Patent US5041762A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6108495A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6108495A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1999-04-28
•
Granted: 2000-08-22
•
Expires: 2019-04-28
Abstract
Abstract In addition to a focus detecting sensor for phase difference detection, a camera is provided with a light source or a generator for emitting light or ultrasonic waves, and a light receiver or a receiver for receiving the light or the ultrasonic waves reflected from the object. The distance to the object is detected from the intensity of the reflected light or ultrasonic waves and the focusing lens is set at a position close to the in-focus position. Then, the driving range of the focusing lens is limited in accordance with the detected distance, and from the set focusing lens position, focusing by the phase difference detection method is performed within the limited driving range.
Inventors
- 👤 Junji Takahata
- 👤 Hiroshi Ueda
- 👤 Hironori Kamishita
- 👤 Koutaro Kawabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/30; G02B7/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A camera having an auto-focus function, comprising: a distance meter which measures a distance to an object; a focus condition detector which detects the focus condition of a taking lens with respect to the object by a phase difference detection method; and a controller which controls said distance meter to measure the distance to the object, controls the focusing lens of the taking lens to move toward the position corresponding to the measured distance to the object, and then controls said focus condition detector to detect the focusing condition in a condition where the focusing lens reaches the position corresponding to the measured distance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A camera having an auto-focus function, comprising: a distance meter which measures a distance to an object; a focus condition detector which detects the focus condition of a taking lens with respect to the object by a phase difference detection method; and a controller which controls said distance meter to measure the distance to the object, controls the focusing lens of the taking lens to move toward the position corresponding to the measured distance to the object, and then controls said focus condition detector to detect the focusing condition in a condition where the focusing lens reaches the position corresponding to the measured distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said controller determines whether the detection of the focus condition of the taking lens with respect to the object by said focus condition detector is possible or not in a condition where the focusing lens reaches the position corresponding to the measured distance to the object, and then controls the focusing lens to move toward the position corresponding to the detected focus condition when the focus condition detection is determined to be possible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A camera according to claim 2, wherein said controller determines a driving range of the focusing lens of the taking lens in accordance with the distance to the object measured by the distance meter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A camera according to claim 3, wherein said controller controls the focusing lens to move within the determined range for finding the position of the focusing lens where the focus condition detection is possible when the focus condition detection is determined to be impossible.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said distance meter includes a light source to emit light toward the object and a light receiver to receive the light reflected by the object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camera according to claims 1, wherein said distance meter includes a generator to generate ultrasonic wave toward the object and a receiver to receive the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A control method of a camera comprising steps of: measuring a distance from the camera to the object; driving a focusing lens of a taking lens to a position corresponding to the measured distance; and detecting a focus condition of the taking lens with respect to the object by a phase difference detection method in a condition where the focusing lens reaches the position corresponding to the measured distance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A control method of a camera comprising steps of: measuring a distance from the camera to the object; driving a focusing lens of a taking lens to a position corresponding to the measured distance; and detecting a focus condition of the taking lens with respect to the object by a phase difference detection method in a condition where the focusing lens reaches the position corresponding to the measured distance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A control method according to claim 7 further comprising a step of determining whether the detection of the focus condition of the taking lens with respect to the object is possible or not in a condition where the focusing lens reaches the position corresponding to the measured distance to the object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A control method according to claim 8 further comprising a step of driving the focusing lens toward the position corresponding to the detected focus condition when the focus condition detection is determined to be possible.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A control method according to claim 9 further comprising a step of determining, after the distance measuring step, a driving range of the focusing lens of the taking lens in accordance with the measured distance to the object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control method according to claim 10 further comprising a step of driving the focusing lens within the determined driving range for finding the position of the focusing lens where the focus condition detection is possible when the focus condition detection is determined to be impossible.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
93 words
A control method of a camera comprising steps of: detecting a distance to the object by a method other than a phase difference detection method; driving a focusing lens of a taking lens to the position corresponding to the detected distance to thereby bring the taking lens to a state close to the in-focus state; detecting the focus condition of the taking lens by a phase difference detection method; and driving the focusing lens to the position corresponding to the detected focus condition to thereby bring the taking lens to the in-focus state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
A control method of a camera comprising steps of: detecting a distance to the object by a method other than a phase difference detection method; driving a focusing lens of a taking lens to the position corresponding to the detected distance to thereby bring the taking lens to a state close to the in-focus state; detecting the focus condition of the taking lens by a phase difference detection method; and driving the focusing lens to the position corresponding to the detected focus condition to thereby bring the taking lens to the in-focus state.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A control method according to claim 12 further comprising a step of executing an operation to find the position of the focusing lens where the focus condition detection is possible when the focus condition detection by the phase difference detection method in the detecting step is impossible.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A control method according to claim 13, wherein, in said executing step, the focusing lens is driven within a range limited in accordance with the detected distance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4488787A
Cited
US5121153A
Cited
US5597999A
Cited
US5652926A
Cited
US5655160A
Cited
US5737645A
Cited
US5870178A
Cited
US5915233A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-22 | 2004-02-21 | 2004-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-22 | 2008-02-21 | 2008-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-22 | 2012-02-21 | 2012-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |