Abstract: The present invention comprises a first distance-measuring mode in which a subject distance is measured on the basis of a subject image signal produced by at least a pair of light-receiving elements receiving the light from subjects, a second distance-measuring mode in which the subject distance is measured on the basis of an image signal from which a steady-state light removing section has removed the steady-state light component from the subject image signal, while a projecting source is projecting light onto the subjects, and a CPU which causes the second distance-measuring mode to operate for a specific time and, according to the image signal obtained, selects a subject whose distance is to be measured.

Abstract: There is disclosed a distance measurement apparatus of a camera which obtains subject distance information (phase difference of a subject luminance signal) of each distance measurement area by a photoelectric conversion element with a plurality of distance measurement areas including a peripheral region outside a region to be photographed arranged therein, divides the distance measurement areas having numeric values in a predetermined range and being adjacent to one another into groups from the obtained subject distance information, excludes the group extending into the region to be photographed, performs distance measurement operation processing of a major subject by a distance measurement result of the group existing only in the region to be photographed, selects a result indicating a closest distance from distance measurement results, and obtains a final distance measurement output.

Abstract: A pair of integration-type light-receiving sensors receive the light from subjects and produce a subject image signal. A light projecting section projects light onto the subjects. A steady-state light removing section obtains an image signal by removing the steady-state light component from the subject image signal the pair of integration-type light-receiving sensors produces, while the light projecting section is projecting light onto the subjects. A first distance-measuring section measures a subject distance on the basis of the subject image signal from the pair of integration-type sensors. A subject position estimating section causes the first distance-measuring section to make distance measurements for a specific time and, on the basis of the resulting reflected light image signal, estimates the position of the main subject.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a first distance-measuring mode in which a subject distance is measured on the basis of a subject image signal produced by at least a pair of integration-type light-receiving elements receiving the light from subjects, and a second distance-measuring mode in which the subject distance is measured on the basis of the image signal a steady-light removing section has produced by removing the steady-light component from the subject image signal. In measuring the distance, the second distance-measuring mode is forced to be on for a specific time. On the basis of the resulting image signal, the main subject is estimated and a light-receiving sensor sensing area is selected. The light-receiving sensor sensing area is used for integration control in continuing to obtain the subject image signal.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention determines a rewind-display time lapse per frame based on the total number of photographed frames and the number of electronic images picked up in the hybrid mode if a frame photographed in the hybrid mode and another photographed in the silver salt mode are present on one film in a mixed manner. If photographing is performed in a mixed state of the hybrid and digital modes with the camera as loaded with a film, the camera rewind-displays images excluding the electronic images picked up in the digital mode. If the film loaded in the camera is photographed in the silver salt mode completely, the rewind-display operation is inhibited. Thus, the camera is so configured as to rewind-display only such electronic images that correspond to a photography frame of the film, thus enabling the user to recognize the contents photographed on the film without misunderstanding.

Abstract: The camera of the present invention, comprises: an exposure mechanism for exposing an object image onto film; an image pickup element that captures the above object image; memory for storing digital image data captured by the above image pickup element; a mode setting switch that enables setting of a digital photographic mode, which executes only operations to capture digital images, or of a hybrid photographic mode, which executes both operations to capture digital images and operations that expose object image onto film; and a CPU that controls the operations of the above memory so that in the above digital photographic mode old digital image data stored in the above memory is overwritten with new digital image data when there is insufficient free space in that memory.

Abstract: The present invention is a camera distance measuring device having an integral light receiving element for receiving light from a photographic object and outputting light received signals, and a fixed light elimination circuit for eliminating the fixed light component from the output signals of this integral light receiving element. This camera distance measuring device functions as an active distance measuring device by making the fixed light elimination circuit operative and functions as a passive distance measuring device by making the fixed light elimination circuit inoperative. When functioning as an active distance measuring device, this camera distance measuring device alternatively employs either a first illumination device such as a strobe light for illuminating a wide range including the photography range or a second illumination device such as an infrared LED for illuminating a spot-like range within the photography range.

Abstract: A ranging apparatus according to the present invention can execute accurate focusing even when photography is performed in, for example, an environment in which the background of a main subject to be photographed is a night view. This accurate focusing is executed by performing two pre-integration operations, one with light projection and the other without light projection, then comparing signal patterns obtained by the two pre-integration operations to thereby select a partial area of a line sensor, which shows a difference between the signal patterns obtained by the comparison, and mainly using an output from this area as a signal for ranging. Further, this ranging apparatus performs pre-emission before the ranging operation, using the line sensor to set the ranging area of the apparatus substantially equal to an image area to be shot, thereby determining the position of the main subject in the image area to be shot. Thus, the ranging apparatus can select a desired subject without focus lock operations.

Abstract: This invention is an inexpensive distance measuring device having short lag time, configured so as to have a pair of light receiving regions at positions of focal points of a pair of image forming optical systems, comprising functions for dividing the light receiving regions and for monitoring the integration control for each divided light receiving region, also comprising an AF area sensor capable of performing pre-integration operations while causing strobe light to be emitted, and a microcomputer that, according to object field luminance distributions obtained from pre-integration results of the AF area sensor and to the focal length value of the photographic lens, divides the light receiving regions of the AF area sensor into respective pluralities, causes final integration operations to be performed while monitoring the integration control in each of the divided light receiving regions, and performs ranging computations based on data obtained for each light receiving region, capable of performing appropr

Abstract: This invention allows photography even when distance measurement is impossible, reduces the number of out-of-focus photographs, and reduces the cost of an apparatus. In this distance measurement apparatus, an object is illuminated with an auxiliary light-emitting unit, and light reflected by the object and transmitted through a pair of optical units spaced apart at a predetermined interval is received by a light-receiving unit. The light-receiving unit outputs two image signals to an arithmetic unit. In the first distance measurement mode, the arithmetic unit and a control unit calculate object distance on the basis of the relative image distance between the two image signals. Also, in the second distance measurement mode, the arithmetic unit and the control unit calculate object distance on the basis of the difference between the light amounts from the object in the illuminated and non-illuminated states with the auxiliary light-emitting unit.

Abstract: A distance measurement apparatus for use in a camera having a CPU. The apparatus has no analog distance-measuring IC and can yet perform active distance measuring. It comprises an infrared-emitting diode (IRED), a light-receiving element and an integration circuit, both connected to the ports of the CPU. In operation, the IRED emits an infrared beam toward an object. The light-receiving element receives the beam reflected form the object and stationary light and converts the beam and the light into an electric signal. The integration circuit integrates the electric signal. The CPU measures a first period of time lapsing from the time when the the integration circuit is initialized to the time when the output of the integration circuit increases over a predetermined value.