Abstract: A photometry device for a camera is provided with a normal light sensor having a plurality of photometry areas, and a plurality of photometric sensors for colorimetry. A photometry value determining system determines a photometry value at each photometry area in accordance with outputs of the normal light sensor. A colorimetric compensation value determining system determines a color of an object at each photometry area in accordance with the outputs of the photometric sensors for colorimetry, and determines a colorimetric compensation value based on the determined color. An exposure value determining system compensates for the photometry value determined by the photometry value determining system for each o photometry area, and determines an exposure value based on the compensated photometry values. The colorimetric compensation value determining system determines different threshold values, which are used for determining colors at the plurality of photometry areas, for different photometry areas.

Abstract: A photometry device for a camera is provided with a normal light sensor, an exposure amount determining system, a plurality of colorimetric sensors that detect a color of the object using light passed through a photographing lens of the camera. The calorimetric sensors have spectral sensitivity characteristics that are different from each other. The photometry device further includes an external light sensor, a light source color compensation amount determining system, a light source effect compensation system, a colorimetry compensation amount determining system, and an exposure amount compensation system. In such a device, the light source color compensation amount determining system changes the light source color compensation amount in accordance with an object distance, or the magnification of the photographing lens.

Abstract: A photometry device for a camera has a normal light metering system and a plurality of light metering systems having different spectral sensitivity characteristics. An exposure amount of an object is determined in accordance with an output of the normal light metering system. A colormetry system divides a photometry area into a plurality of areas and judges a color of the object at each of the plurality of areas. The compensation amount determining system determines the exposure compensation amounts respectively corresponding to the plurality of areas based on the color thereat. A compensation amount related to an area corresponding to a focused portion of the object. The exposure amount is compensated in accordance with the determined exposure compensation amount.

Abstract: A photometric apparatus that enables highly precise backlight evaluation by selecting areas in a photographic frame using geometric data measured by a geometric part and comparing the brightness of a selected area with that of remaining areas. In general, the selected areas are those likely include the main subject. For example, brightness of and distance to the subject are measured in the plural area of the photographic frame. The plural areas are grouped depending on the distance measurements to the subject. Photometric measurements are made for the respective groups using brightness measurements of the subject. One group (the main subject) is selected and the difference in photometric measurement between the selected group and the others is calculated. The evaluation value for evaluating the backlight is changed depending on the position and size of the selected group in the photographic frame.

Abstract: A method of controlling exposure of a scene image comprising the following steps: sensing a scene for image data; deriving values representative of a brightness map of the scene; sensing the scene for image data; deriving values representative of a range map; comparing the range map with the scene brightness map; and controlling the exposure by controlling artificial illumination upon the scene. In an alternate aspect, a system is provided for controlling exposure of a scene image comprising the following elements: at least one sensor assembly; a source of artificial illumination; and a processing means.

Abstract: A photometry device for a camera is provided with a normal light sensor having spectral sensitivity characteristics close to visual sensitivity characteristics, a plurality of colorimetric sensors having spectral sensitivity characteristics that are different from those of the normal light sensor, an exposure amount determining system that determines an exposure amount of an object in accordance with an output of the normal light sensor. A color of the object is determined in accordance with the outputs of the plurality of colorimetric sensors and an external light sensor that measures an external light illuminating the object at spectral sensitivity characteristics corresponding to each of the plurality of colorimetric sensors. Then, based on the determined color, an exposure compensation amount is determined.

Abstract: A photometry device for a camera includes a normal light metering system having spectral sensitivity characteristics close to visual sensitivity characteristics, and a plurality of light metering systems having spectral sensitivity characteristics that are different from those of the normal light metering system. Further provided is an exposure amount determining system that determines an exposure amount of an object in accordance with an output of the normal light metering system, a colorimetry system that judges a color of the object in accordance with the outputs of said plurality of light metering systems. An exposure compensation amount is determined in accordance with the color judged by the colorimetry system, and then, the exposure amount is compensated in accordance with the exposure compensation amount.

Abstract: A photometry device has a normal light photometry sensor and a external light sensor. The normal light photometry sensor performs photometry with respect to an object. The external light sensor performs photometry with respect color components of the external light. An exposure amount of an object is determined based on an output of a normal light sensor. If a difference between the exposure values is greater than the predetermined value, a color judged in the colorimetry procedure is forcibly set to “colorless” and no substantial colorimetric compensation is performed. If the Bv difference is not greater than the predetermined value, the light source compensation data preliminary stored is used for the colorimetric compensation.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus for a camera, having a photometering device, includes a light receiving device including distance measuring zones defined by at least part of a plurality of photometering zones, and at least one array of photoelectric conversion elements, wherein each of the photoelectric conversion elements converts light received thereon into an electric charge and accumulates the electric charge so that each of the accumulated electric charges is output in order from each photoelectric conversion element as an analog picture signal of the light receiving device; an A/D converter which converts the analog picture signal into digital image data; a transformation range setting device which sets a transformation range corresponding to photometering data of the photometering zones that overlap the distance measuring zones; and a logarithmic transformation device which performs logarithmic transformation on the digital image data at the transformation range to obtain sensor data.

Abstract: In a multifunction camera, an area selector is used both as an operation key in a first selection mode for selecting the focus detection area of the focus detection device, and as an operation key in a second selection mode for selecting the function setting of the camera. A mode selector is provided which is settable at three positions including a local position, wide position, and lock position. The focus detection area selected at the local position is locked when the mode selector is set at the lock position and has been moved from the local position to the lock position, whereas the wide position is locked when the mode selector has been moved from the wide position to the lock position.

Abstract: An exposure control device for use in a camera includes a photosensor having at least two different types of spectral characteristics, a lightness calculating circuit that calculates lightness of each zone of the photosensor from the output of the zone of the photosensor, wherein the photosensor is partitioned into a plurality of zones, a saturation calculating circuit that calculates saturation of each zone of the photosensor from the output of the zone of the photosensor, a cloudy sky determining circuit that determines whether an area of the object field is a cloudy sky area, based on the lightness and saturation of each zone of the photosensor, and an exposure control circuit that performs exposure control based on the determination result of the cloudy sky determining circuit.

Abstract: A photometric device according to the present invention performs the steps of: performing photometry in a predetermined area of an overall area where photometry can be performed: performing photometry in a plurality of subareas formed by dividing at least a part of the predetermined area; and when a difference greater than a predetermined value exists among the photometric results in the subareas, correcting the photometric result in the predetermined area based on the photometric results in the subareas and determining backlight based on the corrected photometric result.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flash photography system of the type which controls the amount of light emission of a main light emission on the basis of a measured-light value obtained when a preliminary light emission is performed. The present invention provides the aforesaid type of flash photography system in which multiple divided light measuring means is made to perform light measurement during the preliminary light emission, and weighting of a measured-light value relative to a predetermined area in the multiple divided light measuring means and weighting of a measured-light value relative to another area in the multiple divided light measuring means are made to differ from each other according to a size occupied by a subject in the image plane so that the amount of light emission is correctly controlled.

Abstract: A photometry device has a normal light photometry sensor and a external light sensor. The normal light photometry sensor performs photometry with respect to an object. The external light sensor performs photometry with respect color components of the external light. An exposure amount of an object is determined based on an output of a normal light sensor. If a difference between the exposure values is greater than the predetermined value, a color judged in the colorimetry procedure is forcibly set to “colorless” and no substantial colorimetric compensation is performed. If the Bv difference is not greater than the predetermined value, the light source compensation data preliminary stored is used for the colorimetric compensation.

Abstract: An exposure control device for use in a camera includes a photosensor having at least two different types of spectral characteristics, a lightness calculating circuit that calculates lightness of each zone of the photosensor from the output of the zone of the photosensor, wherein the photosensor is partitioned into a plurality of zones, a saturation calculating circuit that calculates saturation of each zone of the photosensor from the output of the zone of the photosensor, a cloudy sky determining circuit that determines whether an area of the object field is a cloudy sky area, based on the lightness and saturation of each zone of the photosensor, and an exposure control circuit that performs exposure control based on the determination result of the cloudy sky determining circuit.

Abstract: A light measuring device includes an integration-type light measuring sensor having a plurality of pixels and arranged to logarithmically compress a signal of light received by each pixel and to output the signal as a light measurement value for each pixel, a memory arranged to store an average of gain correction values for all pixels of the light measuring sensor, a deviation from the average of gain correction values obtained for each pixel of the light measuring sensor, a level correction value for each pixel of the light measuring sensor obtained for a reference integration period, and an average of level shift amounts of all pixels of the light measuring sensor caused by a change of integration period, and a computing circuit arranged to compute, from the level correction value for each pixel and the average of level shift amounts of all pixels stored in the memory, a level correction value for each pixel of the light measuring sensor for an integration period other than the reference integration period.

Abstract: A camera having a function of detecting the direction and intensity of a light source such as the sun is arranged to prevent a shadow from appearing by emitting a flash light when the result of detection indicates a condition under which a shadow is expected to appear at an object of shooting.

Abstract: A photometry device for a camera, includes a normal light sensor having spectral sensitivity characteristics close to visual sensitivity characteristics, a plurality of colorimetric sensors having spectral sensitivity characteristics that are different from each other, an exposure amount determining system that determines an exposure amount of an object in accordance with an output of the normal light sensor, a colorimetry system that judges a color of the object in accordance with the outputs of the plurality of colorimetric sensors, and a compensation amount determining system that determines an exposure compensation amount in accordance with the color judged by the colorimetry system. The compensation amount determining system compensates for the exposure compensation amount determined by the compensation amount determining system in accordance with differences among the outputs of the plurality of colorimetric sensors.

Abstract: An object follow-up mechanism, installed in a camera, which allows the camera to follow movement of a main object to be photographed. The mechanism includes an image detection device for taking an image into a photographing visual field and for extracting a feature of the image; an image recognition device for recognizing a possible candidate region, on which the main object locates, on a basis of the feature; a display device for displaying the candidate region(s); a main object region selection device for selecting at least one candidate region from the displayed candidate region(s) as a main object region in which the main object is present; and a main object region storing device for storing the feature extracted by the image detection device as a feature standard with respect to the image in the main object region thus selected.

Abstract: An exposure control apparatus for a camera includes a focus detection device which receives object light within a predetermined distance measuring area to measure the object distance, a photometering device which receives object light within a plurality of photometering areas to measure the object brightness, and a backlight detection device which obtains a main photometering value based on the object light received by the focus detection device and for detecting the presence of backlight based on the main photometering value and a reference photometering value measured by the photometering device.

Abstract: A camera is provided with a photometry device that is used to detect a brightness of an object, a colorimetry device that detects a color of the object, and a controller that determines an exposure value in accordance with output of the photometry device. The controller compensates the exposure value in accordance with the color of the object detected by the colorimetry device.

Abstract: A mechanism, of a camera, to let an exposure operation be performed with a higher precision in a shorter time. The mechanism includes: a first device for taking an image of a region to be photographed and for outputting image information; a second device for detecting a subject region on the basis of the image information and for outputting subject region information; a third device for outputting a plurality of photometric values relative to a plurality of divided photometric regions; a fourth device for selecting and outtputting at least one of the photometric values which are output from the third device, on the basis of the subject region information; and a fifth device for calculating an optimal exposure value on the basis of the at least one, selected by the fourth device, of the photometric values.

Abstract: A camera includes a focus detecting part capable of performing a focus detecting operation on each of a plurality of focusing areas, a light measuring part capable of performing a light measuring operation on each of a plurality of light measuring areas, a setting part arranged to set selectable focusing areas to be selectable from among the plurality of focusing areas, and a varying part arranged to vary selectable light measuring areas according to the selectable focusing areas set by the setting part.

Abstract: A camera includes a focus detecting device having a plurality of focus detecting points and capable of selecting a particular focus detecting point from among the plurality of focus detecting points, and a light measuring device having a plurality of light measuring areas. When performing a plurality of times of light measuring operations, the light measuring device converts, into a particular measured light value by using a preset calculating operation, a plurality of measured light values each of which is obtained at each time of light measuring operation in a light measuring area set correspondingly with selection of a focus detecting point in the focus detecting device.

Abstract: A camera which has a visual line detection device to detect the visual line of a photographer, and which inhibits visual line detection and automatic focus adjustment operations when these operations are unnecessary. Visual line detection may be inhibited, for example, when a manual focus lens is used in the camera, or when a self-timer mode is being used and the photographer is not observing the camera viewfinder. In these types of situations, the visual line detection, focus detection region selection based upon the visual line detection result and focus adjustment action based upon the visual line detection result are inhibited, thereby preventing useless consumption of electric power, and preventing focusing on undesired objects.

Abstract: A photographic device eliminates photometric errors that occur in photometry, obtains a more accurate exposure, and shortens the time required for photometry. The device includes an orientation position detector and photographic mode setter, which outputs photographic conditions based on a set photographic mode. A photometer divides the subject field into multiple regions and analyzes the light. An exposure calculator calculates the exposure value based on the output of the photometer. A memory stores weighing coefficients corresponding to multiple light brightness patterns. A tilt switch position orientation detector determines the position of the camera. A selector selects the weighing coefficients from the memory, based on the photographic mode setting component output and the position of the camera. A frequency analyzer then analyzes the output frequency of the photometer. A re-calculator re-calculates the exposure value based on the result of the frequency analyzer and the selection of the selector.

Abstract: A photometric operation system of a camera includes a photographing lens with a variable focal length. A plurality of photometering devices independently receive and detect rays of object light within a plurality of photometering areas of different sizes. A calculator determines the brightness of an object in accordance with the photometric data supplied from the photometering devices. A smaller photometering area is contained in the larger photometering area. The photometric data is weighted in accordance with the focal length of the photographing lens in the calculation of the object brightness by the calculator devices.

Abstract: A camera which performs visual line detection, and which assigns priority to photography when a release operation is performed during calibration information input for visual line detection. The camera includes an input unit to input into the camera calibration information relating to an eye of a photographer. The calibration information is automatically input when the photographer contacts an eyepiece of a viewfinder. A calculation unit calculates the visual line of the photographer, based upon the input calibration information and the state of the eye of the photographer looking through the viewfinder. A setting unit sets photographic conditions based upon the calculated visual line. When a release operation is performed during the action of calibration information input, a priority action execution unit suspends the input of calibration information, and the priority action execution unit actuates a photographic unit such that photography may be performed.

Abstract: A photometric device includes split photometric sensors for photometrically measuring a plurality of different split regions of a subject image formed by photometric optical systems. The split photometric regions of each split photometric sensor are formed in such a manner as to partially overlap with the split photometric regions of the other split photometric sensor. The photometric optical systems defocuses the images so that the combined photometric sensitivity distribution changes smoothly from the center of the subject region toward a periphery thereof.

Abstract: In a still video camera or the like which employs a solid-state image sensor, such as a CCD, a first calculation of the amount of correlation in an AF sensor is executed by using a smaller number of pixels and a larger amount of shifting, and second and subsequent calculations of the amount of correlation are executed by using a larger number of pixels and a smaller amount of shifting. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably detect a large-defocus state through the first calculation, whereby it is possible to omit an unnecessary calculation to reduce the required calculation time. The automatic focusing device uses a phase difference detection method in which a focus state is detected by detecting the deviation between two incident images. The device includes two sensor portions for receiving two images which are each a variable in their image forming portions according to a focus state.

Abstract: A photometry device of a camera has a photometry circuit which measures the luminance value of the object field, a colorimetry circuit which measures the color balance of the object field, and a scene discrimination unit which discriminates the scene on the basis of the output from the colorimetry circuit. The device calculates the proper exposure value of the object field on the basis of the outputs from the photometry circuit and scene discrimination unit. Scene discrimination is preferably made using photographing mode information, photographing distance information, or current time information to improve discrimination accuracy.

Abstract: A photometric circuit performs photometry on an object field using an accumulating photometric element, such as, for example, a CCD. An accumulation controller controls the photometric circuit. An abnormality sensor determines whether an abnormality, such as, for example, the inversion effect of the photometric output of the photometric circuit has occurred. The accumulation controller sets the accumulation time of the photometric element for the next round of photometry to a minimum value, for example, when it has been determined by the abnormality sensor that an abnormality has occurred. This allows the photometric circuit to return to normal operation as quickly as possible.

Abstract: An apparatus having a line of sight detection device, comprises a viewfinder for observing a target object, a line of sight detection means for detecting a position of line of sight in the viewfinder of a user, focus detection means being possible to select a first operation mode for performing a first focus detecting operation or a second operation mode for performing a second focus detecting operation, and being possible to perform a focus detection to each of a plurality of focus detecting areas arranged in the viewfinder, range setting means for setting a plurality of determination range including the focus detecting areas, and for changing a size of the determination range to be set in accordance with the selection of the operation mode of the focus detecting means, selecting means for determining which determination range includes the position of line of sight detected by the line of sight detecting means, and for selecting at least one focus detecting area among the plurality of focus detecting areas,

Abstract: Proper exposure is obtained even when the mirror down time is short, which occurs, for example, during continuous photography. This is achieved, for example, by determining the accumulation time and gain for a subsequent round of photometry based on whether a photometry prohibiting signal interrupted the current round of photometry. Additionally, the photometry parameters that are used for photometry can be changed (or set) based on changes in the film feed mode of the camera. The camera can include a photometry circuit that performs photometry on an object field using an accumulating type of photometry element. An accumulation controller controls the start and finish of the accumulation of the photometry element. A feed mode setting device is capable of setting a film feed mode from among a plurality of film feed modes.

Abstract: The camera capable of displaying brightness distribution of the present invention is equipped with a photometric sensor which has a plurality of photoelectric conversion sub-elements which perform photometry on a plurality of regions into which the subject is divided, and a display device, having a plurality of display elements, which displays the brightness distribution over the subject as detected by the photometric sensor.

Abstract: A photometric apparatus is capable of obtaining a precise photometric value without any saturation of a photometric output value even when measuring a light intensity of a flicker light source. The photometric apparatus has a photometric portion for measuring the field by use of a charge type photometric device, and a charge time determining portion for determining a value of a next charge time of the photometric device on the basis of an output value of the photometric portion and a value of the charge time at that time. The charge time determining portion determines the value of the next charge time so that a photometric output value in the next photometric process approximates a predetermined target value.

Abstract: An optical device having a line of sight detection circuit, includes a line of sight detection circuit for detecting the line of sight of a user, a display member for displaying the position of the line of sight detected by the line of sight detection circuit, an operation unit which can operate in a plurality of operation modes on the basis of information of the line of sight detected by the line of sight detection circuit. The display member changes the display mode for the line of sight position in accordance with the operation mode of the operation unit.

Abstract: A device and a method for sensing brightness, by which a sensing area for measuring the brightness of an object is varied. The variation of the brightness sensing unit is in response to the variation of an image angle that varies according to the zoom position of the lens of a zoom camera. In this manner, photographs with optimum exposure can be obtained. The device comprises a zoom position sensing unit, a brightness sensing unit, and a control unit.

Abstract: In a case in which the photometry region selected through a photometry region selection part is in the center of the screen, body spot photometry is selected for photometry of the object field, using luminous flux not passing through the screen. In all other cases, an output is selected for photometry of the image of the object field formed on the screen.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus including a photometry device that detects a luminance value for each of a plurality of areas of a photometric field, a selection circuit that selects one of the plurality of areas to be a reference area, a computing circuit that computes a difference value for each of the plurality of areas, each difference value representing a difference between the luminance value for a respective area and the luminance value for the reference area, and a display device that respectively displays the difference values for each of the plurality of areas.

Abstract: A photometric system is provided in which the value is obtained when the center-weighted photometric value and the like are determined from a plurality of separate photometric outputs is the same value that is obtained when photometry is accomplished on the same area when it is treated as a single cell. The photometric system includes a photometric element which divides the subject field into regions in order to measure the light quantity, a photometric mode selection unit which selects a photometric mode, a plurality of addition units which add together certain outputs from the outputs of the photometric element 11 in accordance with the selection made by a photometric mode selection switch, and a logarithm conversion unit which converts the output of the plurality of addition units into logarithms.

Abstract: An optical apparatus having predetermined functions includes a visual-axis detecting device for detecting the direction of the visual axis of an operator, a posture detecting device for detecting the posture of the optical apparatus, and a control device for causing the predetermined functions to be performed in accordance with an output from the visual-axis detecting device and for causing the predetermined functions to be performed by using a predetermined algorithm in accordance with an output from the visual-axis detecting device when the visual-axis detecting device is disallowed to operate.

Abstract: A device has a photometry unit for performing a photometry operation of an object field using an accumulation type photometry element, and an accumulation time determination unit for determining the accumulation time of the photometry element. The accumulation time determination unit determines the value of the accumulation time for the next photometry operation by calculating a weighted average of the accumulation times in previous photometry operations. Since the value of the accumulation time for the next photometry operation is determined by calculating a weighted average of the accumulation times in previous photometry operations, the influence of flickering of an illumination light source can be eliminated, and a photometered value can be output within a short period of time.

Abstract: A camera is equipped with an integral color temperature measurement mechanism. The color temperature measurement mechanism measures the color temperature of the light source illuminating the subject field and a display mechanism displays the color temperature information based on output from the color temperature measurement mechanism. The camera also includes a system that determines what kind of filter is recommended based on the output of the color temperature measurement mechanism and a display mechanism that displays the output of the filter determination.

Abstract: A gazing point detecting device is provided with means for receiving light reflected by an observer's eye and providing an electrical signal, first means for forming gazing axis information regarding the direction of the observer's gazing axis on the basis of the electrical signal, and second means for selecting on the basis of the gazing axis information the direction of the gazing axis which has been pointed to for the longest time of a predetermined unit time or the direction of the gazing axis which is highest in frequency, and forming a signal indicative of the observer's gazing point.

Abstract: Photometry apparatus and method accurately measure the degree of illumination of an object to be photographed during a long accumulated time. Influence of flicker is diminished when the accumulated time is short. The apparatus includes a photometry circuit which accomplishes photometry of the object field utilizing a photometry element of the accumulation type, an accumulated time establishment component establishes the updated accumulated time value of the photometry element on the basis of input accumulated time value and the output value of the photometry circuit, a weighted average component obtains the weighted average of the output of the accumulated time establishment component and the accumulated time value of the previous occasion, a weighted average determination component determines the weight of the weighed average component, and an accumulation control component controls the accumulation operation of the photometry element on the basis of the output of the weighted average component.

Abstract: A photometer for a camera that performs multi-area photometry and displays the exposure deviation to the photographer. The photometer includes a light measuring device with a plurality of photometric elements that perform photometry at a plurality of areas within the photographic field. A photometric value determining section calculates an effective photometric value using a weighted addition of each photometric value according to the given photometric mode. A standard value determining section calculates a reference photometric value using a predetermined, specified weighted addition of each photometric value. A deviation determining section calculates the deviation in the logarithmic values of the effective photometric value and the reference photometric value. A display device displays the deviation calculated by the deviation determining section.

Abstract: An automatic exposure device in a camera divides an object field into a plurality of areas and photometers them by the use of a divisional photometry element, and calculates optimum exposure from the result of the photometry. The divisional photometry element includes a photometric converting portion for photoelectrically converting incident light in each of the areas and putting out an output, and a reading portion for reading out the plurality of outputs of the photoelectric converting portion. When the number of successive outputs of a row of the areas in the readout direction which exceed a predetermined value is greater than a predetermined number, the output of that row is completely omitted in the calculation of the optimum exposure.

Abstract: A camera includes an orientation detection device that detects the orientation of the camera, a recording device that records photographic settings to be used during photography, and a camera controller. The recording device records the photographic settings relative to different orientations of the camera. The camera controller controls the camera based upon the detected orientation and photographic settings recorded in the recording device for that detected orientation.

Abstract: A photometric device, used in an optical apparatus such as a camera, which includes photometric elements to measure photometric values according to plural regions of a subject field, and corrects the photometric values of photometric elements corresponding to specific regions within the plural regions based on the photometric values of regions outside the specific region and on previously set correction coefficients according to each region. The location of the specific regions on the subject field may be adjusted either manually or automatically based upon a focus adjustment state of a focus detection unit.