US5379088A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic focusing camera with improved determination of operation modes
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1993-05-17
•
Granted: 1995-01-03
•
Expires: 2013-05-17
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
2026-11-10 02:35
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: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A camera, comprising: automatic focusing means, operable in a plurality of focusing modes, for detecting a focus condition and controlling the position of an objective lens to adjust the focus condition, wherein the objective lens is driven in accordance with the detected focus condition in each of the plurality of focusing modes; detecting means for detecting a degree of camera-shake; comparing means for comparing an output of said detecting means with a prescribed reference value; and mode determining means for determining one of said focusing modes based on a result of the comparison performed by said comparing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A camera, comprising: automatic focusing means, operable in a plurality of focusing modes, for detecting a focus condition and controlling the position of an objective lens to adjust the focus condition, wherein the objective lens is driven in accordance with the detected focus condition in each of the plurality of focusing modes; detecting means for detecting a degree of camera-shake; comparing means for comparing an output of said detecting means with a prescribed reference value; and mode determining means for determining one of said focusing modes based on a result of the comparison performed by said comparing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The camera according to claim 1, wherein said automatic focusing means operates differently in the respective focusing modes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The camera according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of focusing modes includes a first mode in which a focus adjusting operation is not carried out after an in-focus state is once realized, and a second mode in which a focus adjusting operation is repeated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The camera according to claim 1, further comprising: determining means for determining whether or not data regarding the detected focus condition is reliable, based on a result of the comparison performed by said comparing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The camera according to claim 1, further comprising: first determining means for determining whether a subject to be photographed is moving or still based on data regarding the detected focus condition; and second determining means for determining whether or not a determination by said first determining means is reliable, based on a result of the comparison performed by said comparing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The camera according to claim 1, further comprising measuring means for measuring a brightness of an object, and wherein said mode determining means determines one of said focusing modes based on data of the measured brightness in addition to the result of said comparison.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The camera according to claim 1, further comprising calculating means for calculating a photographing magnification, and wherein said mode determining means determines one of said focusing modes based on data of the calculated magnification in addition to the result of said comparison.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The camera according to claim 1, wherein said mode determining means determines one of said focusing modes based on a fuzzy inference.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
A camera having a plurality of operation modes, comprising: automatic focusing means for detecting a focus condition and controlling the position of an objective lens to adjust the focus condition; detecting means for detecting a degree of camera-shake; accumulating means for accumulating data pertaining to camera-shake as said detecting means detects camera-shake during a photographic operation by a photographer; comparing means for comparing the degree of camera-shake detected by said detecting means with the accumulated data pertaining to camera-shake at the time of photographing by the photographer; and mode setting means for setting an operation mode based on a result of comparison of said comparing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
A camera having a plurality of operation modes, comprising: automatic focusing means for detecting a focus condition and controlling the position of an objective lens to adjust the focus condition; detecting means for detecting a degree of camera-shake; accumulating means for accumulating data pertaining to camera-shake as said detecting means detects camera-shake during a photographic operation by a photographer; comparing means for comparing the degree of camera-shake detected by said detecting means with the accumulated data pertaining to camera-shake at the time of photographing by the photographer; and mode setting means for setting an operation mode based on a result of comparison of said comparing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The camera according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of operation modes are focusing modes and said automatic focusing means operates differently among the plurality of focusing modes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The camera according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of focusing modes includes a first mode in which a focus adjusting operation is not carried out after an in-focus state is once realized, and a second mode in which a focus adjusting operation is repeated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The camera according to claim 9, further comprising: determining means for determining whether or not data regarding the detected focus condition is reliable, based on a result of the comparison performed by said comparing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The camera according to claim 9, further comprising: first determining means for determining whether a subject to be photographed is moving or still based on data regarding the detected focus condition; and second determining means for determining whether or not a determination by said first determining means is reliable, based on a result of the comparison performed by said comparing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
A camera comprising: an automatic focusing means, operable in a plurality of focusing modes, for detecting a focus condition and controlling the position of an objective lens to adjust the focus condition, wherein the objective lens is driven in accordance with the detected focus condition in each of the plurality of focusing modes; detecting means for detecting a degree of camera-shake; and mode determining means for determining one of said focusing modes based on the degree of camera-shake detected by said detecting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
83 words
A camera comprising: an automatic focusing means, operable in a plurality of focusing modes, for detecting a focus condition and controlling the position of an objective lens to adjust the focus condition, wherein the objective lens is driven in accordance with the detected focus condition in each of the plurality of focusing modes; detecting means for detecting a degree of camera-shake; and mode determining means for determining one of said focusing modes based on the degree of camera-shake detected by said detecting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The camera according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of focusing modes includes a first mode in which a focus adjusting operation is not carried out after an in-focus state is once realized, and a second mode in which a focus adjusting operation is repeated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The camera according to claim 14, further comprising: determining means for determining whether or not data regarding the detected focus condition is reliable, based on the degree of camera-shake detected by said detecting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
The camera according to claim 14, further comprising: first determining means for determining whether an object to be photographed is moving or still based on data regarding the detected focus condition; and second determining means for determining whether or not a determination by said first determining means is reliable, based on the degree of camera-shake detected by said detecting means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The camera according to claim 14, further comprising measuring means for measuring a brightness of an object, and wherein said mode determining means determines one of said focusing modes based on data of the measured brightness in addition to the degree of camera-shake.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The camera according to claim 14, further comprising calculating means for calculating a photographing magnification, and wherein said mode determining means determines one of said focusing modes based on data of the calculated magnification in addition to the degree of camera-shake.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The camera according to claim 14, wherein said mode determining means determines one of said focusing modes based on a fuzzy inference.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4709138A
Cited
US4719486A
Cited
US4774538A
Cited
JPS62186118A
Cited
US4721976A
Cited
US4974005A
Cited
US5005039A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-02 | 1998-07-04 | 1999-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-02 | 2002-07-04 | 2003-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-02 | 2006-07-04 | 2007-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |