Abstract: A camera including an imaging optical system and a focus detecting circuit for repeatedly performing a focus detection operation and outputting a focus signal representing the focusing state of the optical system at the time of each focus detection operation. A calculation circuit predicts, on the basis of previous and latest focus signals, the focusing state of the optical system a predetermined period of time after the detection of the latest focus signal. The predetermined period of time includes a shutter release time-lag. A driving circuit drives the optical system by an amount corresponding to the focusing state calculated by the calculation circuit. A releasing circuit begins a film exposure in response to the operation of a shutter release member. A release timing control circuit controls the releasing circuit so that it does not operate until a point of time which is earlier, by an amount equal to the release time-lag, than the predicted time.

Abstract: An auto-focus device or a camera equipped with such a device includes a focus detecting circuit for repeatedly detecting focus, in which an image forming optical system is driven on the basis of the focusing quantity detected by the focus detecting circuit. A speed computing circuit is provided for computing a speed of movement of an image plane corresponding to movement of the object on the basis of past autofocusing operation data. A drive data computing circuit is provided for predictive-computing data relating to a drive position of the image forming optical system, considering the movement of the object, on the basis of the past autofocusing operation data. A speed control circuit is provided for controlling a driving speed of the image forming optical system on the basis of the speed obtained by the speed computing circuit.

Abstract: A camera incorporating an automatic focusing apparatus capable of performing a so-called searching operation in which, when focus detecting becomes impossible, a lens is moved from a nearest end to an infinite end to detect a position of an object to be photographed and, more particularly, to improve operability of a camera having a searching operation function by preventing the searching operation after an in-focus state is obtained.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus including an image signal storage type sensor having a plurality of pixels and a storage time control circuit for controlling an intensity level of the sensor, wherein the storage time of an image signal in the sensor is controlled such that the image signal has an optimal level, and focus detection is performed on the basis of the image signal whose storage time is controlled. A pixel output range used for focus detection and a sensor area used for storage time control are changed on the basis of the focus detection result.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus for a camera in which correction data for shading correction or the like is stored in a memory and an output formed by a photo-taking information forming circuit such as a sensor and the correction data are operated to thereby accomplish the photo-taking processing on the basis of the operational output. When the data stored in the memory is read out and the operation processing is effected, if an error is contained in the read-out data, the data is subjected to revision processing to thereby correct the error, and then the operation processing is accomplished.

Abstract: A focus detection system for detecting a focus state of an object lens, includes an optical device for forming first and second light distributions corresponding to first and second images having light fluxes passing through the different parts of a pupila of the object lens. The positional relationship between the two light distributions varies in accordance with the focus state of the object lens. First and second sensors sense the first and second light distributions. A signal processor for processing output signals from the first and second sensors detect the focus state of the object lens in accordance with the positional relationships between the two light distributions. The signal processor processes the signals from the first and second sensors in accordance with a predetermined formula to obtain the positional relationship between the two images to determine a degree of coincidence of the two light distributions.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device for foreseeing or predicting the position of object after a predetermined time, based on plural past focusing operations on the object, utilizing a function of a higher order, and driving a lens for focusing to the predicted object position. According to the present invention there is provided a correcting circuit for correcting the coefficients of the higher-order function to reduce the influence of the measuring errors contained in the past focusing results, thus constantly enabling appropriate focusing.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes:a first optical device for forming light distributions, associated with an object image, whose relative positional relationship chnages along a first direction in accordance with a focusing state of the objective lens;a second optical device for forming light distributions, associated with the object image, whose relative positional relationship changes along a second direction in accordance with the focusing state of the objective lens;a first sensing unit, having a plurality of photosensors, for forming an electrical signal associated with the focusing state of the objective lens in order to sense the light distributions formed by the first optical device; anda second sensing unit, having a plurality of photosensors, for forming an electrical signal associated with the focusing state of the objective lens in order to sense the light distribution formed by the second optical device.

Abstract: A camera capable of following the movement of an object and constantly maintaining the lens in focus. During a certain period after a focused state is detected, lens drive is forbidden even if a large defocus amount is detected, but the lens is driven during this period if a small defocus amount is detected.

Abstract: An auto-focus apparatus in a camera having an auto-focusing mode and a manual focusing mode. A circuit determines when the auto-focusing mode cannot be carried out and automatically enables the manual focusing mode. When auto-focusing can again be accomplished, the focusing mode is automatically switched back to auto-focus. Circuitry is provided for prohibiting the switch back to auto-focus mode if it is detected that a manual focus operation has begun. Preferably, an indication control circuit is also provided to cancel an auto-focus indication when the manual focus operation has been detected.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the focus state of an optical system has optical apparatus for forming first and second light distributions of an object. The relative positional relationship of the light distributions varies in accordance with the focus state of the optical system. A light receiving device has first and second ranges, each having a plurality of picture elements. The first and second ranges respectively receive the first and second light distributions. Operation circuitry manipulates the output signals from the first and second ranges by relatively mathematically moving them to calculate a value representing the focus state of the optical system. The operation circuitry selectively executes a first operation in which the number of signals corresponding to each other is varied, and a second operation in which the number of signals corresponding to each other is kept constant.

Abstract: A focus detecting device in which the in-focus range, within which the result of focus detection is regarded as being in the in-focus state, is made greater than usual when the photo-taking lens is in the infinity movable limit position. The in-focus range is set to a greater value when the lens is in the infinity movable limit position and is detected as being in focus as a result of the earlier focus detection. Thus, it is made easy to effect the in-focus state when the lens is in the limit position.

Abstract: A distance detection apparatus comprising: a distance detection unit for detecting information on a distance to an object, a controller for operating the detection means a plurality of times, and for processing a plurality of information on the distance and outputting an optimum distance information; a status detector for detecting a status of the object for outputting information on the status; and a circuit for altering an information processing method of the controller, in accordance with the output of the status detection means.

Abstract: First and second light distributions having their relative positional relation varying in conformity with the focus adjusted state of an objective optical system and based on an object are received by a plurality of picture elements, and the range of use of the picture element row can be changed when a value indicative of the focus adjusted state is calculated by the use of the signals from the picture elements.

Abstract: The disclosed automatic focusing device measures distances by repeatly illuminating an object to the photographed with an auxiliary light. Upon detection of an in-focus state, either the auxiliary light illumination is inhibited or the auxiliary light driving cycle is made longer than the cycle used in a de-focus condition, so that the waste of electric energy is minimized.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic focusing apparatus for a camera and, more particularly, to an automatic focusing apparatus for a camera of a type which performs a focus detecting operation under emission of auxiliary light when, e.g., luminance is low. In the camera of this type, if a mode of the automatic focusing apparatus is set to a servo mode, the servo mode can be switched to a one-shot mode when the focus detecting operation is to be performed under emission of the auxiliary light. Since the auxiliary light is not continuously emitted, an auxiliary light source is protected.

Abstract: Light intensity distributions of object images whose relative positions vary with a focusing state of an objective lens are formed by a lens assembly based on light fluxes transmitted through the objective lens, and the distributions are sensed by sensing devices having a plurality of photo-sensors to produce first and second signals for the respective light intensity distributions. The first and second signals are processed by relatively displacing the first and second signals under a first relationship and by relatively displacing the first and second signals under a second relationship different from the first relationship to determine a relative positional relationship of the light intensity distributions. If there is identical or essentially identical portion is found in the processing of the first signal and the second signal, the previous processing result is utilized to shorten the processing time.

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus in which light distributions having their relative positional relation varying in conformity with the focus adjusted state of an objective optical system and based on an object are received by a light-receiving device having a plurality of picture elements and the output signal of the light-receiving device is operated in two different processes, and an evaluated values dependent on the contrast is operated in each of the processes and the evaluated values are compared with each other, and the result calculated in the process of better contrast is adopted as a value indicative of the focus adjusted state of the objective optical system.

Abstract: This specification discloses an auto-focus apparatus for repetitively effecting focus detection and in-focus judgement and lens driving, and in particular an auto-focus apparatus designed such that in a case where the lens cannot be regarded as being in focus as a result of focus detection, when the deviation from the in-focus point is small, lens driving is effected and in-focus is judged to thereby shorten the time until the judgement of in-focus and when the lens driving when the deviation from the in-focus point is small has not been properly effected, the judgement of in-focus when the deviation from the in-focus point is small is inhibited to thereby enable an accurate in-focus judging operation to be accomplished.

Abstract: A camera having an automatic focusing device, capable of automatically driving a lens to a shooting lens position where it can simultaneously focus different objects on different positions. The camera has a focus detection circuit capable of detecting focusing positions where the lens is focused on the respective objects. When one of the focusing positions is beyond the limit of drive of the lens, the driving to the shooting lens position is judged to be impossible and the control for driving the lens to the shooting lens position is prohibited.