US5333029A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera capable of detecting eye-gaze
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1991-10-09
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Granted: 1994-07-26
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Expires: 2011-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A camera includes a photo-taking lens, an automatic focus adjusting device for effecting the automatic focus adjustment of the photo-taking lens, an eye-gaze detecting device for detecting the photographer's eye-gaze position in a finder field corresponding to a photographing picture plane, and producing an eye-gaze detection signal corresponding to the eye-gaze position, a focus adjustment signal producing device for outputting a plurality of focus adjustment signals corresponding to a plurality of detection areas in the photographing picture plane, and a control signal producing device for producing a control signal for controlling the automatic focus adjusting means, on the basis of the eye-gaze detection signal and the focus adjustment signals. The control signal producing device produces the control signal on the basis of the plurality of focus adjustment signals corresponding to the plurality of detection areas when the eye-gaze position indicated by the eye-gaze detection signal is at a position between the plurality of detection areas.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigeyuki Uchiyama
- 👤 Tadao Takagi
- 👤 Daisuke Saya
- 👤 Yuji Katano
- 👤 Shigemasa Sato
- 👤 Toshimi Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:45
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B13/00; G03B13/02; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/287; G03B2213/00; G03B2213/02; G03B2213/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A camera including: a photo-taking lens; automatic focus adjusting means for effecting automatic focus adjustment of said photo-taking lens; eye-gaze detecting means for detecting a photographer's eye-gaze position in a finder field corresponding to a photographing picture plane, and producing an eye-gaze detection signal corresponding to said eye-gaze position; focus adjustment signal producing means for outputting a plurality of focus adjustment signals corresponding to a plurality of detection areas in said photographing picture plane; and control signal producing means for producing a control signal for controlling said automatic focus adjusting means on the basis of said eye-gaze detection signal and said plurality of focus adjustment signals corresponding to said plurality of detection areas when said eye-gaze postition indicated by said eye-gaze detection signal is at a position between said plurality of detection areas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A camera including: a photo-taking lens; automatic focus adjusting means for effecting automatic focus adjustment of said photo-taking lens; eye-gaze detecting means for detecting a photographer's eye-gaze position in a finder field corresponding to a photographing picture plane, and producing an eye-gaze detection signal corresponding to said eye-gaze position; focus adjustment signal producing means for outputting a plurality of focus adjustment signals corresponding to a plurality of detection areas in said photographing picture plane; and control signal producing means for producing a control signal for controlling said automatic focus adjusting means on the basis of said eye-gaze detection signal and said plurality of focus adjustment signals corresponding to said plurality of detection areas when said eye-gaze postition indicated by said eye-gaze detection signal is at a position between said plurality of detection areas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The camera of claim 1, wherein said control signal producing means includes calculating means which effects weighting attaching more importance to said focus adjustment signal of the detection area which is closer to said eye-gaze position, and produces said control signal according to said weighting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
129 words
A camera including: a photo-taking lens; photo-taking lens driving means electrically operable for driving said photo-taking lens; eye-gaze detecting means for detecting a photographer's eye-gaze position in a finder field corresponding to a photographing picture plane, and producing an eye-gaze detection signal; distance measurement signal producing means for outputting a plurality of distance measurement signals corresponding to a plurality of distance measuring areas in said photographing picture plane; and control signal producing means for producing a control signal for controlling said photo-taking lens driving means on the basis of said eye-gaze detection signal and said plurality of distance measurement signals corresponding to said plurality of distance measuring areas when said eye-gaze postition indicated by said eye-gaze detection signal is at a position between said plurality of distance measuring areas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
129 words
A camera including: a photo-taking lens; photo-taking lens driving means electrically operable for driving said photo-taking lens; eye-gaze detecting means for detecting a photographer's eye-gaze position in a finder field corresponding to a photographing picture plane, and producing an eye-gaze detection signal; distance measurement signal producing means for outputting a plurality of distance measurement signals corresponding to a plurality of distance measuring areas in said photographing picture plane; and control signal producing means for producing a control signal for controlling said photo-taking lens driving means on the basis of said eye-gaze detection signal and said plurality of distance measurement signals corresponding to said plurality of distance measuring areas when said eye-gaze postition indicated by said eye-gaze detection signal is at a position between said plurality of distance measuring areas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The camera of claim 3, wherein said control signal producing means includes calculating means which effects weighting attaching more importance to said distance measurement signal of the distance measuring area which is closer to said eye-gaze position, and produces said control signal according to said weighting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The camera of claim 3, wherein said photo-taking lens driving means effects focus adjustment of said photo-taking lens in response to said control signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The camera of claim 3, wherein said photo-taking lens driving means effects zooming of said photo-taking lens in response to said control signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-07-25 | 1998-01-24 | 1998-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-25 | 2002-01-24 | 2002-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-25 | 2006-01-24 | 2006-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |