US5867217A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photographing apparatus and lens position control device
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1997-10-07
•
Granted: 1999-02-02
•
Expires: 2017-10-07
Abstract
Abstract A lens position control device for a rear-focus type zoom lens includes a rear-focus type zoom lens, an image pickup element for converting an optical image formed by the zoom lens into an electrical signal, a signal processing circuit for executing signal processing of the electrical signal so as to obtain an electronic zooming effect, a focus detection circuit for detecting a focus adjustment state of the zoom lens, a memory for storing information associated with movement of a focusing lens group according to lens positions of a variable magnification lens group and a focusing lens group of the zoom lens, and a control circuit for, when it is determined based on an output from the focus detection circuit that the zoom lens is in an in-focus state, moving the focusing lens group on the basis of the position of the variable magnification lens group and the information stored in the memory, and for, when it is determined that the zoom lens is in an out-of-focus state, performing a zooming operation on the basis of a signal processing result of the signal processing circuit, and moving the focusing lens group on the basis of information detected by the focus detection circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Tadashi Okino
- 👤 Harunobu Ichinose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:52
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/69; G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/001; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B7/10; G02B7/102; H04N23/63; H04N23/633; H04N23/67
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A lens position control device, comprising: a zoom lens having a variable magnification lens group and a focusing lens group; image pickup means for converting an optical image formed by said zoom lens into an electrical signal; signal processing means for executing signal processing of the electrical signal so as to obtain an electronic zooming effect; focus detection means for detecting a focus condition; storage means for storing information associated with movement of a focusing lens group according to lens positions of said variable magnification lens group and said focusing lens group of said zoom lens; and control means for controlling said zoom lens and said signal processing means on the basis of the focus condition detected by said focus detection means that said zoom lens is in an in-focus condition, to move said focusing lens group on the basis of the position of said variable magnification lens group and the information stored in said storage means, and, in the case that it is determined that said zoom lens is in an out-of-focus condition, to perform a zooming operation on the basis of a signal processing result of said signal processing means, and to move said focusing lens group on the basis of information detected by said focus detection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A lens position control device, comprising: a zoom lens having a variable magnification lens group and a focusing lens group; image pickup means for converting an optical image formed by said zoom lens into an electrical signal; signal processing means for executing signal processing of the electrical signal so as to obtain an electronic zooming effect; focus detection means for detecting a focus condition; storage means for storing information associated with movement of a focusing lens group according to lens positions of said variable magnification lens group and said focusing lens group of said zoom lens; and control means for controlling said zoom lens and said signal processing means on the basis of the focus condition detected by said focus detection means that said zoom lens is in an in-focus condition, to move said focusing lens group on the basis of the position of said variable magnification lens group and the information stored in said storage means, and, in the case that it is determined that said zoom lens is in an out-of-focus condition, to perform a zooming operation on the basis of a signal processing result of said signal processing means, and to move said focusing lens group on the basis of information detected by said focus detection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein when a zoom function is switched between an optical zoom function and the electronic zoom function, one zoom operation is started before the other zoom operation is stopped.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: a zoom lens having a variable magnification lens group and a focusing lens group; image pickup means for converting an optical image formed by said zoom lens into an electrical signal; signal processing means for executing signal processing of the electrical signal so as to obtain an electronic zoom effect; and control means for selectively switching an optical zoom function by said zoom lens and an electronic zoom function by said signal processing means, wherein an operation range of the optical zoom function and an operation range of the electronic zoom function are overlapped by each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: a zoom lens having a variable magnification lens group and a focusing lens group; image pickup means for converting an optical image formed by said zoom lens into an electrical signal; signal processing means for executing signal processing of the electrical signal so as to obtain an electronic zoom effect; and control means for selectively switching an optical zoom function by said zoom lens and an electronic zoom function by said signal processing means, wherein an operation range of the optical zoom function and an operation range of the electronic zoom function are overlapped by each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
A photographing apparatus comprising: a zoom lens having a variable magnification lens group and a focusing lens group; image pickup means for converting an optical image formed by said zoom lens into an electrical signal; and signal processing means for executing signal processing of the electrical signal so as to obtain an electronic zoom effect, wherein said apparatus having an optical zoom function achieved upon movement of said variable magnification lens group, and an electronic zoom function, and wherein the optical and electronic zoom functions are driven at the same time, when a zoom function is changed from one of the optical zoom function and the electronic zoom function to the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
112 words
A photographing apparatus comprising: a zoom lens having a variable magnification lens group and a focusing lens group; image pickup means for converting an optical image formed by said zoom lens into an electrical signal; and signal processing means for executing signal processing of the electrical signal so as to obtain an electronic zoom effect, wherein said apparatus having an optical zoom function achieved upon movement of said variable magnification lens group, and an electronic zoom function, and wherein the optical and electronic zoom functions are driven at the same time, when a zoom function is changed from one of the optical zoom function and the electronic zoom function to the other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) optical means comprising a variable magnification lens group and a focusing lens group; (b) image pickup means for converting image pickup light of an object incident through said optical means into an electrical signal; (c) electronic zoom means for electrically performing a zoom operation using the electrical signal; (d) detection means for detecting a focus adjustment state; and (e) control means for controlling said optical means and said electronic zoom means according to an output of said detection means to drive said focusing lens group while driving said electronic zoom means in the case that an in-focus state is not attained.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) optical means comprising a variable magnification lens group and a focusing lens group; (b) image pickup means for converting image pickup light of an object incident through said optical means into an electrical signal; (c) electronic zoom means for electrically performing a zoom operation using the electrical signal; (d) detection means for detecting a focus adjustment state; and (e) control means for controlling said optical means and said electronic zoom means according to an output of said detection means to drive said focusing lens group while driving said electronic zoom means in the case that an in-focus state is not attained.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control means includes a microcomputer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said electronic zoom means includes memory means for storing the electrical signal, and memory control means for controlling a signal read access to said memory means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
An image pickup means, which adopts a zoom lens in an image pickup optical system, and has an electronic zoom function for electronically performing a zoom operation of a signal read from an image pickup element, wherein after a magnification of a composition is determined by the electronic zoom function, a magnification of said zoom lens is varied to the magnification attained by the electronic zoom function and then the magnification of the electronic zoom is reduced.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
An image pickup means, which adopts a zoom lens in an image pickup optical system, and has an electronic zoom function for electronically performing a zoom operation of a signal read from an image pickup element, wherein after a magnification of a composition is determined by the electronic zoom function, a magnification of said zoom lens is varied to the magnification attained by the electronic zoom function and then the magnification of the electronic zoom is reduced.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein while the magnification is changed by said zoom lens, the electronic zoom function is driven in a direction to cancel the change in magnification attained by said zoom lens so as to obtain a constant image pickup magnification.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a zoom speed of the electronic zoom function is higher than an optical zoom speed of said zoom lens.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
An image pickup apparatus having the same function as a tilt lens by means of image processing, comprising: image pickup means for picking up an image and outputting an image signal; image processing means for performing image signal processing to generate image data of a reference line; displaying means for displaying the reference line on an electronic monitor with the image signal; magnifying means for magnifying the image to be displayed on said monitor; and control means, in response to a tilt adjustment operation, for causing said displaying means to display the reference line with image signal on said monitor and causing said magnifying means to magnify the image displayed on said monitor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
An image pickup apparatus having the same function as a tilt lens by means of image processing, comprising: image pickup means for picking up an image and outputting an image signal; image processing means for performing image signal processing to generate image data of a reference line; displaying means for displaying the reference line on an electronic monitor with the image signal; magnifying means for magnifying the image to be displayed on said monitor; and control means, in response to a tilt adjustment operation, for causing said displaying means to display the reference line with image signal on said monitor and causing said magnifying means to magnify the image displayed on said monitor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a portion near the reference line can be selectively displayed in an enlarged scale in a predetermined direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reference line is a vertical line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reference line is a lattice line pattern.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
95 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: (a) optical magnification change means for optically changing magnification of image information in a picture screen; (b) electronic magnification change means for electronically changing the magnification of the image information in the picture screen by performing a predetermined signal processing on the image information; (c) discrimination means for discriminating a focus condition, as the image information in the picture screen; and (d) control means for controlling operation sequences of said optical magnification change means and said electronic magnification change means on the basis of an output of said discrimination means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
95 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: (a) optical magnification change means for optically changing magnification of image information in a picture screen; (b) electronic magnification change means for electronically changing the magnification of the image information in the picture screen by performing a predetermined signal processing on the image information; (c) discrimination means for discriminating a focus condition, as the image information in the picture screen; and (d) control means for controlling operation sequences of said optical magnification change means and said electronic magnification change means on the basis of an output of said discrimination means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said electronic magnification change means stores an image signal in a memory and changes a read-out range of the memory to provide an enlarged image.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said discrimination means is focus detection means for detecting a focusing state as to the image information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control means operates said electronic magnification change means in the case that a defocus state is detected by said focus detection means, and operates said optical magnification change means in the case that an infocus state is detected by said focus detection means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said control means operates said electronic magnification change means when the defocus state is detected by said focus detection means and causes said optical magnification change means to operate in response to the detection of the infocus state by said focus detection means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the picture screen is a screen of a viewfinder.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein said control means performs the electronic zoom function in the case of the out of focus state, and then performs the optical zoom function.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device according to claim 21, wherein when a zooming operation is performed by said zoom lens in the case of the out of focus state, the electronic zoom is driven first and then switched to the optical zoom when an in-focus state is nearly attained.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 22, wherein said control means sets product of magnification of the electronic zoom and magnification of the optical zoom as whole magnification.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said apparatus drives the optical zoom function first and then drives the electronic zoom function, when said apparatus performs a zooming operation.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said signal processing means includes memory means for storing the electrical signal, and memory control means for controlling a signal read access to said memory means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein while magnification is changed by said zoom lens, an electronic zoom function is driven in a direction to cancel the change in magnification attained by said zoom lens so as to obtain a constant image pickup magnification.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a zoom speed of an electronic zoom operation is higher than an optical zoom speed of said zoom lens.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said signal processing means includes memory means for storing the electrical signal, and memory control means for controlling a signal read access to said memory means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein whole magnification of said apparatus is provided by product of magnification of the electronic zoom function and magnification of the optical zoom function.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4843475A
Cited
US4969044A
Cited
US5023722A
Cited
US4963981A
Cited
US5107334A
Cited
JPH0490274A
Cited
JPH0497662A
Cited
JPH04329077A
Cited
US5420632A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-01 | 2002-08-03 | 2003-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-01 | 2006-08-03 | 2007-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-01 | 2010-08-03 | 2011-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |