US5541702A — Image magnification control device for a camera

Claim 1

Independent Claim 180 words

A lens focusing system for a camera, comprising: a focusing lens that is movable between a first terminus point and a second terminus point; means for determining an amount required to move said focusing lens to obtain an in-focus condition; means for driving said focusing lens in response to said amount determined by said determining means to position said focusing lens at said in-focus condition; means for generating a plurality of drive signals in response to said driving of said focusing lens; means for monitoring said plurality of drive signals generated by said generating means; means for establishing a monitored position value based upon said plurality of drive signals monitored by said monitoring means; means for comparing said monitored position value with a predetermined position value corresponding to one of said first terminus point and said second terminus point when said lens is prevented from being driven by said driving means; and means for replacing said monitored position value with said predetermined value when a difference between said monitored position value and said predetermined value is within a predetermined range.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 180 words

A lens focusing system for a camera, comprising: a focusing lens that is movable between a first terminus point and a second terminus point; means for determining an amount required to move said focusing lens to obtain an in-focus condition; means for driving said focusing lens in response to said amount determined by said determining means to position said focusing lens at said in-focus condition; means for generating a plurality of drive signals in response to said driving of said focusing lens; means for monitoring said plurality of drive signals generated by said generating means; means for establishing a monitored position value based upon said plurality of drive signals monitored by said monitoring means; means for comparing said monitored position value with a predetermined position value corresponding to one of said first terminus point and said second terminus point when said lens is prevented from being driven by said driving means; and means for replacing said monitored position value with said predetermined value when a difference between said monitored position value and said predetermined value is within a predetermined range.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

The lens focusing system of claim 1, further comprising means for preventing said focusing lens from moving beyond at least one of said first terminus point and said second terminus point.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The lens focusing system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of drive signals generated by said generating means comprises a plurality of pulse signals generated by an AF pulser.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

The lens focusing system of claim 3, wherein said plurality of pulse signals are summed together to obtain said monitored position value.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

The lens focusing system of claim 1, further comprising means for re-driving said focusing lens when said focusing lens has been prevented from being driven to said in-focus condition, and said difference between said monitored position value and said predetermined value is beyond said predetermined range.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

The lens focusing system of claim 5, wherein whether or not said focusing lens is prevented from being driven is determined in accordance with said plurality of drive signals generated by said generating means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

The lens focusing system of claim 5, wherein said redriving means drives said lens by a remaining amount required for said focusing lens to reach said in-focus condition.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The lens focusing system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined value is stored in a memory associated with a lens of the camera.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 50 words

The lens focusing system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined position value corresponds to said first terminus point when said focusing lens is moved towards said first terminus point, said predetermined position value corresponding to said second terminus point when said focusing lens is moved towards said second terminus point.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 159 words

A system for focusing a lens movable between a first terminus point and a second terminus point, said system comprising: a de-focus mechanism that determines an amount required to move said lens to obtain an in-focus condition; a motor that drives said lens to said in-focus condition in response to said amount determined by said defocus mechanism; an AF pulser that generates a drive signal in response to said motor driving said lens; and a processor that analyzes said drive signal to establish a monitored position value representative of a position of said lens, said processor comparing said monitored position value with a predetermined position value corresponding to one of the first terminus point and the second terminus point when said processor determines that said motor is prevented from driving said lens, said monitored position value being replaced with said predetermined value when a difference between said monitored position value and said predetermined value is within a predetermined range.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 159 words

A system for focusing a lens movable between a first terminus point and a second terminus point, said system comprising: a de-focus mechanism that determines an amount required to move said lens to obtain an in-focus condition; a motor that drives said lens to said in-focus condition in response to said amount determined by said defocus mechanism; an AF pulser that generates a drive signal in response to said motor driving said lens; and a processor that analyzes said drive signal to establish a monitored position value representative of a position of said lens, said processor comparing said monitored position value with a predetermined position value corresponding to one of the first terminus point and the second terminus point when said processor determines that said motor is prevented from driving said lens, said monitored position value being replaced with said predetermined value when a difference between said monitored position value and said predetermined value is within a predetermined range.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 50 words

The system of claim 10, wherein said processor determines said lens is prevented from moving to said in-focus condition and has not reached one of the first terminus point and the second terminus point when said difference between said monitored position value and said predetermined value exceeds said predetermined range.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 61 words

The system of claim 10, wherein said processor further instructs said motor to re-drive said lens when said processor determines said lens has been prevented from moving to the in-focus condition and has not reached either one of the first terminus point and the second terminus point, said lens being driven by a remaining amount required to reach said in-focus condition.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

The system of claim 10, wherein said processor increments said monitored position value as said lens is driven towards said first terminus point and decrements said monitored position value as said lens is driven towards said second terminus point.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 13, wherein said predetermined value comprises a minimum value when said lens is at said second terminus point, said predetermined value comprising a maximum value when said lens is at said first terminus point.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 124 words

A lens focusing system for a camera, comprising: a focusing lens group; means for positioning said focusing lens group to an in-focus condition; means for determining whether said focusing lens group stops while said focusing lens group is being positioned to said in-focus condition, said determining means further determining whether said focusing lens group has reached a reference position before reaching said in-focus condition, by comparing current position information with a predetermined value corresponding to said reference position when said focusing lens group has been prevented from reaching said in-focus condition; and means for replacing said current position information with said predetermined value when said determining means determines a difference between said current position information and said predetermined value is within an allowable range.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 124 words

A lens focusing system for a camera, comprising: a focusing lens group; means for positioning said focusing lens group to an in-focus condition; means for determining whether said focusing lens group stops while said focusing lens group is being positioned to said in-focus condition, said determining means further determining whether said focusing lens group has reached a reference position before reaching said in-focus condition, by comparing current position information with a predetermined value corresponding to said reference position when said focusing lens group has been prevented from reaching said in-focus condition; and means for replacing said current position information with said predetermined value when said determining means determines a difference between said current position information and said predetermined value is within an allowable range.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 93 words

The lens focusing system of claim 15, further comprising: means for incrementing said current position information as said focusing lens group is moved towards a first extremity of said focusing lens group; and means for decrementing said current position information as said focusing lens group is moved towards a second extremity of said focusing lens group, said current position information being replaced with a minimum value when said focusing lens group is at said second extremity and being replaced with a maximum value when said focusing lens group is at said first extremity.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 43 words

The lens focusing system of claim 16, wherein said maximum value is stored in a memory associated with a lens of the camera, said lens focusing system including a processor provided within a body of the camera, said processor comprising said replacing means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 14 words

The lens focusing system of claim 17, wherein said memory comprises a lens ROM.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 48 words

The lens focusing system of claim 15, further comprising means for re-positioning said focusing lens group to said in-focus condition when said determining means determines that said focusing lens group is not positioned at said in-focus condition and said focusing lens group has not reached said reference position.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 30 words

The lens focusing system of claim 15, wherein said determining means compares said current position information with said predetermined value when a movement of said focusing lens group is prevented.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 34 words

The lens focusing system of claim 20, wherein said determining means determines that said focusing lens group has been prevented from being positioned at said in-focus condition when said difference exceeds said allowable range.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 150 words

A lens focusing system for a camera, comprising: a focusing lens; means for determining an amount required to move said focusing lens to an in-focus position where an in-focus condition is obtained; means for driving said focusing lens to said in-focus position in response to said amount determined by said determining means; means for generating a plurality of drive signals in response to the movement of said focusing lens; means for monitoring said plurality of drive signals generated by said generating means; means for establishing a monitored position value based upon said plurality of drive signals generated by said generating means; means for detecting, prior to said focusing lens reaching said in-focus position, that said focusing lens has reached a predetermined reference position while said driving means drives said focusing lens; and means for replacing said monitored position value with a predetermined position value corresponding to said predetermined reference position.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 150 words

A lens focusing system for a camera, comprising: a focusing lens; means for determining an amount required to move said focusing lens to an in-focus position where an in-focus condition is obtained; means for driving said focusing lens to said in-focus position in response to said amount determined by said determining means; means for generating a plurality of drive signals in response to the movement of said focusing lens; means for monitoring said plurality of drive signals generated by said generating means; means for establishing a monitored position value based upon said plurality of drive signals generated by said generating means; means for detecting, prior to said focusing lens reaching said in-focus position, that said focusing lens has reached a predetermined reference position while said driving means drives said focusing lens; and means for replacing said monitored position value with a predetermined position value corresponding to said predetermined reference position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-07-30	2000-01-29	2000-07-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-07-30	2004-01-29	2004-07-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-07-30	2008-01-29	2008-07-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image magnification control device for a camera

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag