US6118943A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1998-01-05
•
Granted: 2000-09-12
•
Expires: 2018-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A camera includes an objective lens, a detection device for detecting defocus associated with each of at least three portions in a view field, a setting device for manually setting whether the each of at least three portions is used for focusing or not and a selecting device for automatically selecting a portion from among a plurality of the manually set portions to have been used for focusing, and for performing focusing for the selected portion by the objective lens.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshifumi Ohsawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:56
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/34; G02B7/346
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A camera comprising: an objective lens; detection means for detecting defocus associated with each of at least three portions in a view field; setting means for manually setting whether said each of said at least three portions is used for focusing or not; and means for automatically selecting a portion from among a plurality of said manually set portions to have been used for focusing, and for performing focusing for the selected portion by said objective lens.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A camera comprising: an objective lens; detection means for detecting defocus associated with each of at least three portions in a view field; setting means for manually setting whether said each of said at least three portions is used for focusing or not; and means for automatically selecting a portion from among a plurality of said manually set portions to have been used for focusing, and for performing focusing for the selected portion by said objective lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said detection means detects defocus of each of five portions of said view field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A camera comprising: an objective lens; detection means for detecting defocus associated with each of at least three portions in a view field; setting means for manually setting whether said each of at least three portions is used for focusing or not; and means for selecting a portion from among a plurality of said manually set portions to have been used for focusing, and for performing focusing for the selected portion by said objective lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A camera comprising: an objective lens; detection means for detecting defocus associated with each of at least three portions in a view field; setting means for manually setting whether said each of at least three portions is used for focusing or not; and means for selecting a portion from among a plurality of said manually set portions to have been used for focusing, and for performing focusing for the selected portion by said objective lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A camera according to claim 3, wherein said detection means detects defocus of each of said five portions of said view field.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A camera according to claim 3, wherein said defocus detection means detects defocus of each of five portions of said view field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
A camera according to claim 3, wherein said camera has a first mode and a second mode for selecting a portion from among said plurality of portions and either said first mode or said second mode is used, and wherein said first mode is a mode for selecting said portion by visual axis and said second mode is a mode for automatically selecting said portion in accordance with an algorithm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein said camera has a first mode and a second mode for selecting a portion from among said plurality of portions and either said first mode or said second mode is used, and wherein said first mode is a mode for selecting said portion by visual axis and said second mode is a mode for automatically selecting said portion in accordance with an algorithm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
An image pickup device comprising: an imaging optical system; detection means for detecting defocus associated with each of at least three portions in a view field; setting means for manually setting whether said each of at least three portions is used for focusing or not; and means for selecting a portion from among a plurality of said manually set portions to have been used for focusing, and for performing focusing for the selected portion by said objective lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
An image pickup device comprising: an imaging optical system; detection means for detecting defocus associated with each of at least three portions in a view field; setting means for manually setting whether said each of at least three portions is used for focusing or not; and means for selecting a portion from among a plurality of said manually set portions to have been used for focusing, and for performing focusing for the selected portion by said objective lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said detecting means detects defocus of each of five portions of said view field.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
A camera comprising: an objective lens; defocus detection means for detecting defocus associated with each of at least three portions in a view field; setting means for manually setting whether said each of at least three portions is used for focusing or not; and visual axis detecting means for detecting a direction of a visual axis of a user, to select a portion from among a plurality of said set portions to have been used for focusing by said setting means, and for performing focusing for the selected portion by said objective lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
93 words
A camera comprising: an objective lens; defocus detection means for detecting defocus associated with each of at least three portions in a view field; setting means for manually setting whether said each of at least three portions is used for focusing or not; and visual axis detecting means for detecting a direction of a visual axis of a user, to select a portion from among a plurality of said set portions to have been used for focusing by said setting means, and for performing focusing for the selected portion by said objective lens.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A camera according to claim 10, wherein said defocus detection means detects defocus of each of five portions of said view field.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-12 | 2004-03-13 | 2004-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-12 | 2008-03-13 | 2008-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-12 | 2012-03-13 | 2012-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |