US5475466A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera having target follow up function
Assignee: Nikon Corp
•
Filing: 1994-01-27
•
Granted: 1995-12-12
•
Expires: 2014-01-27
Abstract
Abstract Normally, movement of an object to be photographed is detected based upon the brightness information output by a photometric means, and the object to be photographed is followed up. During the exposure process the photometric means cannot perform photometry, and therefore the movement of the object to be photographed during exposure is predicted based upon the movement information for the object to be photographed detected before the start of the exposure process, and the position of the object to be photographed after the conclusion of the exposure process is obtained. When the exposure process has been completed, follow up of the object to be photographed is restarted from the predicted position which has been calculated. By doing this, the object to be photographed is not lost sight of after the exposure process has been completed, and it is possible to continue follow up of the object to be photographed from its predicted position. Further, when follow up of the object to be photographed by the follow up means has become impossible, forcibly the initial state before the start of follow up may be returned to. By doing this, the follow up target object can be again discerned in the initial state etc., and the photographer is able quickly to proceed to the next action.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroyuki Iwasaki
- 👤 Tadao Takagi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/63; H04N23/633; H04N23/635; H04N23/67; H04N25/00; H04N25/10; H04N25/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A camera having a target follow up function, comprising: a photometric means, which performs photometry on a plurality of regions into which the photographic field is divided, and which outputs information representing the brightness of each of said regions; a follow up means, which detects the movement of an object to be photographed based upon the brightness information output by said photometric means, and which follows up said object to be photographed; and a prediction means which, during the time period while said photometric means cannot perform photometry, predicts the movement of said object to be photographed based upon the movement information for said object to be photographed detected by said follow up means, and which obtains the position of said object to be photographed for when photometry by said photometric means recommences.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A camera having a target follow up function, comprising: a photometric means, which performs photometry on a plurality of regions into which the photographic field is divided, and which outputs information representing the brightness of each of said regions; a follow up means, which detects the movement of an object to be photographed based upon the brightness information output by said photometric means, and which follows up said object to be photographed; and a prediction means which, during the time period while said photometric means cannot perform photometry, predicts the movement of said object to be photographed based upon the movement information for said object to be photographed detected by said follow up means, and which obtains the position of said object to be photographed for when photometry by said photometric means recommences.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 1, wherein said follow up means in its initial state discerns as a follow up target object an object to be photographed which is in a predetermined region of the photographic field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined region of the photographic field is a region which includes the central portion of the photographic field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 2, further comprising a display means which displays said predetermined region of the photographic field in its initial state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 1, wherein said prediction means calculates the velocity of movement of said object to be photographed based upon the movement information for said object to be photographed detected by said follow up means, and predicts the movement of said object to be photographed based upon this velocity of movement and upon the time period during which said photometric means cannot perform photometry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 5, wherein said prediction means calculates the newest velocity of movement of said object to be photographed using information regarding its velocity of movement in the past.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 1, wherein said prediction means predicts the movement of said object to be photographed during the time period while said photometric means cannot perform photometry due to a quick return mirror being raised.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 1, further comprising an exposure calculation means which calculates an appropriate exposure value based upon the movement information for said object to be photographed detected by said follow up means, and upon the brightness information for said regions detected by said photometric means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 1, wherein said photometric means comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a two dimensional array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 2, wherein, when follow up of said object to be photographed by said follow up means has become impossible, said follow up means returns to its said initial state in order to discern an object to be photographed as a follow up target.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 1, wherein, when follow up by said follow up means of said object to be photographed has become impossible, said follow up means stands by at the position at which follow up has become impossible until follow up becomes possible again.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 11, further comprising a display means which, when follow up by said follow up means of said object to be photographed has become impossible, displays by flashing the position at which follow up has become impossible.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 1, wherein, when follow up of said object to be photographed by said follow up means has become impossible, said follow up means prevents the driving of a lens for focus adjustment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
A camera having a target follow up function, comprising: a photometric means, which performs photometry on a plurality of regions into which the photographic field is divided, and which outputs information representing the brightness of each of said regions; a follow up means, which in its initial state discerns as a follow up target an object to be photographed which is in a predetermined region of the photographic field, and which detects the movement of said object to be photographed based upon the brightness information output by said photometric means, and follows up said object to be photographed; and a resumption means, which, when follow up of said object to be photographed by said follow up means has become impossible, returns said follow up means to its said initial state.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
130 words
A camera having a target follow up function, comprising: a photometric means, which performs photometry on a plurality of regions into which the photographic field is divided, and which outputs information representing the brightness of each of said regions; a follow up means, which in its initial state discerns as a follow up target an object to be photographed which is in a predetermined region of the photographic field, and which detects the movement of said object to be photographed based upon the brightness information output by said photometric means, and follows up said object to be photographed; and a resumption means, which, when follow up of said object to be photographed by said follow up means has become impossible, returns said follow up means to its said initial state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 14, wherein said predetermined region of the photographic field is a region which includes the central portion of the photographic field.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 14, further comprising a display means which displays said predetermined region of the photographic field in its initial state.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 14, further comprising a display means which, when follow up by said follow up means of said object to be photographed has become impossible, displays by flashing said predetermined region of the photographic field.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 14, further comprising a prevention means which, when follow up by said follow up means of said object to be photographed has become impossible, prevents the driving of a lens for focus adjustment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 14, wherein said photometric means comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a two dimensional array.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 14, further comprising an exposure calculation means which calculates an appropriate exposure value based upon the movement information for said object to be photographed detected by said follow up means, and upon the brightness information for said regions detected by said photometric means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
142 words
A camera having a target follow up function, comprising: a photometric means, which performs photometry on a plurality of regions into which the photographic field is divided, and which outputs information representing the brightness of each of said regions; a follow up means, which in its initial state discerns as a follow up target an object to be photographed which is in a predetermined region of the photographic field, and which detects the movement of said object to be photographed based upon the brightness information output by said photometric means, and follows up said object to be photographed; and a standby means, which, when follow up of said object to be photographed by said follow up means has become impossible, stands said follow up means by at the position at which follow up has become impossible until follow up becomes possible again.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
142 words
A camera having a target follow up function, comprising: a photometric means, which performs photometry on a plurality of regions into which the photographic field is divided, and which outputs information representing the brightness of each of said regions; a follow up means, which in its initial state discerns as a follow up target an object to be photographed which is in a predetermined region of the photographic field, and which detects the movement of said object to be photographed based upon the brightness information output by said photometric means, and follows up said object to be photographed; and a standby means, which, when follow up of said object to be photographed by said follow up means has become impossible, stands said follow up means by at the position at which follow up has become impossible until follow up becomes possible again.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 21, wherein said predetermined region of the photographic field is a region which includes the central portion of the photographic field.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 21, further comprising a display means which displays said predetermined region of the photographic field in its said initial state.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 21, further comprising a display means which, when follow up by said follow up means of said object to be photographed has become impossible, displays by flashing the position at which follow up has become impossible.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 21, further comprising a prevention means which, when follow up by said follow up means of said object to be photographed has become impossible, prevents the driving of a lens for focus adjustment.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 21, wherein said photometric means comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a two dimensional array.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
54 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 21, further comprising an exposure calculation means which calculates an appropriate exposure value based upon the movement information for said object to be photographed detected by said follow up means, and upon the brightness information for said regions detected by said photometric means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
126 words
A target follow up device, comprising: a photometric section which performs photometry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photometry field is divided, and which outputs brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, and which predicts a next position of said follow up target when no follow up target can be detected by said follow up target detecting section.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
126 words
A target follow up device, comprising: a photometric section which performs photometry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photometry field is divided, and which outputs brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, and which predicts a next position of said follow up target when no follow up target can be detected by said follow up target detecting section.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The target follow up device of claim 28, wherein said photometric regions of said photometric section correspond to a photographic field of said camera.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
128 words
A target follow up device, comprising: a photometric section which performs photometry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photometry field is divided, and which outputs brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, wherein said follow up target recognizing section recognizes a new follow up target when no follow up target can be detected by said follow up target detecting section.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
128 words
A target follow up device, comprising: a photometric section which performs photometry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photometry field is divided, and which outputs brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, wherein said follow up target recognizing section recognizes a new follow up target when no follow up target can be detected by said follow up target detecting section.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The target follow up device of claim 30, wherein said photometric regions of said photometric section correspond to a photographic field of said camera.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
133 words
A target follow up device, comprising: a photometric section which performs photometry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photometry field is divided, and which outputs brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, and that stands by at a position where detecting of said follow up target became impossible in said follow up target detecting section until said detecting of said follow up target becomes possible.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
133 words
A target follow up device, comprising: a photometric section which performs photometry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photometry field is divided, and which outputs brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, and that stands by at a position where detecting of said follow up target became impossible in said follow up target detecting section until said detecting of said follow up target becomes possible.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The target follow up device of claim 32, wherein said photometric regions of said photometric section correspond to a photographic field of said camera.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
123 words
A target follow up device, comprising: a photometric section which performs photomerry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photometry field is divided, and which outputs brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, and that stands by at a position where detecting of said follow up target became impossible in said follow up target detecting section.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
123 words
A target follow up device, comprising: a photometric section which performs photomerry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photometry field is divided, and which outputs brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, and that stands by at a position where detecting of said follow up target became impossible in said follow up target detecting section.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
129 words
A camera having a target follow up function, comprising: a photometric section which performs photometry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photomerry field is divided, and which outputs brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, and which predicts a next position of said follow up target when no follow up target can be detected by said follow up target detecting section.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
129 words
A camera having a target follow up function, comprising: a photometric section which performs photometry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photomerry field is divided, and which outputs brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, and which predicts a next position of said follow up target when no follow up target can be detected by said follow up target detecting section.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 35, wherein said photometric regions of said photometric section correspond to a photographic field of said camera.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
131 words
A camera having a target follow up function, comprising: a photometric section which performs photometry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photometry field is divided, and which outputs brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, wherein said follow up target recognizing section recognizes a new follow up target when no follow up target can be detected by said follow up target detecting section.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
131 words
A camera having a target follow up function, comprising: a photometric section which performs photometry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photometry field is divided, and which outputs brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, wherein said follow up target recognizing section recognizes a new follow up target when no follow up target can be detected by said follow up target detecting section.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 37, wherein said photometric regions of said photometric section correspond to a photographic field of said camera.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
137 words
A camera having a target follow up function, comprising: a photometric section which performs photometry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photometry field is divided, and which outputs a brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, and that stands by at a position where detecting of said follow up target became impossible in said follow up target detecting section until said detecting of said follow up target becomes possible.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
137 words
A camera having a target follow up function, comprising: a photometric section which performs photometry on a plurality of photometric regions into which a photometry field is divided, and which outputs a brightness information from said photometric regions; a follow up target recognizing section which recognizes as a follow up target an object in a predetermined follow up region within said photometric regions; and a follow up target detecting section that continues detecting a position of said follow up target in said photometric regions based on brightness information of said follow up target that has been recognized by said follow up target recognizing section, and that stands by at a position where detecting of said follow up target became impossible in said follow up target detecting section until said detecting of said follow up target becomes possible.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
28 words
A camera having a target follow up function according to claim 39, wherein said photometric regions of said photometric section correspond to a photographic field of said camera.
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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) | 1998-12-11 | 1999-06-12 | 1999-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-11 | 2003-06-12 | 2003-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-11 | 2007-06-12 | 2007-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |