Abstract: A camera operation directing device includes an eye-gaze direction detection device for detecting a direction of an eye-gaze of an observer who is looking into a finder, in a predetermined eye-gaze operation area within the finder and for outputting an eye-gaze operation signal, and a photographic operation direction device for directing the photographic operation, including at least starting of a photo-taking operation, in accordance with the eye-gaze operation signal from the eye-gaze direction detection device.

Abstract: A camera operation directing device includes an eye-gaze direction detection device for detecting a direction of an eye-gaze of an observer who is looking into a finder, in a predetermined eye-gaze operation area within the finder and for outputting an eye-gaze operation signal, and a photographic operation direction device for directing the photographic operation, including at least starting of a photo-taking operation, in accordance with the eye-gaze operation signal from the eye-gaze direction detection device.

Abstract: A photometric apparatus of a camera for carrying out a multi-segmented photometry by receiving object light reflected at a film or the shutter, includes a plurality of photometric elements which are disposed at positions to respectively receive reflected light from the film or the shutter. The elements are segmented in accordance with each of regions segmenting the object field, corresponding to regions of the film or the shutter, and are arranged in parallel in a predetermined direction within a mirror box so as to respectively receive light reflected with diffusion angles less than a predetermined angle from respective reflection regions of the film or the shutter.

Abstract: A focus detecting device for detecting the focus adjusted state of an imaging optical system with respect to an object body comprises first and second photoelectric element arrays each including a plurality of photoelectric elements arranged in one direction, a focus detecting optical system for forming first and second optical images of the body on or near the first and second arrays by first and second light beams passed through different first and second areas, respectively, of the exit pupil of the imaging optical system, the first array producing a series of first output signals having a distribution pattern associated with the illumination intensity distribution pattern of the first image, the second array producing a series of second output signals having a distribution pattern associated with the illumination intensity distribution pattern of the second image, focus detection means for producing a focus detection signal representative of the focus adjusted state of the imaging optical system, on the b

Abstract: An automatic focus device for a camera which comprises a phototaking lens for forming the image of an object on a predetermined plane, a focus detection device for detecting the amount of defocus of the image plane of the phototaking lens with respect to the predetermined plane, a lens position detecting device for detecting the position of the phototaking lens, an in-focus lens position determining device for determining an in-focus lens position to which the phototaking lens is to be focused, from said defocus amount and said lens position, a lens movement pattern memory device for storing, as lens movement pattern information, the relationship between the lens position and time for focusing the phototaking lens to a particular moving object and a lens drive controller device for controlling the lens position in such a manner that the movement of the phototaking lens as a function of time coincides with the lens movement pattern information, and compensating the position-time relationship of the phototaking

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus adapted to be used with a taking lenses having different focal lengths comprises a plurality of re-focusing lenses for refocusing an image of an object obtained through the taking lens as a plurality of identical second images, at least two of the re-focusing lenses being arranged in positions where vignetting never occurs when the focus detecting apparatus is used with a taking lens having any focal length; a plurality of photoelectric converters for photoelectrically converting the second re-focused images, respectively, and for outputting output signals; and detectors for detecting a relative position of at least one pair of the second images on the basis of output signals from the photoelectric converters.

Abstract: A focus adjustor performing highly accurate focus adjustment to suit the photographer's intention with respect to a great variety of objects to be photographed.The focus adjustor permits appropriate division of focus detection area, permits selection of an area division such as to reflect the photographer's intention and permits use of the result of previous focus adjustment for a subsequent focus adjustment.

Abstract: In photometric apparatus, averaged brightness information, which counteracts the deleterious effects of a varying light source, such as a fluorescent lamp, is obtained much more rapidly than averaged brightness information obtained after a substantial number of cycles of operation of a storage type image sensor normally used for photometry. Use is made of brightness information obtained from a photoelectric conversion device of the type normally used for focus detection.

Abstract: A focus adjustor performing highly accurate focus adjustment to suit the photographer's intention with respect to a great variety of objects to be photographed. The focus adjustor permits appropriate division of focus detection area, permits selection of an area division such as to reflect the photographer's intention and permits use of the result of previous focus adjustment for a subsequent focus adjustment.

Abstract: A focus state detecting device for a camera has plural areas for focus state detection for an object, and is capable of securing wide focus state detecting areas.The device has a pair of first photo-detector arrays arranged in a first direction and a pair of second photo-detector arrays arranged in a second direction, wherein the light receiving area of the first arrays is wider than that of the second arrays, and the first direction is the same as the longitudinal direction of the photographing field.

Abstract: An automatic focus adjusting apparatus for adjusting a photo-taking lens of a camera employs a focus detecting device that includes a charge storage type image sensor device and a calculating device for calculating a defocus amount on the basis of the output of the charge storage type image sensor device. The charge storage type image sensor device stores charges according to incident light thereon during a charge storage period, and the calculating device calculates the defocus amount during a calculating period. In one embodiment, during the charge storage period and the calculating period, the photo-taking lens is driven at a constant speed on the basis of a correction amount required for the pursuit of a moving object to be photographed. After the calculating period the phototaking lens is driven on the basis of the defocus amount.

Abstract: A focus detecting device for detecting the focus adjusted state of an imaging optical system with respect to an object body comprises first and second photoelectric element arrays each including a plurality of photoelectric elements arranged in one direction, a focus detecting optical system for forming first and second optical images of the body on or near the first and second arrays by first and second light beams passed through different first and second areas, respectively, of the exit pupil of the imaging optical system, the first array producing a series of first output signals having a distribution pattern associated with the illumination intensity distribution pattern of the first image, the second array producing a series of second output signals having a distribution pattern associated with the illumination intensity distribution pattern of the second image, focus detection apparatus for producing a focus detection signal representative of the focus adjusted state of the imaging optical system, on t

Abstract: An automatic focusing device for use in camera lens systems comprises lens means such as a zoom lens for forming the image of an object, detecting means for detecting the amount of defocus of the image of the object formed by the lens means from a predetermined plane such as a film surface, memory means for storing at least one value of conversion coefficient and at least one value of correction coefficient which is used in a calculation for correcting the conversion coefficient, calculating means for correcting the conversion coefficient in accordance with the amount of defocus and the correction coefficient and for calculating the driving amount of at least a portion of the lens means on the basis of the corrected conversion coefficient and the amount of defocus, and lens driving means for driving at least a portion of the lens means, e.g., the front lens group of a zoom lens, in accordance with the driving amount calculated by the calculating means.

Abstract: In an apparatus for detecting the in-focus state of a photo-taking lens of a camera, a defocus signal is produced responsive to a light intensity distribution signal and is indicative of deviation between an image of an object to be photographed and a predetermined surface. An information signal is produced indicative of the effectiveness of the defocus signal. A vignetting detection signal is produced indicative of the state of vegnetting by the photo-taking lens. The information signal is compared with a threshold value to determine the effectiveness of the defocus indicated by the defocus signal, and the threshold value is changed in response to the vignetting detection signal. A photo-taking lens may include a memory that stores data indicating an inverse of a value indicative of a distance from a predetermined plane to an exit pupil of the photo-taking lens, and the data stored in the memory may be used for calculating vignetting.

Abstract: An automatic focal point control apparatus for optical equipment such as cameras can properly respond to different objects and changes in objects, thus providing stable operation. In the apparatus, defocus signals are calculated according to object image data concerning an object to be photographed, information effective for focal point calculation is extracted from the object image data, and the defocus signals are weighted and averaged by weighting coefficients corresponding to the effective information signals, thereby obtaining a statistical defocus signal.

Abstract: A detecting apparatus for focus in a camera has a memory storing at least two independent rates indicating an aberration of a photographing lens. The memory is provided on an interchangeable photographing lens. If an optical characteristic of the focus detecting apparatus within the camera body changes from a conventional one, a suitable aberration correction rate is decided accordingly on a camera body side, thereby ensuring a high precision focus detection then forward.

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus for a camera has a charge storage type image sensor for controlling focusing on the basis of output from the image sensor. In the apparatus, object information having comparatively high correlation with focus detection precision is detected and charge storage time of a photoelectric conversion element is controlled in accordance with the detected object, whereby charge storage time is optimally controlled irrespective of object luminance distribution even if an object luminance level varies in a wide range, thereby performing high-speed, stable focus detection.

Abstract: A focus detecting device for detecting the focus adjusted state of an imaging optical system with respect to an object body comprises first and second photoelectric element arrays each including a plurality of photoelectric elements arranged in one direction, a focus detecting optical system for forming first and second optical images of the body on or near the first and second arrays by first and second light beams passed through different first and second areas, respectively, of the exit pupil of the imaging optical system, the first array producing a series of first output signals having a distribution pattern associated with the illumination intensity distribution pattern of the first image, the second array producing a series of second output signals having a distribution pattern associated with the illumination intensity distribution pattern of the second image, focus detection means for producing a focus detection signal representative of the focus adjusted state of the imaging optical system, on the b

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for a photoelectric converting element array capable of providing a high resolving power is equipped with an array composed of plural light-receiving elements, in which plural pairs of light-receiving elements are formed wherein a determined number of light-receiving elements are placed between the light-receiving elements constituting each pair and there is determined the difference of outputs of the light-receiving elements constituting each pair.

Abstract: A control device for automatic focusing includes a low sharpness discriminating circuit for identifying a minimum contrast required for focus detecting function and a correlation zone discriminating circuit for determining whether an object is in or out of a correlation zone in the vicinity of the in-focus position. Output signals are supplied from the two discriminating circuits to a sequence control circuit for determining whether to continue or discontinue operation of a lens driving apparatus for driving the lens. A control device may further include a low brightness discriminating circuit the output signal of which is supplied to the sequence control circuit to immediately discontinue the operation of the lens driving apparatus when the low brightness discriminating circuit identifies a low brightness of the object, regardless of the results of other discriminations.