US6700614B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Autofocus apparatus
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1999-09-24
•
Granted: 2004-03-02
•
Expires: 2019-09-24
Abstract
Abstract The autofocus apparatus determines a focus position according to a result of sampling an AF evaluated value and drives a lens system to the focus position. This autofocus apparatus further performs a flash in synchronism with a sampling timing of an AF evaluated value, and the light quantity of each flash is maintained substantially constant.
Inventors
- 👤 Daisuke Hata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:11
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/67; H04N23/671; H04N23/673
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
An autofocus apparatus comprising: an image pickup means for converting the light of an object received through a focus lens system to electric signals and outputting the signals as image data; an A/D converting means for A/D-converting the image data to obtain digital image data; an AF evaluating means for outputting an AF evaluated value obtained by integrating high-frequency components of brightness data in the digital image data; a sampling means for sampling the AF evaluated value obtained by said AF evaluating means while moving the position of said focus lens system; a flash means for illuminating light; and a focus driving means for determining a focus according to a result of the sampling of an AF evaluated value by said sampling means and driving said focus lens system to the focus position; wherein light is flashed in synchronism with the sampling timing of an AF evaluated value, and a quantity of light at each flash is maintained substantially constant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
An autofocus apparatus comprising: an image pickup means for converting the light of an object received through a focus lens system to electric signals and outputting the signals as image data; an A/D converting means for A/D-converting the image data to obtain digital image data; an AF evaluating means for outputting an AF evaluated value obtained by integrating high-frequency components of brightness data in the digital image data; a sampling means for sampling the AF evaluated value obtained by said AF evaluating means while moving the position of said focus lens system; a flash means for illuminating light; and a focus driving means for determining a focus according to a result of the sampling of an AF evaluated value by said sampling means and driving said focus lens system to the focus position; wherein light is flashed in synchronism with the sampling timing of an AF evaluated value, and a quantity of light at each flash is maintained substantially constant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The autofocus apparatus according to claim 1 ; wherein the range where an AF evaluated value is sampled is set to a range where the light of the flash can reach.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The autofocus apparatus according to claim 1 ; wherein the light of the flash is used to obtain the AF evaluated value as well as for reducing red-eye effect.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The autofocus apparatus according to claim 1 ; further comprising an AE evaluating means for calculating an AE evaluated value corresponding to brightness data in the digital image data; wherein a quantity of the light of flash is determined in synchronism with the sampling timing of the AF evaluated value according to the AE evaluated value acquired at the time of a flash.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The autofocus apparatus according to claim 1 ; wherein it is determined whether or not a flash having a required light quantity can be performed for the number of sampling times of an AF evaluated value, and when it is determined that the flash can not be performed then the light quantity of the flash is reduced or the number of sampling times of an AF evaluated value is reduced.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The autofocus apparatus according to claim 1 ; further comprising an AE evaluating means for calculating an AE evaluated value corresponding to brightness data for the digital image data; wherein an AE evaluated value acquired when the flash is performed is compared to an AE evaluated value acquired without flash, and when both of the values are not different, a flash is not performed when sampling an AF evaluated value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
An autofocus apparatus comprising: an image pickup device which converts the light of an object received through a focus lens system to electric signals and outputting the signals as image data; an A/D converter which A/D-converts the image data to obtain digital image data; an AF evaluating unit which outputs an AF evaluated value obtained by integrating high-frequency components of brightness data in the digital image data; a sampling unit which samples the AF evaluated value obtained by said AF evaluating unit while moving the position of said focus lens system; a flash which illuminates light; and a focus driver which determines a focus according to a result of the sampling of an AF evaluated value by said sampling unit and driving said focus lens system to the focus position; wherein light is flashed in synchronism with the sampling timing of an AF evaluated value, and a quantity of light at each flash is maintained substantially constant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
157 words
An autofocus apparatus comprising: an image pickup device which converts the light of an object received through a focus lens system to electric signals and outputting the signals as image data; an A/D converter which A/D-converts the image data to obtain digital image data; an AF evaluating unit which outputs an AF evaluated value obtained by integrating high-frequency components of brightness data in the digital image data; a sampling unit which samples the AF evaluated value obtained by said AF evaluating unit while moving the position of said focus lens system; a flash which illuminates light; and a focus driver which determines a focus according to a result of the sampling of an AF evaluated value by said sampling unit and driving said focus lens system to the focus position; wherein light is flashed in synchronism with the sampling timing of an AF evaluated value, and a quantity of light at each flash is maintained substantially constant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The autofocus apparatus according to claim 7 ; wherein the range where an AF evaluated value is sampled is set to a range where the light of the flash can reach.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The autofocus apparatus according to claim 7 ; wherein the light of the flash is used to obtain the AF evaluated value as well as for reducing red-eye effect.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The autofocus apparatus according to claim 7 ; further comprising an AE evaluating unit which calculates an AE evaluated value corresponding to brightness data in the digital image data; wherein a quantity of the light of flash is determined in synchronism with the sampling timing of the AF evaluated value according to the AE evaluated value acquired at the time of a flash.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
The autofocus apparatus according to claim 7 ; wherein it is determined whether or not a flash having a required light quantity can be performed for the number of sampling times of an AF evaluated value, and when it is determined that the flash can not be performed then the light quantity of the flash is reduced or the number of sampling times of an AF evaluated value is reduced.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The autofocus apparatus according to claim 7 ; further comprising an AE evaluating unit which calculates an AE evaluated value corresponding to brightness data for the digital image data; wherein an AE evaluated value acquired when the flash is performed is compared to an AE evaluated value acquired without flash, and when both of the values are not different, a flash is not performed when sampling an AF evaluated value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS61262382A
Cited
JPS6459311A
Cited
JPH01187521A
Cited
JPH05268505A
Cited
US6342922B1
Cited
JPH0915490A
Cited
US6108495A
Cited
US6430368B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-03-02 | 2007-09-01 | 2008-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-02 | 2011-09-01 | 2012-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-02 | 2015-09-01 | 2016-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |