Patent US4444152A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US7433586B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7433586B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera with an auto-focus function
Assignee: Casio Computer Co Ltd
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Filing: 2005-08-01
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Granted: 2008-10-07
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Expires: 2025-08-01
Abstract
Abstract A first area of a predetermined size is set as a focus area from which AF evaluation values are picked up in AF control when a focus mode is a normal one. When the focus mode changes to a macro mode, a second area narrower than the first area is set as the AF area. Thus, in the macro mode, focus search is performed automatically through the narrower area. AF frames indicative of the first and second areas are displayed on a through image.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaru Onozawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:10
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/36; G02B7/38; G03; G03B; G03B13/00; G03B13/32; G03B13/34; G03B13/36; G03B3/00; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/63; H04N23/633; H04N23/635; H04N23/67; H04N23/675; H04N23/673
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
282 words
A camera apparatus comprising: focus area setting means for setting a focus area on an image of an object to be picked up; auto-focus performing means for performing an auto-focus operation based on image information in the focus area set by the focus area setting means; operational mode selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of different operational modes that have respective different focusable distances from the camera apparatus to the object, wherein the plurality of different operational modes include a normal mode and a macro mode; first focus area control means for causing the focus area setting means to set a first area as the focus area when the operational mode selected by the operational mode selecting means is the normal mode; first display control means for displaying on a display a first focus frame corresponding in position and size to the first area such that the first focus frame is superimposed on the object image; second focus area control means for causing the focus area setting means to set a second area narrower than the first area as the focus area when the operational mode selected by the operational mode selecting means is the macro mode; and second display control means for displaying on the display a second focus frame corresponding in position and size to the second area such that the second focus frame is superimposed on the object image; wherein the operational mode selecting means comprises means for selecting another one of said operational modes when the auto-focus performing means fails in performing the auto-focus operation; and wherein the auto-focus performing means performs the auto-focus operation in a focus search range corresponding to the selected operational mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
282 words
A camera apparatus comprising: focus area setting means for setting a focus area on an image of an object to be picked up; auto-focus performing means for performing an auto-focus operation based on image information in the focus area set by the focus area setting means; operational mode selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of different operational modes that have respective different focusable distances from the camera apparatus to the object, wherein the plurality of different operational modes include a normal mode and a macro mode; first focus area control means for causing the focus area setting means to set a first area as the focus area when the operational mode selected by the operational mode selecting means is the normal mode; first display control means for displaying on a display a first focus frame corresponding in position and size to the first area such that the first focus frame is superimposed on the object image; second focus area control means for causing the focus area setting means to set a second area narrower than the first area as the focus area when the operational mode selected by the operational mode selecting means is the macro mode; and second display control means for displaying on the display a second focus frame corresponding in position and size to the second area such that the second focus frame is superimposed on the object image; wherein the operational mode selecting means comprises means for selecting another one of said operational modes when the auto-focus performing means fails in performing the auto-focus operation; and wherein the auto-focus performing means performs the auto-focus operation in a focus search range corresponding to the selected operational mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The camera apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operational mode selecting means selects one of the plurality of different operational modes in response to a user's manual selecting operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The camera apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: means for displaying the object image; and means for displaying on the displaying means the focus area set by the focus area setting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The camera apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second focus area control means causes the focus area setting means to set a single focus area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
176 words
The camera apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: set mode selecting means for selecting any one of a first set mode that causes the focus area setting means to set a single focus area on the object image, and a second set mode that causes the focus area setting means to set a plurality of different focus areas on the object image, and wherein: the first focus area control means causes the focus area setting means to set a single first area as the focus area when the operational mode selected by the operational mode selecting means is the normal mode and the set mode selected by the set mode selecting means is the first set mode; the second focus area control means causes the focus area setting means to set a single second area narrower than the first area as the focus area when the operational mode selected by the operational mode selecting means is the macro mode and the set mode selected by the set mode selecting means is the first set mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The camera apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising: third focus area control means for causing the focus area setting means to set a plurality of different areas as the focus area when the set mode set by the set mode selecting means is the second set mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
193 words
An auto-focus control method comprising: selecting one of a plurality of different operational modes that have respective different focusable distances, wherein the plurality of different operational modes include a normal mode and a macro mode; setting a first area as a focus area on an image of an object to be picked up when the normal mode is selected as the operational mode; displaying on a display a first focus frame corresponding in position and size to the first area such that the first focus frame is superimposed on the object image; setting a second area narrower than the first area as the focus area when the macro mode is selected as the operational mode; displaying on a display a second focus frame corresponding in position and size to the second area such that the second focus frame is superimposed on the object image; and performing an auto-focusing operation based on image information in the set focus area; wherein when the auto-focus operation fails to be performed, another one of said operational modes is selected; and wherein the auto-focus operation is performed in a focus search range corresponding to the selected operational mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
193 words
An auto-focus control method comprising: selecting one of a plurality of different operational modes that have respective different focusable distances, wherein the plurality of different operational modes include a normal mode and a macro mode; setting a first area as a focus area on an image of an object to be picked up when the normal mode is selected as the operational mode; displaying on a display a first focus frame corresponding in position and size to the first area such that the first focus frame is superimposed on the object image; setting a second area narrower than the first area as the focus area when the macro mode is selected as the operational mode; displaying on a display a second focus frame corresponding in position and size to the second area such that the second focus frame is superimposed on the object image; and performing an auto-focusing operation based on image information in the set focus area; wherein when the auto-focus operation fails to be performed, another one of said operational modes is selected; and wherein the auto-focus operation is performed in a focus search range corresponding to the selected operational mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
210 words
A computer readable medium having stored thereon an auto-focus control program that causes a computer of a camera to perform functions of: selecting one of a plurality of different operational modes that have respective different focusable distances, wherein the plurality of different operational modes include a normal mode and a macro mode; setting a first area as a focus area on an image of an object to be picked up when the normal mode is selected as the operational mode; displaying on a display a first focus frame corresponding in position and size to the first area such that the first focus frame is superimposed on the object image; setting a second area narrower than the first area as the focus area when the macro mode is selected as the operational mode; displaying on a display a second focus frame corresponding in position and size to the second area such that the second focus frame is superimposed on the object image; and performing an auto-focusing operation based on image information in the set focus area; wherein when the auto-focus operation fails to be performed, another one of said operational modes is selected; and wherein the auto-focus operation is performed in a focus search range corresponding to the selected operational mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
210 words
A computer readable medium having stored thereon an auto-focus control program that causes a computer of a camera to perform functions of: selecting one of a plurality of different operational modes that have respective different focusable distances, wherein the plurality of different operational modes include a normal mode and a macro mode; setting a first area as a focus area on an image of an object to be picked up when the normal mode is selected as the operational mode; displaying on a display a first focus frame corresponding in position and size to the first area such that the first focus frame is superimposed on the object image; setting a second area narrower than the first area as the focus area when the macro mode is selected as the operational mode; displaying on a display a second focus frame corresponding in position and size to the second area such that the second focus frame is superimposed on the object image; and performing an auto-focusing operation based on image information in the set focus area; wherein when the auto-focus operation fails to be performed, another one of said operational modes is selected; and wherein the auto-focus operation is performed in a focus search range corresponding to the selected operational mode.
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2011-10-07 | 2012-04-07 | 2012-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-10-07 | 2016-04-07 | 2016-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-10-07 | 2020-04-07 | 2020-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |