Abstract: A photoelectric conversion module includes a photoelectric conversion element that converts an arriving optical signal transmitted via an optical fiber into an electrical signal, a signal output section that outputs a photoelectrically converted electrical signal to the exterior, an impedance matching circuit provided between an output electrode of the photoelectric conversion element and the signal output section, and a substrate upon which this impedance matching circuit is mounted, with the impedance matching circuit including a plurality of metallic coating layers formed upon the surface of the substrate with gaps being left between them, and a plurality of metallic connecting lines that electrically connect together adjacent ones of these metallic coating layers.

Abstract: Pattern data for specifying a face image of a person is registered in a pattern data storage unit 32 of a tracking device 16. When a face recognition auto-tracking mode is selected, a face image coinciding with the registered pattern data is detected, and an AF area is set to track the face image.

Abstract: A taking lens 10 of an automatic focusing system of an optical path length difference type is configured so that AF object light is branched from a main optical path that guides object light to a video imaging device 26 of a camera main body 14, and object images are formed on AF imaging devices 22A and 22B. A ? type CCD is used as the video imaging device 26, and a ? type CCD, that is easily available and cheap, is used as the AF imaging devices 22A and 22B. In view of that sizes of the AF imaging devices 22A and 22B are smaller than that of the video imaging device 26, the object images formed on the AF imaging devices 22A and 22B are reduced by a reduction optical system 17.

Abstract: An auto focus system is provided in which a focus movement speed and a cut off frequency of a filter for detecting a contrast from a video signal in AF of a contrast detecting system can be manually set in AF, so that an optimum AF can be achieved under various photographing conditions.

Abstract: When it is detected that a tracking target disappears in an image range in the course of tracking the tracking target, which is a registration pattern selected as a target to be tracked from among registration patterns, an autofocus is disabled. Thereafter, the autofocus is kept being disabled even if it is detected that the tracking target having the selected registration pattern appears in the image range. Alternatively, when the tracking target disappears in the image range in the course of tracking the tracking target, the autofocus is disabled, and thereafter when the tracking target having the registration pattern appears in the image range, it is started to track the tracking target having the registration pattern.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion module includes a photoelectric conversion element that converts an arriving optical signal transmitted via an optical fiber into an electrical signal, a signal output section that outputs a photoelectrically converted electrical signal to the exterior, an impedance matching circuit provided between an output electrode of the photoelectric conversion element and the signal output section, and a substrate upon which this impedance matching circuit is mounted, with the impedance matching circuit including a plurality of metallic coating layers formed upon the surface of the substrate with gaps being left between them, and a plurality of metallic connecting lines that electrically connect together adjacent ones of these metallic coating layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an AF-area display apparatus integrated in a lens unit that is interchangeably mounted on a camera and has an automatic focusing device for controlling focusing in such a way that the camera is focused on a photographic subject within an AF area in an imaging area of the camera, or connected as an auxiliary device to the lens unit, the AF-area display apparatus comprising: an AF-area obtaining device that obtains the AF area currently set in the automatic focusing device; a video signal generating device that generates a video signal for displaying the AF area obtained through the AF-area obtaining device; and a video signal outputting device that outputs the video signal generated by the video signal generating device.

Abstract: In relation to a lens control system where a control signal indicating a target zooming speed is delivered to a lens controller in accordance with operation of a zoom demand and where the lens controller subjects the control signal to non-linear processing to thus effect zoom control, thereby facilitating operation required when a zoom lens is moved at low speed, the lens control system includes a lens controller switching the linear processing between valid and invalid, whereby the lens control system does not excessively perform non-linear processing when the zoom demand outputs a non-linear control signal.

Abstract: Pattern data for specifying a face image of a person is registered in a pattern data storage unit 32 of a tracking device 16. When a face recognition auto-tracking mode is selected, a face image coinciding with the registered pattern data is detected, and an AF area is set to track the face image.

Abstract: If another registration pattern exists in an image as well as a selected tracking target in the course of tracking the selected tracking target and if the tracking target disappears from the image, said another registration pattern existing in the image is tracked.

Abstract: When it is detected that a tracking target disappears in an image range in the course of tracking the tracking target, which is a registration pattern selected as a target to be tracked from among registration patterns, an autofocus is disabled. Thereafter, the autofocus is kept being disabled even if it is detected that the tracking target having the selected registration pattern appears in the image range. Alternatively, when the tracking target disappears in the image range in the course of tracking the tracking target, the autofocus is disabled, and thereafter when the tracking target having the registration pattern appears in the image range, it is started to track the tracking target having the registration pattern.

Abstract: In the auto focus system, focus evaluation values indicating a degree of sharpness of images are sought from a plurality of image pickup devices placed at positions of different light path lengths, a travel distance converging to zero as a focus of a picture-taking lens approaches a focusing position is sought by using a difference or a ratio between the two focus evaluation values, and the focus is moved to a new moving target position which is a value of a current moving target position having the travel distance added thereto so as to securely move the focus to the focusing position by stable operation of the focus suited to characteristics of the focus evaluation values.

Abstract: A taking lens 10 of an automatic focusing system of an optical path length difference type is configured so that AF object light is branched from a main optical path that guides object light to a video imaging device 26 of a camera main body 14, and object images are formed on AF imaging devices 22A and 22B. A ? type CCD is used as the video imaging device 26, and a ? type CCD, that is easily available and cheap, is used as the AF imaging devices 22A and 22B. In view of that sizes of the AF imaging devices 22A and 22B are smaller than that of the video imaging device 26, the object images formed on the AF imaging devices 22A and 22B are reduced by a reduction optical system 17.

Abstract: The auto focus system obtains focus information on a lens-interchangeable camera body of a TV camera and sends the focus information to a lens apparatus mounted on the camera body. The lens apparatus controls an auto focus based on the focus information. It is thereby possible to control the focus on adequate conditions according to optical specifications of the lens apparatus and so on.

Abstract: An auto focus system is provided in which a focus movement speed and a cut off frequency of a filter for detecting a contrast from a video signal in AF of a contrast detecting system can be manually set in AF, so that an optimum AF can be achieved under various photographing conditions.

Abstract: Auto focus control is exerted based on a focus evaluation value indicating a degree of sharpness of an image obtained from a plurality of image pickup devices placed at positions of different light path lengths. There is provided a device which makes a correction on sensitivity of the focus evaluation value obtained from each image pickup devices. It is thereby possible to make an adequate correction on a sensitivity of the focus evaluation value so as to exert the auto focus control with high accuracy. It is also possible to automatically make a correction on the sensitivity of the focus evaluation value and eliminate troublesome labor. All or a part of signal processing for the auto focus control is performed by a single processing part by time-sharing. Thereby, a circuit scale can be miniaturized and power consumption can be reduced.

Abstract: In relation to a lens control system where a control signal indicating a target zooming speed is delivered to a lens controller in accordance with operation of a zoom demand and where the lens controller subjects the control signal to non-linear processing to thus effect zoom control, thereby facilitating operation required when a zoom lens is moved at low speed, the lens control system includes a lens controller switching the linear processing between valid and invalid, whereby the lens control system does not excessively perform non-linear processing when the zoom demand outputs a non-linear control signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an AF-area display apparatus integrated in a lens unit that is interchangeably mounted on a camera and has an automatic focusing device for controlling focusing in such a way that the camera is focused on a photographic subject within an AF area in an imaging area of the camera, or connected as an auxiliary device to the lens unit, the AF-area display apparatus comprising: an AF-area obtaining device that obtains the AF area currently set in the automatic focusing device; a video signal generating device that generates a video signal for displaying the AF area obtained through the AF-area obtaining device; and a video signal outputting device that outputs the video signal generated by the video signal generating device.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, movement of the AF area by the AF area operation device can be made ineffective by the switching device, and thereby, even if the operator moves the manual operation member by mistake, the AF area does not move, and the AF area can be securely kept at a predetermined position. According to another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to instantaneously return the AF area which has been moved to a position different from the initial position, to the initial position by the reset device.

Abstract: A selection device which permits or prohibits serial communication is provided in a lens apparatus capable of performing serial communication to suppress the serial communication although a camera body can perform the serial communication. Thus, a safe operation of the system can be guaranteed. At the same time, the processing speed of the processing circuit in the lens apparatus can be reduced, thereby successfully reducing the power consumption.