Patent US5640610A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5640610A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera with a line-of-sight detecting device
Assignee: Nikon Corp
•
Filing: 1994-06-13
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Granted: 1997-06-17
•
Expires: 2014-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, having a light source illuminating an eye of a photographer with light; a conversion device converting reflected light from the illuminated eye to an output corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light; and an eye gazing point determination system identifying an eye-gazing point of the photographer when an output difference or an output ratio between a peak output and a background output of the conversion device is greater than a predetermined value and when the magnitude of a peak output from the conversion device is within a predetermined range.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigemasa Sato
- 👤 Toshimi Watanabe
- 👤 Kenji Tazaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:03
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B13/00; G03B13/02; G03B2213/00; G03B2213/02; G03B2213/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; an illumination light quantity altering device to obtain an output difference between a peak output of a photoelectric conversion output of said photoelectric converting device and a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding the peak output, and to alter an illumination light quantity of said illuminating source in accordance with the output difference; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; an illumination light quantity altering device to obtain an output difference between a peak output of a photoelectric conversion output of said photoelectric converting device and a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding the peak output, and to alter an illumination light quantity of said illuminating source in accordance with the output difference; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination light quantity altering device alters the illumination light quantity when the output difference is smaller than a predetermined value, further including an undetectable processing device to effect undetectable processing when the output difference is less than the predetermined value even with the altered illumination light quantity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination light quantity altering device reduces the illumination light quantity of said illuminating source when the peak output reaches an upper limit value of the photoelectric conversion output and when the output difference is smaller than a predetermined value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination light quantity altering device increases the illumination light quantity of said illuminating source when the peak output is less than a lower limit value of the photoelectric conversion output and when the output difference is not greater than a predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination light quantity altering device increases the illumination light quantity of said illuminating source when the peak output is less than a lower limit value of the photoelectric conversion output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination light quantity altering device reduces the illumination light quantity of said illuminating source when the peak output is greater than an upper limit value of the photoelectric conversion output.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
116 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; an illumination light quantity altering device to obtain an output ratio of a peak output of a photoelectric conversion output of said photoelectric converting device to a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding said peak output, and to alter the illumination light quantity of said illuminating source in accordance with the output ratio; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
116 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; an illumination light quantity altering device to obtain an output ratio of a peak output of a photoelectric conversion output of said photoelectric converting device to a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding said peak output, and to alter the illumination light quantity of said illuminating source in accordance with the output ratio; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device according to claim 7, wherein said illumination light quantity altering device alters the illumination light quantity when the output ratio is smaller than a predetermined value, further including an undetectable processing device to effect undetectable processing when the output ratio does not reach the predetermined value even with the altered illumination light quantity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device according to claim 7, wherein said illumination light quantity altering device reduces the illumination light quantity of said illuminating source source when the peak output reaches an upper limit value of the photoelectric conversion output and when the output ratio is not greater than a predetermined value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device according to claim 7, wherein said illumination light quantity altering device increases the illumination light quantity of said illuminating source when the peak output is less than a lower limit value of the photoelectric conversion output and when the output ratio is not greater than a predetermined value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; a gain control device to obtain an output difference between a peak output of a photoelectric converting device and a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding said peak output, and to control a gain of the photoelectric converting device in accordance with the output difference; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; a gain control device to obtain an output difference between a peak output of a photoelectric converting device and a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding said peak output, and to control a gain of the photoelectric converting device in accordance with the output difference; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; an output difference controlling device to obtain an output difference between a peak output of the photoelectric conversion output of said photoelectric converting device and portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding said peak output, and to control the output difference; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; an output difference controlling device to obtain an output difference between a peak output of the photoelectric conversion output of said photoelectric converting device and portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding said peak output, and to control the output difference; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
109 words
A camera having a line-of-sight detecting device in which an eye of a photographer is illuminated by a light source, reflected light is photoelectrically converted by a photoelectric conversion device to generate an output for detecting a line-of-sight direction of the photographer, and an autofocusing device with a plurality of autofocusing areas, the camera comprising: a control device to determine an output difference between a peak output and a background output from the photoelectric conversion device to compare the output difference with a predetermined value, and to identify an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on a result of the comparison between the output difference and the predetermined value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
109 words
A camera having a line-of-sight detecting device in which an eye of a photographer is illuminated by a light source, reflected light is photoelectrically converted by a photoelectric conversion device to generate an output for detecting a line-of-sight direction of the photographer, and an autofocusing device with a plurality of autofocusing areas, the camera comprising: a control device to determine an output difference between a peak output and a background output from the photoelectric conversion device to compare the output difference with a predetermined value, and to identify an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on a result of the comparison between the output difference and the predetermined value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A camera according to claim 13, wherein said control device identifies the eye-gazing point of the photographer when the output difference exceeds the predetermined value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
97 words
A line-of-sight detecting device in which an eye of a photographer is illuminated by light from a light source, and reflected light from the illuminated eye is converted by a photoelectric conversion device to generate an output for detecting a line-of-sight direction of the photographer, the detecting device comprising: a control device to determine an output difference between a peak output and a background output from the photoelectric conversion device and to compare the output difference to a predetermined value; and a warning device to generate a warning signal when the output difference exceeds the predetermined value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
97 words
A line-of-sight detecting device in which an eye of a photographer is illuminated by light from a light source, and reflected light from the illuminated eye is converted by a photoelectric conversion device to generate an output for detecting a line-of-sight direction of the photographer, the detecting device comprising: a control device to determine an output difference between a peak output and a background output from the photoelectric conversion device and to compare the output difference to a predetermined value; and a warning device to generate a warning signal when the output difference exceeds the predetermined value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
115 words
A camera having a line-of-sight detecting device in which an eye of a photographer is illuminated by light from a light source, and reflected light from the illuminated eye is photoelectrically converted by a photoelectric conversion device to generate an output for detecting a line-of-sight direction of the photographer, the camera comprising: a control device to determine an output difference between a peak output and a background output from the photoelectric conversion device and to compare the output difference to a predetermined value; and a stopping device to stop the detection of a line-of-sight direction of the photographer by said line-of-sight detecting device when comparisons by said control device exceeds a predetermined number of comparisons.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
115 words
A camera having a line-of-sight detecting device in which an eye of a photographer is illuminated by light from a light source, and reflected light from the illuminated eye is photoelectrically converted by a photoelectric conversion device to generate an output for detecting a line-of-sight direction of the photographer, the camera comprising: a control device to determine an output difference between a peak output and a background output from the photoelectric conversion device and to compare the output difference to a predetermined value; and a stopping device to stop the detection of a line-of-sight direction of the photographer by said line-of-sight detecting device when comparisons by said control device exceeds a predetermined number of comparisons.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
73 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: a light source illuminating an eye of a photographer with light; a conversion device converting reflected light from the illuminated eye to an output corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light; and a control device identifying an eye-gazing point of the photographer when an output difference between a peak output and a background output from said conversion device is greater than a predetermined value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
73 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: a light source illuminating an eye of a photographer with light; a conversion device converting reflected light from the illuminated eye to an output corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light; and a control device identifying an eye-gazing point of the photographer when an output difference between a peak output and a background output from said conversion device is greater than a predetermined value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
A camera as in claim 17, wherein said control device further bases the identification of the eye gazing point upon the magnitude of the peak output from said conversion device being within a predetermined range.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A camera as in claim 17, wherein said control device varies the intensity of the illumination of said light source when the magnitude of the peak output from said conversion device exceeds a predetermined range.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
A camera as in claim 14, wherein said control device generates a warning signal after a predetermined number of variations in the intensity of the illumination of said light source have been made.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
A camera as in claim 14, wherein said control device stops varying the intensity of the illumination of said light source after a predetermined number of variations have been made.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
74 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: a light source for illuminating an eye of a photographer with light; a conversion device converting reflected light from the illuminated eye to an output corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light; and a control device identifying an eye-gazing point of the photographer when an output ratio between a peak output and a background output from said conversion device is greater than a predetermined value.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
74 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: a light source for illuminating an eye of a photographer with light; a conversion device converting reflected light from the illuminated eye to an output corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light; and a control device identifying an eye-gazing point of the photographer when an output ratio between a peak output and a background output from said conversion device is greater than a predetermined value.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
A camera as in claim 22, wherein said control device further bases the identification of the eye gazing point upon the magnitude of the peak output from said conversion device being within a predetermined range.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
A camera as in claim 22, wherein said control device varies the intensity of the illumination of said light source when the magnitude of the peak output from said conversion device exceeds a predetermined range.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
A camera as in claim 24, wherein said control device generates a warning signal after a predetermined number of variations in the intensity of the illumination of said light source have been made.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
A camera as in claim 24, wherein said control device stops varying the intensity of the illumination of said light source after a predetermined number of variations have been made.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for obtaining the eye gazing position of a photographer through a lens in a camera comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating an eye of the photographer with light; (b) converting the reflected light from the illuminated eye to an output corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light; and (c) determining the eye gazing position when an output difference between a peak output and a background output from step (b) is greater than a predetermined value.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for obtaining the eye gazing position of a photographer through a lens in a camera comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating an eye of the photographer with light; (b) converting the reflected light from the illuminated eye to an output corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light; and (c) determining the eye gazing position when an output difference between a peak output and a background output from step (b) is greater than a predetermined value.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 27, wherein step (c) comprise the substep (c1) of bypassing the determination of the eye gazing point of the eye of the photographer when the magnitude of the peak output from step (b) exceeds a predetermined range.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 27, further comprising the step (d) of varying the illumination on the eye of the photographer when the magnitude of the peak output from step (b) exceeds a predetermined range.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
120 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; an illumination light quantity altering device to obtain an output difference between a peak output of a photoelectric conversion output of said photoelectric converting device and a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding the peak output, and to alter an illumination light quantity of said illuminating source in accordance with the peak output and the output difference; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
120 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; an illumination light quantity altering device to obtain an output difference between a peak output of a photoelectric conversion output of said photoelectric converting device and a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding the peak output, and to alter an illumination light quantity of said illuminating source in accordance with the peak output and the output difference; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
120 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; an illumination light quantity altering device to obtain an output ratio of a peak output of a photoelectric conversion output of said photoelectric converting device to a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding said peak output, and to alter the illumination light quantity of said illuminating source in accordance with the peak output and the output ratio; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
120 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; an illumination light quantity altering device to obtain an output ratio of a peak output of a photoelectric conversion output of said photoelectric converting device to a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding said peak output, and to alter the illumination light quantity of said illuminating source in accordance with the peak output and the output ratio; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
112 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; a gain control device to obtain an output difference between a peak output of a photoelectric converting device and a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding said peak output, and to control a gain of the photoelectric converting device in accordance with the peak output and the output difference; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
112 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; a gain control device to obtain an output difference between a peak output of a photoelectric converting device and a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding said peak output, and to control a gain of the photoelectric converting device in accordance with the peak output and the output difference; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
108 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; an output difference controlling device to obtain an output difference between a peak output of the photoelectric conversion output of said photoelectric converting device and a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding said peak output, and to control the peak output and the output difference; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
108 words
A camera with a line-of-sight detecting device, comprising: an illuminating source to illuminate an eye of a photographer with light; a photoelectric converting device to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the illuminated eye to a photoelectric conversion output; an output difference controlling device to obtain an output difference between a peak output of the photoelectric conversion output of said photoelectric converting device and a portion of said photoelectric conversion output excluding said peak output, and to control the peak output and the output difference; and an arithmetic device to calculate a direction of an eye-gazing point of the photographer based on the output from said photoelectric converting device.
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-16 | 2000-12-16 | 2001-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-16 | 2004-12-16 | 2005-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-16 | 2008-12-16 | 2009-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |