Abstract: The present invention relates, in a camera including multiple points type focus detecting means, to the camera for carrying out the proper control for a time for accumulation when detecting a focus by adopting fill-in light. In particular, the invention provides a camera which is designed in such a way that in the control for the time for accumulation for the focus detection without the emission of the fill-in light, the maximum time for the accumulation is determined in accordance with the accumulation time in a sensor in which the accumulation operation control has been most early completed, while for the focus detection in a state in which the fill-in light is being applied to an object, the maximum time for the accumulation is determined irrespective of the accumulation time in a sensor in which the accumulation operation control has been most early completed.

Abstract: A camera having a memory in which control programs are stored includes a flash memory in which a control program or data for controlling the camera is stored, and a masked ROM in which a program for determining whether the control program or data stored in the flash memory is proper is stored, wherein the program stored in the masked ROM is executed in advance of execution of the control program stored in the flash memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera having a red-eye reducing function to prevent occurrence of the so-called red-eye phenomenon by preliminarily projecting light to a subject in photo-taking with flash light. The camera of the above type is so arranged that when the photo-taking mode is set to a mode requiring quick photo-taking response suitable for photo-taking of a moving object, for example to the servo AF mode, the light projection for preventing the red eye phenomenon is preliminarily inhibited even in the flash light photo-taking to maintain the quick photo-taking response.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a focus detecting device arranged to repeatedly detect a state of focus, or for use with a camera having such a focus detecting device includes a processor for determining whether the state of focus detected by the focus detecting device is an in-focus state or an out-of-focus state. An indicator provides an indication of the in-focus state in response to the processor determining that the in-focus state has been detected. The processor causes the indication provided by the indicator to vary on the basis of a number of times that the in-focus state has been determined by the processor.

Abstract: A control device for a moving body such as a focusing lens or the like is arranged to vary time intervals at which a speed control action is performed on a motor according to a driving amount required for moving the moving body to a target position by means of the motor. The arrangement enables the device to prevent an adverse effect of vibrations, etc. and to accurately accomplish position control.

Abstract: A camera having a special photography function comprises a focus detecting circuit for detecting a state of focus of a subject, a focus-position altering circuit for altering a focus position of a photographic optical system in response to a detection result provided by the focus detecting circuit, and a special-photography executing circuit for executing special photography utilizing multiple exposure. The special-photography executing circuit is arranged to control the focus-position altering circuit in response to a release operation to shoot one exposure on a photosensitive portion with the photographic optical system placed in an in-focus position and continuously shoot at least one exposure on the same photosensitive portion with the photographic optical system placed in a defocused position on a closest-distance side, thereby effecting the multiple exposure.

Abstract: In a vibration wave motor, during the actuation of the vibration wave motor during which a detection signal from a vibration detecting electro-mechanical energy converting element is unstable or when the driving voltage is low, driving is effected in the open loop mode which does not use the detection signal, and when the detection signal is stable, driving is effected in the mode which uses the detection signal, i.e., the PLL control mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera system having an auto-focusing device which carries out a so-called overlapped operation in which storing of a light signal by a focus sensor and calculation of a lens drive distance based on the stored value are performed while a lens is driven.In the present invention, where a lens system mounted on the camera does not have a characteristic suitable to the overlapped operation, it is automatically detected and the overlapped operation is inhibited to prevent improper proceeding of the overlapped operation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vibration wave driven motor, in which, when the motor is driven in a high frequency region distant from the resonance drive state, the variation of frequency is not prohibited in response to the detection of the drive state mentioned above, and the variation of frequency is prohibited in response to the detection of the drive state when the motor approaches to the resonance drive state.

Abstract: In a speed control circuit for a vibration wave motor, when a level of a periodic signal applied to the motor is of first level, a frequency of the periodic signal is changed between a first frequency and a second frequency to change a speed between a first velocity and a second velocity, and when the frequency reaches the second frequency, the signal level is switched from the first level to the second level and the frequency is shifted by a predetermined amount toward the first frequency and then toward the second frequency so that the speed is changed from the second velocity to a third velocity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a driving apparatus for a vibration wave motor in which monitor means is provided for detecting the vibrating state of the vibration wave motor and the difference between the resonance frequency and the frequency of a driving AC signal is detected on the basis of the phase difference between the output signal from the monitor means and the driving AC signal and when the frequency difference is great during the change of the number of revolutions of the motor, the vibration rate of the frequency of the driving AC signal is made greater to improve the responsiveness while, on the other hand, when the frequency difference is small, the variation rate of the frequency of the driving AC signal is made smaller to thereby prevent the occurrence of an unstable operation in which the frequency of the driving AC signal exceeds the resonance frequency to cause sudden stoppage of the motor.

Abstract: A lens drive device for a camera drives a lens by a motor to a position preset by an operator. The lens position is stored in a memory. When the lens is to be moved to the stored position while the lens is moved by an auto-focus device to an in-focus position, the lens is instantly moved by the motor to the stored position based on the data stored in the memory.