Abstract: Provided is a photodetector in which narrowing of a detecting range of light is suppressed. The photodetector includes a photodetector circuit for outputting a first optical data signal and a second optical data signal in which values are determined in accordance with an illuminance of incident light, an analog arithmetic circuit to which the first optical data signal and the second optical data signal are input and in which an arithmetic processing is performed with the use of the first optical data signal and the second optical data signal, and a switching circuit for switching an arithmetic processing in the analog arithmetic circuit between an addition operation and a subtraction operation of the first optical data signal and the second optical data signal.

Abstract: One example discloses a method for calibrating an imager. A plurality of images of a target, each having an associated integration time, are captured at the imager. A representative digital count is determined for each of the plurality of images. Integration time is represented as a function of digital count from the respective digital counts and integration times associated with the plurality of images. A calibrated integration time is calculated from a target digital count.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of imaging using an illumination apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire object luminance information, a calculation unit configured to calculate an exposure control value based on the object luminance information acquired by the acquisition unit, an exposure control unit configured to control exposure using the exposure control value calculated by the calculation unit, and an exposure fixing unit configured to set an exposure fixed state in which the exposure control value calculated by the calculation unit is fixed as the exposure control value to be used for exposure control, wherein the exposure fixing unit is configured to cancel the exposure fixed state when a state of the illumination apparatus is changed in the exposure fixed state.

Abstract: For flash photography, a rise of a flash emission control pulse precedes emission timing by a predetermined period. A start of flash emission of a flash lamp precedes a start of exposure of an image sensor. Since the start of the emission is earlier than the start of the exposure, a period of unstable flash emission can be excluded from an exposure time T of the image sensor. The exclusion prevents a captured image from being affected by the period of unstable flash emission. Accordingly, it becomes possible to ensure high color reproducibility for photography with auxiliary light.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining a satisfactory picked up image, even if a light emission device cannot emit the requested light amount. When notified that at least one of slave flash devices is unable to emit a set amount of light, a master flash device recalculates amounts of light emission of the flash devices based on a possible light emission amount of a flash device having a maximum deficiency of light amount relative to a set light emission amount, thereby maintaining light amount ratios at the time of multiple flash photographing.

Abstract: An image sensing method and image sensing apparatus, including a subject detection unit and a flash unit, are provided. The method includes a first detection step of detecting a subject from image data obtained during preparation for main image sensing, a second detection step of detecting a subject based on reflected light data obtained during pre-flash after an instruction to begin main image sensing, a step of setting a flash illumination area based on a comparison result between a first proportion of the subject detected in the first detection step within a subject area in which the subject exists and a second proportion of the subject detected in the second detection step within the subject area, a step of calculating a flash illumination amount based on the set flash illumination area, and a step of controlling the flash unit during main image sensing based on the calculated flash illumination amount.

Abstract: In a digital camera, a focus lens is moved at a low speed between a timing at which a shutter key is half pressed and a timing at which the shutter key is fully pressed to detect a focused position. When the shutter key is fully pressed by a user before the focus lens reaches a focused position, the focus lens is moved at a higher speed than that of a case in which the shutter key is half pressed, and a focused position is detected. Thereby, even when the shutter key is fully pressed by a user before the focus lens reaches the focused position, the digital camera can realize focusing with less delay in capturing.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining a satisfactory picked up image, even if a light emission device cannot emit the requested light amount. When notified that at least one of slave flash devices is unable to emit a set amount of light, a master flash device recalculates amounts of light emission of the flash devices based on a possible light emission amount of a flash device having a maximum deficiency of light amount relative to a set light emission amount, thereby maintaining light amount ratios at the time of multiple flash photographing.

Abstract: A flash device includes a flash module and a color wheel. The flash module includes a flash lamp and a trigger circuit for triggering the flash lamp. The color wheel includes a color filter disk. The color filter disk includes a number of filter segments, wherein each of the filter segments is capable of being inserted into the light-emitting path of the flash lamp by rotation the color filter disk.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an emission device for illuminating a subject, a preliminary emission control device for controlling preliminary emission before photographing, a photometry device for measuring a reflected light volume from the subject in the preliminary emission so as to obtain a photometric result, and a main emission control device for controlling main emission when photographing, the main emission control device has a first emission control for conducting emission by adjusting emission volume by using the photometric result, and a second emission control for conducting emission until the reflected light volume from the subject reaches a predetermined volume, the main emission control device conducts an emission control by either the first emission control or the second emission control according to the photometric result.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes a lighting section having LEDs that individually correspond to areas, into which a field is divided, and that each emit light to the corresponding one of the areas. The apparatus also includes a CCD and an AF section. The lighting section is configured to emit light to the field after an amount of emitted light for each of the divided areas is adjusted based on subject brightness information from the CCD and subject distance information from the AF section according to field conditions.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus installed with an image blur correction unit for correcting image blur by combining images, so image taking time in a case of continuous shooting of the images is prevented from being long and operations are carried out in a manner in which a photographer does not feel disorder. Combination of a second frame and a third frame that are taken with split-exposure is started from a frame that is prior by two frames in terms of time. Thereby the number of times of split-exposure operations necessary to obtain three combined images is eight, so the image taking time is made to be shorter compared to a case of simple continuous combination of the images. Further, the three combined images produced in this way include a portion overlapped in terms of time, however, the combined images are images different from one another that are continuous in terms of time, so the photographer does not feel disorder as long as setting is made as to how many frames are shifted for combination.

Abstract: A flash apparatus or an image capture apparatus includes a charging unit, configured to boost a voltage of an electric source and a control unit, configured to calculate the sum of the light emission amount within a predetermined period of time. The control unit reduces the temperature rise of components which generate heat due to the continuous light emission when the sum of the light emission amount reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image sensing device allows to shoot an image using correct object distance information and light emitting amount when the main light emitting amount upon shooting an object image is calculated by making the pre-light emission after the auto-focusing process. When a predetermined button independent of a release button is operated, a focusing process is executed first. Then, photometry is made while inactivating a strobe, and an exposure value is determined based on an object distance. Then, pre-light emission is made, light reflected by the object in the pre-light emission is measured, and the photometry result under the available light is subtracted from that in the pre-light emission, so as to obtain a brightness value of object reflected light of only the pre-light emission.

Abstract: A flashlight lamp circuit with automatic light adjustment includes a flashlight charging unit for controlling charging of a main capacitor, a flashlight activation unit activating the flashlight lamp to project a flashlight on the photographed object according to a flashlight control signal, a light sensor receiving and converting a light from the photographed object into an electric signal, an integral circuit receiving the electric signal and having an adjustable circuit resistance. When the amount of flashlight reaches a required light exposure, the flashlight control unit extinguishes the flashlight lamp.

Abstract: When a strobe flash is not emitting light, a photoreception current that is output from a phototransistor is detected and correction current corresponding to amount of extraneous light is produced by a voltage-controlled current source. Further, a light-emission control apparatus, receives emitted light reflected from the subject and halts the light emission when a value obtained by integrating a photoreception signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold value. If a period of time from start of light emission by the discharge tube to that at which the integrated value exceeds the threshold value falls within a predetermined period of time, the integrated value is reset and integration is performed again. Further, the aperture of a diaphragm is reduced and the threshold value is raised from the first threshold value to a second threshold value.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is pre-loaded with photo film. A photometric circuit measures object brightness of a photographic object, and determines which of high brightness or low brightness the object brightness is according to comparison with a predetermined reference brightness level. A mode selector in a button shape sets a selected one of an AE mode and a night scene mode. A combination of stationary and movable aperture stop plates changes over a photographic light path in a selected one of small, middle and large aperture stop states. The movable aperture stop plates set the light path in the small aperture stop state when the AE mode is determined and also upon detection of the high brightness. The light path is set in the middle aperture stop state when the AE mode is determined and also upon detection of the low brightness. The light path is set in the large aperture stop state when the night scene mode is determined.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit includes a flash emitter for emitting flash light toward a photographic object in flash photography. A flash amount control circuit quenches flash emission of the flash emitter when a value of integration of light reflected by the object as measured by a first sensor in the flash photography comes up to a predetermined level. An aperture stop device designates one of a large aperture state and a small aperture state. A switch disables the flash amount control circuit if the small aperture state is designated, and enables the flash amount control circuit if the large aperture state is designated. The switch regulates operation of the flash amount control circuit in order to raise an amount of the flash light at a time of the flash photography in the small aperture state.

Abstract: A camera apparatus, which performs a preliminary light emission before a main light emission for a photograph, comprising a photoelectric conversion part which output a photoelectric conversion data which corresponds to an incident luminous flux through a photograph lens, a preliminary light emission part which performs at least twice preliminary light emission of a first light emission which corresponds to the normal photographic region and a second preliminary light emission which corresponds to a close-up shot, a data acquisition part which acquires a photoelectric conversion data corresponding to the first preliminary light emission and the second preliminary light emission, respectively, a judgment part which judges whether it is a close-up shot or not based on the data obtained by the data acquisition part, and a setting part which sets a light emission condition of the main light emission based on a judgment result of the judgment part.

Abstract: A camera uses a program shutter as a shutter device. When an exposure value becomes larger than EV9, a stop of the camera is closed down so as to increase an f-number. In a case that the camera is loaded with a photographic film having film sensitivity of ISO 1000 or more, an upper limit of a focus set position of a taking lens is fixed to 3 m. By utilizing a depth of field, a picture is taken in a state that a blur is reduced, relative to a subject existing within a range from a comparatively short photographic-distance to a far photographic-distance.

Abstract: A camera with a built-in electronic flash device, includes: a photographing lens; an aperture stop; an electronic flash emitting portion; a light receiving element for receiving light reflected on a photographic object which has been emitted by the flash emitting portion; and an electronic flash circuit for making the flash emitting portion emit light, the flash circuit having an automatic emission control circuit which stops emission of the flash emitting portion when an amount of the reflected light received by the light receiving element reaches a specified value. With respect to the automatic emission control circuit, A min satisfies the following conditional expression, (A−1) EV≦A min≦(A+0.

Abstract: An exposure control method and apparatus for a camera having a two-area divided brightness measurement system. A central light value is determined based on a central area brightness of a photographic scene, and a peripheral light value is determined based on a peripheral area brightness of the scene. After determining by comparison between the central and peripheral light values whether the scene is back-lighted or front-lighted, a correction coefficient specific to back-lighted scenes or that specific to front-lighted scenes is read from a memory.

Abstract: An exposure control method and apparatus for a camera having a two-area divided brightness measurement system. A central light value is determined based on a central area brightness of a photographic scene, and a peripheral light value is determined based on a peripheral area brightness of the scene. After determining by comparison between the central and peripheral light values whether the scene is back-lighted or front-lighted, a correction coefficient specific to back-lighted scenes or that specific to front-lighted scenes is read from a memory. An exposure value suitable for a main subject is calculated according to the following equation: Es=log2{1−(1−&agr;)2LVb−LVa}−log2&agr;+LVa wherein Es represents the exposure value and &agr; represents the correction coefficient.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus includes: an image pick-up device for picking up an object image by converting the object image to an electric image signal; an image pick-up optical system having a variable aperture capable of changing an aperture value when an incident light beam on the image pick-up device is stopped down; a range-finder for measuring a distance to an object; an electronic flash mechanism for illuminating the object; and controller for determining an aperture value from the distance to the object measured by the range-finder and from a light emission capability of the electronic flash mechanism, and then for setting the variable aperture to the determined aperture value, when the controller makes the electronic flash mechanism to emit light so that the image pick-up device picks up the object image.

Abstract: A flash control device for a camera includes a light emission unit which emits light to illuminate a subject to be imaged by the camera, a preliminary light emission control unit which causes the light emission unit to emit light during a preliminary light emission operation prior to a main exposure operation to be performed by the camera and until a predetermined amount of light is received by the camera during the preliminary light emission operation, a range computing unit which computes a distance from the camera to the subject, an exposure calculation unit which computes an aperture value for the camera during the preliminary light emission operation, a main light emission calculation unit which calculates a length of time that the light emission unit is to emit light during a main light emission operation based on the preliminary light emission operation, the computed distance to the subject, and the aperture value, and a main light emission control unit which controls the emission of light by the light

Abstract: A flashlight control apparatus having a device for emitting flashlight towards a subject and a device for receiving the light reflected from the subject through a photographing lens. An output is generated which corresponds to the received light which is time-integrated in order to calculate the amount of light received. An optimum integration level is calculated which is to be integrated. This optimum integration level corresponds to an optimum quantity of flashlight to be emitted by the emitting means, based on film speed information. A time limit is also calculated, which is shorter, by a predetermined length of time, than an optimum emission time of the emitting device. This optimum emission time is based on aperture value information and object distance information. The emitting device is controlled to stop emitting flashlight when the time limit elapses, in the case where a quantity of light received by the light receiving devices has reached an optimum quantity before the time limit elapses.

Abstract: A flash device having a flash bracketing function includes a setting device for setting a flash bracketing operation, and a control circuit for, when a camera connected to the flash device is of a type having the flash bracketing function, outputting information on a reference value for exposure-amount correction and an amount of shift for flash bracketing, and for, when a camera connected to the flash device is of a type not having the flash bracketing function, outputting information on a currently-set exposure-amount correction value.

Abstract: When a sensitivity of film used for photographing is less than a predetermined sensitivity, or when an external light brightness measured by a photometry means is more than a predetermined brightness, a strobe exposure is controlled to decrease gradually from 0 EV flash, wherein a standard strobe exposure can be obtained, to -1 EV to -2 EV to -2 EV . . . . On the other hand, when the external light brightness is less than the predetermined brightness, the 0 EV flash is performed compulsively regardless of the film sensitivity, and the ratio of the strobe exposure becomes high, so that the exposure contribution rate of the external light is relatively lowered. As a result, the spectral characteristics of the external light source have small effect on the image surface when the high-sensitivity film is used, and the color fading caused by the spectral characteristics of the external light source can be prevented.

Abstract: A flash-assisted photographing system including a camera having a taking lens capable of varying the focal length and a flash is provided with a light receiving unit having a plurality of receiving areas operable to separately receive light reflected by different areas of a photographic view, a detector operable to detect a focal length of the taking lens, and a controller operable to set weights for the receiving areas based on a detected focal length. Proper weights are set for the receiving areas even in the case of close-up photography which is highly influenced by camera shake. A main subject can be reliably exposed at a proper light emission.

Abstract: A shutter apparatus is provided wherein openings for defining a secondary aperture are formed in respective shutter blades, such that an amount of light transmitted through the secondary aperture is detected, and the drive force for driving the shutter blades is changed so that the amount of the received amount increases in the opening stroke according to a predetermined function. When the integrated quantity of the received light reaches a threshold value, the movement of the shutter blades is reversed, and the shutter speed is determined based on the integrated light quantity obtained upon completion of shifting to the closing stroke. Thus, variations in the exposure amount that occur upon reversal of the shutter blades are canceled in the closing stroke.

Abstract: In a flash photographing system having a light receiving circuit arranged to receive a reflected light from an object caused by a light flux emitted from a flash tube and controlling the amount of flash light emission according to the amount of light thus received, the output of the light receiving circuit is inputted to an analog-to-digital conversion circuit to be converted into digital values at intervals of a predetermined period, and an adding process on the digital values is performed to detect the amount of received light, so that the amount of flash light emission is controlled.

Abstract: An exposure control method and apparatus for a camera having a two-area divided brightness measurement system. A central light value is determined based on a central area brightness of a photographic scene, and a peripheral light value is determined based on a peripheral area brightness of the scene. After determining by comparison between the central and peripheral light values whether the scene is back-lighted or front-lighted, a correction coefficient specific to back-lighted scenes or that specific to front-lighted scenes is read from a memory. An exposure value suitable for a main subject is calculated according to the following equation:Es=log.sub.2 {1-(1-.alpha.).sub.2.sup.LVb-LVa }-log.sub.2 .alpha.+LVawherein Es represents the exposure value and .alpha. represents the correction coefficient.

Abstract: A chromatic balancer determines an optimal chromatic balance between strobe illumination and light illumination during balance synchro photography. A photometric detector measures the amount of light from one or more regions in the scene to be photographed. A chromatic balance calculator determines the chromatic balance of the photograph scene. A background exposure correction value calculator determines a background light exposure correction value. A flash level correction value calculator determines a flash level correction value.

Abstract: A camera includes a mechanically-controlled aperture mechanism providing two or more aperture sizes for regulation of the intensity of image light gathered by the camera, a storage device for storing aperture calibration data corresponding to the measured transmissivity of each aperture size, and means for controlling camera exposure according to the value of one or more exposure parameters other than the aperture. The exposure errors caused by the aperture mechanism are thereupon compensated for with an exposure circuit that utilizes the stored aperture calibration data in order to establish the value of at least one of the exposure parameters other than the aperture. Such other exposure parameters include the shutter time and quench time for a flash, and in the case of an electronic camera the gain applied to the captured image signal.

Abstract: An ever-flash exposure control system for a built-in flash camera regulates a triggering time T1 from the commencement of gradual opening of a program shutter at which an electronic flash is triggered and a flash duration time T2 for which the electronic flash continuously provides illumination light so as to provide proper exposure according to scene brightness.