US5455654A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-area focus detection apparatus for detecting focus either automatically or intentionally
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1994-09-30
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Granted: 1995-10-03
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Expires: 2014-09-30
Abstract
Abstract Multi-area focus detection apparatus for detecting focus either automatically or intentionally includes focus detection structure for detecting focus information to a plurality of points within a photographing area formed by the objective lens. Automatic selection circuitry is provided for automatically selecting a distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points. Intentional selection circuitry is provided for selecting an arbitrary distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points in accordance with a photographer's intention. The number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by the automatic selection circuitry is different from the number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by the intentional selection circuitry. Preferably, the number of distance measuring points for intentional selection is less than (but a subset of) the number of distance measuring points for automatic selection. Preferably, the intentional selection is performed by detecting the visual axis of the photographer.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenji Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:23
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/34; G02B7/346; G03; G03B; G03B2213/00; G03B2213/02; G03B2213/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An focus detection apparatus, comprising: focus detection means for detecting distance measuring information for plural points within a photographing area formed by a phototaking lens; automatic selection means for automatically selecting a distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points; and intentional selection means for selecting an arbitrary distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points in accordance with a photographer's intentional input operation, wherein a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is different from a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An focus detection apparatus, comprising: focus detection means for detecting distance measuring information for plural points within a photographing area formed by a phototaking lens; automatic selection means for automatically selecting a distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points; and intentional selection means for selecting an arbitrary distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points in accordance with a photographer's intentional input operation, wherein a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is different from a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of distance measuring points from among which said automatic selection means can select is greater than the number of distance measuring points from among which said intentional selection means can select.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means comprises a subset of the distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the distance measuring points subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
Camera apparatus comprising: phototaking lens means; focusing state detection means for detecting a focusing state of said phototaking lens means at a plurality of points in a photographing area; point detection means for detecting focus information of a point selected by a photographer from among said plurality of points in the photographing area; evaluation selection means for evaluating the focusing states of said plurality of points detected by said focus state detection means, and for selecting a point to which the focusing of said photographing lens means is to be adjusted; and focus adjusting means for adjusting the focusing of said phototaking lens with respect to the point selected by said point detection means or the point selected by said evaluation selection means, wherein the number of target points selectable by the photographer is different than the number of target points selectable by said evaluation selection means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
Camera apparatus comprising: phototaking lens means; focusing state detection means for detecting a focusing state of said phototaking lens means at a plurality of points in a photographing area; point detection means for detecting focus information of a point selected by a photographer from among said plurality of points in the photographing area; evaluation selection means for evaluating the focusing states of said plurality of points detected by said focus state detection means, and for selecting a point to which the focusing of said photographing lens means is to be adjusted; and focus adjusting means for adjusting the focusing of said phototaking lens with respect to the point selected by said point detection means or the point selected by said evaluation selection means, wherein the number of target points selectable by the photographer is different than the number of target points selectable by said evaluation selection means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a number of points which said evaluation selection means can select is greater than a number of points which the photographer can select.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said point detection means detects a direction of a visual axis of the photographer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising display means for displaying the point detected by said point detection means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising mode changeover means which changes between the point selection of said point selection means and the point selection of said evaluation selection means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus for adjusting a focusing state of phototaking lens, comprising: focusing state detection means for detecting a focusing state of said phototaking lens at a plurality of points in a photographing area; point detection means for detecting a focus state of a point selected by a photographer from among said plurality of points in the photographing area; and evaluation selection means for evaluating the focusing states of said plurality of points detected by said focusing state detection means, and for selecting a point to which the focusing of said photographing lens is to be adjusted, said phototaking lens being focus adjusted in accordance with the focusing state of the point selected by said point detection means or the point selected by said evaluation selection means, wherein the number of target points selectable by the photographer is different than the number of target points selectable by said evaluation selection means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus for adjusting a focusing state of phototaking lens, comprising: focusing state detection means for detecting a focusing state of said phototaking lens at a plurality of points in a photographing area; point detection means for detecting a focus state of a point selected by a photographer from among said plurality of points in the photographing area; and evaluation selection means for evaluating the focusing states of said plurality of points detected by said focusing state detection means, and for selecting a point to which the focusing of said photographing lens is to be adjusted, said phototaking lens being focus adjusted in accordance with the focusing state of the point selected by said point detection means or the point selected by said evaluation selection means, wherein the number of target points selectable by the photographer is different than the number of target points selectable by said evaluation selection means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a number of points which said evaluation selection means can select is greater than a number of points which the photographer can select.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said point detection means detects a direction of a visual axis of the photographer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an display means for displaying the point detected by said point detection means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising mode changeover means for changing between the point selection of said point selection means and the point selection of said evaluation selection means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
104 words
A focus detection apparatus, comprising: focus detection means for detecting distance measuring information for plural points in a view field of an imaging optical system; automatic selection means for automatically selecting a distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points; and intentional selection means for selecting an arbitrary distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points in accordance with a user's intentional input operation, wherein a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is different from a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
104 words
A focus detection apparatus, comprising: focus detection means for detecting distance measuring information for plural points in a view field of an imaging optical system; automatic selection means for automatically selecting a distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points; and intentional selection means for selecting an arbitrary distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points in accordance with a user's intentional input operation, wherein a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is different from a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means comprises a subset of the distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising display means for displaying the distance measuring points subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the number of distance measuring points for said automatic selection is greater than the number of distance measuring points for said intentional selection.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising display means for displaying the distance measuring points selected by said automatic selection means and the distance measuring points selected by said intentional selection means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: focus detection means for detecting distance measuring information for plural points in a view field of an imaging optical system; automatic selection means for automatically selecting a distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points; and intentional selection means for selecting an arbitrary distance measuring points from among the plural distance measuring points in accordance with a user's intentional input operation, wherein a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is different from a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: focus detection means for detecting distance measuring information for plural points in a view field of an imaging optical system; automatic selection means for automatically selecting a distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points; and intentional selection means for selecting an arbitrary distance measuring points from among the plural distance measuring points in accordance with a user's intentional input operation, wherein a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is different from a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means comprises a subset of the distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising display means for displaying the distance measuring points subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the number of distance measuring points for said automatic selection is greater than the number of distance measuring points for said intentional selection.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising display means for displaying the distance measuring points selected by said automatic selection means and the distance measuring points selected by said intentional selection means.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for adjusting a focusing state of an imaging optical system, said apparatus comprising: focus detection means for detecting distance measuring information for plural points in a view of an imaging optical system; automatic selection means for automatically selecting a distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points; intentional selection means for selecting an arbitrary distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points in accordance with a user's intentional input operation, wherein a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is different from a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means; and means for adjusting a focusing state of said imaging optical system in accordance with the distance measuring information of the point selected by said automatic selection means or the point selected by said intentional selecting means.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for adjusting a focusing state of an imaging optical system, said apparatus comprising: focus detection means for detecting distance measuring information for plural points in a view of an imaging optical system; automatic selection means for automatically selecting a distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points; intentional selection means for selecting an arbitrary distance measuring point from among the plural distance measuring points in accordance with a user's intentional input operation, wherein a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is different from a number of distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means; and means for adjusting a focusing state of said imaging optical system in accordance with the distance measuring information of the point selected by said automatic selection means or the point selected by said intentional selecting means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means comprises a subset of the distance measuring points which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising display means for displaying the distance measuring points subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the number of distance measuring points for said automatic selection is greater than the number of distance measuring points for said intentional selection.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising display means for displaying the distance measuring points selected by said automatic selection means and the distance measuring points selected by said intentional selection means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
72 words
An autofocus system comprising: means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detecting portions; means for automatically selecting a portion from among the plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions, wherein a number of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is different from a number of portions which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
72 words
An autofocus system comprising: means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detecting portions; means for automatically selecting a portion from among the plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions, wherein a number of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is different from a number of portions which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
81 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for forming an image of an object; means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detecting portions; means for automatically selecting a portion from among said plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from said plural detecting portions, wherein a number of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is different from a number of portions which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
81 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for forming an image of an object; means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detecting portions; means for automatically selecting a portion from among said plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from said plural detecting portions, wherein a number of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is different from a number of portions which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
72 words
An autofocus system comprising: means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detecting portions; means for automatically selecting a portion from among the plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions, wherein a number of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is larger than a number of portions which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
72 words
An autofocus system comprising: means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detecting portions; means for automatically selecting a portion from among the plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions, wherein a number of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is larger than a number of portions which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
82 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for forming an image of an object; means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detecting portions; means for automatically selecting a detecting portion from among the plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions, wherein a number of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is larger than a number of portions which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
82 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for forming an image of an object; means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detecting portions; means for automatically selecting a detecting portion from among the plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions, wherein a number of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is larger than a number of portions which are subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
65 words
An autofocus system comprising: means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detecting portions; means for automatically selecting a portion from among the plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions, wherein a part of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is not subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
65 words
An autofocus system comprising: means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detecting portions; means for automatically selecting a portion from among the plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions, wherein a part of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is not subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
74 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for forming an image of an object; means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detection portions; means for automatically selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions, wherein a part of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is not subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
74 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for forming an image of an object; means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detection portions; means for automatically selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions, wherein a part of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is not subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
65 words
An optical apparatus comprising: means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detecting portions; means for automatically selecting a portion from among the plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions, wherein a part of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is not subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
65 words
An optical apparatus comprising: means for detecting focus information with respect to plural detecting portions; means for automatically selecting a portion from among the plural detecting portions; and means for intentionally selecting a desired portion from the plural detecting portions, wherein a part of portions which are subject to selection by said automatic selection means is not subject to selection by said intentional selection means.
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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) | 1998-10-02 | 1999-04-03 | 1999-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-02 | 2003-04-03 | 2003-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-02 | 2007-04-03 | 2007-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |