Patent US5517276A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5517276A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Active distance measuring apparatus with the remote control function
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1996-05-14
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract An active distance measuring apparatus with the remote control function is provided with a plurality of light projecting portions, a plurality of light receiving portions, a distance measuring device for effecting active distance measurement at one or more points in an image field by the use of all or some of the plurality of light projecting portions and the plurality of light receiving portions, and a remote control for performing, when the light receiving portions receive signal light from a remote control transmitter, a predetermined remote control operation by the use of the output of the light receiving portion which has received the signal light, the distance measuring device distance-measuring a distance measuring point corresponding to the light receiving portion which has received the signal light from the remote control transmitter. By the light receiving portions for active distance measurement being used also as the light receiving portions of the remote control device, there can always be taken photographs which are accurately in focus to the remote control operator.
Inventors
- 👤 Riichi Higaki
- 👤 Toru Kosaka
- 👤 Yoshikazu Iida
- 👤 Hiroyuki Tsuru
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:21
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/30; G02B7/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
An active distance measuring apparatus with a remote control function, characterized by the provision of: a plurality of light projecting portions for projecting light to corresponding points of an object field; a plurality of light receiving portions capable of receiving projected light reflected from the corresponding points, respectively, of the object field and also capable of receiving signal light from a remote control transmitter at the corresponding points, respectively, of the object field; a distance measuring circuit connected to said light projecting portions and said light receiving portions for effecting active distance measurement to points in the object field by the use of the corresponding light projecting portions, respectively, and the corresponding light receiving portions, respectively, said distance measuring circuit being responsive to signal light received by one of said light receiving portions and outputting a discrimination signal for discriminating which one of said plurality of light receiving portions has received said signal light; and a control circuit which receives said discrimination signal for judging that said remote control transmitter is located at a point of said object field corresponding to said one light receiving portion, and, based on said judging, which outputs to said distance measuring circuit a command signal; said distance measuring circuit being responsive to said command signal for causing only one of said light projecting portions corresponding to said one light receiving portion to project light to the corresponding point of said object field at which said remote control transmitter is located, in order to measure distance thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
An active distance measuring apparatus with a remote control function, characterized by the provision of: a plurality of light projecting portions for projecting light to corresponding points of an object field; a plurality of light receiving portions capable of receiving projected light reflected from the corresponding points, respectively, of the object field and also capable of receiving signal light from a remote control transmitter at the corresponding points, respectively, of the object field; a distance measuring circuit connected to said light projecting portions and said light receiving portions for effecting active distance measurement to points in the object field by the use of the corresponding light projecting portions, respectively, and the corresponding light receiving portions, respectively, said distance measuring circuit being responsive to signal light received by one of said light receiving portions and outputting a discrimination signal for discriminating which one of said plurality of light receiving portions has received said signal light; and a control circuit which receives said discrimination signal for judging that said remote control transmitter is located at a point of said object field corresponding to said one light receiving portion, and, based on said judging, which outputs to said distance measuring circuit a command signal; said distance measuring circuit being responsive to said command signal for causing only one of said light projecting portions corresponding to said one light receiving portion to project light to the corresponding point of said object field at which said remote control transmitter is located, in order to measure distance thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An active distance measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distance measuring circuit discriminates whether light received by a light receiving portion is signal light from said remote control transmitter or light from a light projecting portion reflected from said object field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An active distance measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the discrimination is performed based on one of a difference in intensity of received light and a difference in wavelength of received light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
266 words
An active distance measuring apparatus with a remote control function characterized by the provision of: a plurality of light projecting portions for projecting light to corresponding points of an object field; a plurality of light receiving portions capable of receiving projected light reflected from the corresponding points, respectively, of the object field and also capable of receiving signal light from a remote control transmitter at the corresponding points, respectively, of the object field; a distance measuring circuit connected to said light projecting portions and said light receiving portions for effecting active distance measurement to points in the object field by the use of the corresponding light projecting portions, respectively, and the corresponding light receiving portions, respectively, said distance measuring circuit being responsive to signal light received by one of said light receiving portions and outputting a discrimination signal for discriminating which one of said plurality of light receiving portions has received said signal light; and a control circuit which receives said discrimination signal for judging that said remote control transmitter is located at a point of said object field corresponding to said one light receiving portion, and, based on said judging, which outputs to said distance measuring circuit a command signal; said distance measuring circuit being responsive to said command signal for causing light projecting portions, including a light projecting portion corresponding to said one light receiving portion, to project light to corresponding points of said object field in order to measure distances thereto, to weight distance measurement to said point at which the remote control transmitter is located and to produce a distance measurement output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
266 words
An active distance measuring apparatus with a remote control function characterized by the provision of: a plurality of light projecting portions for projecting light to corresponding points of an object field; a plurality of light receiving portions capable of receiving projected light reflected from the corresponding points, respectively, of the object field and also capable of receiving signal light from a remote control transmitter at the corresponding points, respectively, of the object field; a distance measuring circuit connected to said light projecting portions and said light receiving portions for effecting active distance measurement to points in the object field by the use of the corresponding light projecting portions, respectively, and the corresponding light receiving portions, respectively, said distance measuring circuit being responsive to signal light received by one of said light receiving portions and outputting a discrimination signal for discriminating which one of said plurality of light receiving portions has received said signal light; and a control circuit which receives said discrimination signal for judging that said remote control transmitter is located at a point of said object field corresponding to said one light receiving portion, and, based on said judging, which outputs to said distance measuring circuit a command signal; said distance measuring circuit being responsive to said command signal for causing light projecting portions, including a light projecting portion corresponding to said one light receiving portion, to project light to corresponding points of said object field in order to measure distances thereto, to weight distance measurement to said point at which the remote control transmitter is located and to produce a distance measurement output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An active distance measuring apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said distance measuring circuit discriminates whether light received by a light receiving portion is signal light from said remote control transmitter or light from a light projecting portion reflected from said object field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An active distance measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the discrimination is performed based on one of a difference in intensity of received light and a difference in wavelength of received light.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-05-14 | 1999-11-13 | 2000-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-14 | 2003-11-13 | 2004-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-14 | 2007-11-13 | 2008-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |