographic lens and drive controlling means for controlling said driving means in reponse to manual operation of said operation member in the second direction; and forbidding means for forbidding the power zooming operation in response to an operation of said operation member in the first direction so that the power zooming means does not operate even if said operation member is operated in the second direction.

Claim 40

A camera comprising: an operation member movable in a first direction and a second direction; power zooming means having driving means for driving a zooming optical system in a photographic lens and drive controlling means for controlling said driving means in reponse to manual operation of said operation member in the second direction; and forbidding means for forbidding the power zooming operation in response to an operation of said operation member in the first direction so that the power zooming means does not operate even if said operation member is operated in the second direction.

Claim 41

A camera according to claim 31, wherein the first direction is a direction parallel to an optical axis of said photographic lens and the second direction is a rotating direction around the optical axis.

Claim 42

A camera system composed of a camera body and an interchangeable lens attachable to said camera body, comprising: photographic optical system disposed in said interchangeable lens; an operation member, disposed on said interchangeable lens, said photographic optical system being manually adjusted in response to operation of said operation member in a first direction; operation detecting means disposed in said interchangeable lens for detecting a manual operation of said operation member in a second direction, and for outputting an operation signal; transmitting means for transmitting the operation signal from said interchangeable lens to said camera body; driving means, disposed in said camera body, for driving said photographic optical system; detecting means for detecting a condition of an image of an object formed by said photographic optical system; automatic adjusting means for adjusting said photographic optical system by controlling said driving means based on the detected condition; and forbidding means disposed in said camera body for forbidding an operation of said automatic adjusting means in response to the operation signal.

Claim 43

A camera system composed of a camera body and an interchangeable lens attachable to said camera body, comprising: photographic optical system disposed in said interchangeable lens; an operation member, disposed on said interchangeable lens, said photographic optical system being manually adjusted in response to operation of said operation member in a first direction; operation detecting means disposed in said interchangeable lens for detecting a manual operation of said operation member in a second direction, and for outputting an operation signal; transmitting means for transmitting the operation signal from said interchangeable lens to said camera body; driving means, disposed in said camera body, for driving said photographic optical system; detecting means for detecting a condition of an image of an object formed by said photographic optical system; automatic adjusting means for adjusting said photographic optical system by controlling said driving means based on the detected condition; and forbidding means disposed in said camera body for forbidding an operation of said automatic adjusting means in response to the operation signal.

Claim 44

A camera according to claim 33, further comprising second operation detecting means for detecting the operation of said operation member in the first direction and for outputting a second operation signal, and wherein said transmitting means transmits the second operation signal from said interchangeable lens to said camera body.

Claim 45

A camera system according to claim 34, further comprising manually drive controlling means for controlling said driving means in response to the second operation signal whereby said photographic optical system is manually adjusted.

Claim 46

A camera comprising: a photographic lens; first driving means for driving a zooming optical system in said photographic lens; second driving means for driving a focusing optical system in said photographic lens; power zooming means for controlling said first driving means in response to a manual operation in a rotating direction around an optical axis of said photographic lens; and power focusing means for controlling said second driving means in response to a manual operation in a direction parallel to the optical axis of said photographic lens.

Claim 47

A camera comprising: a photographic lens; first driving means for driving a zooming optical system in said photographic lens; second driving means for driving a focusing optical system in said photographic lens; power zooming means for controlling said first driving means in response to a manual operation in a rotating direction around an optical axis of said photographic lens; and power focusing means for controlling said second driving means in response to a manual operation in a direction parallel to the optical axis of said photographic lens.

Claim 48

A camera comprising: a photographic lens; first driving means for driving a zooming optical system in said photographic lens; second driving means for driving a focusing optical system in said photographic lens; zooming means for controlling said first driving means in response to a first manual operation in a rotating direction around an optical axis of said photographic lens; automatic focusing means having focusing detecting means for detecting focus condition of a photographic lens, and means for controlling said second driving means based on the detected focus condition; and forbidding means for forbidding an operation of said automatic focusing means in response to a second manual operation in a direction parallel to the optical axis of said photographic lens.

Claim 49

A camera comprising: a photographic lens; first driving means for driving a zooming optical system in said photographic lens; second driving means for driving a focusing optical system in said photographic lens; zooming means for controlling said first driving means in response to a first manual operation in a rotating direction around an optical axis of said photographic lens; automatic focusing means having focusing detecting means for detecting focus condition of a photographic lens, and means for controlling said second driving means based on the detected focus condition; and forbidding means for forbidding an operation of said automatic focusing means in response to a second manual operation in a direction parallel to the optical axis of said photographic lens.

Claim 50

A camera according to claim 37, wherein the camera is composed of a camera body and an interchangeable lens, and said camera further comprising transmitting means for transmitting an operation signal representing occurrence of the second manual operation from said interchangeable lens to said camera body; said first driving means and said forbidding means being disposed in said camera body and said forbidding means being activated in response to the operation signal transmitted from the interchangeable lens.

Claim 51

A camera comprising: a photographic lens; first driving means for driving a zooming optical system in said photographic lens; second driving means for driving a focusing optical system in said photographic lens; zooming means for controlling said first driving means in response to a first manual operation in a rotating direction around an optical axis of said photographic lens; automatic focusing means having focusing detecting means for detecting focus condition of a photographic lens, and means for controlling said second driving means based on the detected focus condition; manual focusing means for controlling said second driving means in response to a second manual operation in a rotating direction around an optical axis of said photographic lens; and mode changing means operable in response to a third manual operation in a direction parallel to the optical axis of said photographic lens for changing from a first mode in which said zooming means and said manual focusing means are activated to a second mode in which said manual focusing means is activated.

Claim 52

A camera comprising: a photographic lens; first driving means for driving a zooming optical system in said photographic lens; second driving means for driving a focusing optical system in said photographic lens; zooming means for controlling said first driving means in response to a first manual operation in a rotating direction around an optical axis of said photographic lens; automatic focusing means having focusing detecting means for detecting focus condition of a photographic lens, and means for controlling said second driving means based on the detected focus condition; manual focusing means for controlling said second driving means in response to a second manual operation in a rotating direction around an optical axis of said photographic lens; and mode changing means operable in response to a third manual operation in a direction parallel to the optical axis of said photographic lens for changing from a first mode in which said zooming means and said manual focusing means are activated to a second mode in which said manual focusing means is activated.

Claim 53

An interchangeable lens attachable to a camera body comprising: a zooming optical system; driving means for driving said zooming optical system; an operation member selectively operable in a first direction and a second direction; first detection means for detecting an operation of said operation member in the first direction, and for outputting a first operating signal; second detection means for detecting an operation of said operation member in the second direction, and for outputting a second operating signal; drive controlling means for controlling said driving means in response to the first operating signal; and forbidding means for forbidding the driving operation of said driving means in response to the second operating signal.

Claim 54

An interchangeable lens attachable to a camera body comprising: a zooming optical system; driving means for driving said zooming optical system; an operation member selectively operable in a first direction and a second direction; first detection means for detecting an operation of said operation member in the first direction, and for outputting a first operating signal; second detection means for detecting an operation of said operation member in the second direction, and for outputting a second operating signal; drive controlling means for controlling said driving means in response to the first operating signal; and forbidding means for forbidding the driving operation of said driving means in response to the second operating signal.

Claim 55

An interchangeable lens according to claim 40, wherein the first direction is a rotating direction around an optical axis of said interchangeable lens, and the second direction is a direction parallel to the optical axis.

Claim 56

An interchangeable lens according to claim 40, further comprising outputting means for outputting the second operation signal to said camera body.

Claim 57

An interchangeable lens attachable to a camera body which includes driving means for driving an optical system of said interchangeable lens and drive controlling means for controlling said driving means, said interchangeable lens comprising: an operation member selectively operable in a first direction and a second direction; first detection means for detecting an operation of said operation member in the first direction, and for outputting a first operating signal; second detection means for detecting an operation of said operation member in the second direction, and for outputting a second operating signal; and outputting means for outputting said first and second operation signal to said drive controlling means in said camera body, and said drive controlling means controlling said driving means in response to the first and second operating signal, wherein the first direction is a rotating direction around an optical axis of said interchangeable lens, and the second direction is a direction parallel to the optical axis.

Claim 58

An interchangeable lens attachable to a camera body which includes driving means for driving an optical system of said interchangeable lens and drive controlling means for controlling said driving means, said interchangeable lens comprising: an operation member selectively operable in a first direction and a second direction; first detection means for detecting an operation of said operation member in the first direction, and for outputting a first operating signal; second detection means for detecting an operation of said operation member in the second direction, and for outputting a second operating signal; and outputting means for outputting said first and second operation signal to said drive controlling means in said camera body, and said drive controlling means controlling said driving means in response to the first and second operating signal, wherein the first direction is a rotating direction around an optical axis of said interchangeable lens, and the second direction is a direction parallel to the optical axis.

Claim 59

An interchangeable lens according to claim 43, wherein the first direction is a rotating direction around an optical axis of said interchangeable lens, and the second direction is a direction of the optical axis.

Claim 60

A camera according to claim 7, wherein said controlling means comprises: power zooming means for executing zooming in response to detected direction of rotation of said operation member; and speed controlling means for controlling a zooming speed of said power zooming means based on an operation amount of said operation member.

Claim 61

A camera according to claim 7, wherein the position is a neutral position.

Claim 62

A camera according to claim 46, wherein the operation of said camera is not executed when said operation member is in the neutral position.

Claim 63

A camera according to claim 9, wherein said operation member is an operation ring disposed around a lens barrel of said interchangeable lens.

Claim 64

A camera according to claim 32, wherein said operation member is an operation ring disposed around a lens barrel.

Claim 65

A camera having a camera body and an interchangeable lens, comprising: driving means for driving a focusing lens built in a photo-taking lens of said interchangeable lens; autofocusing means for driving the driving means according to the focusing states of the photo-taking lens; an operation member mounted in said interchangeable lens; power focusing means for driving the driving means in a direction corresponding to operation of said operation member; and a switching member mounted in the camera body, for switching over by manual operation between actuating said autofocusing means or actuating said power focusing means.

Claim 66

A camera having a camera body and an interchangeable lens, comprising: driving means for driving a focusing lens built in a photo-taking lens of said interchangeable lens; autofocusing means for driving the driving means according to the focusing states of the photo-taking lens; an operation member mounted in said interchangeable lens; power focusing means for driving the driving means in a direction corresponding to operation of said operation member; and a switching member mounted in the camera body, for switching over by manual operation between actuating said autofocusing means or actuating said power focusing means.