Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a focus detector for extracting a focus signal according to a focus condition and for executing a focus adjustment, a detector for detecting chrominance level and luminance level in an image pickup plane from an image pickup signal output from an image sensor, a discriminator for discriminating an image pickup condition of the image pickup plane on the basis of an output of the detector and discriminating a predetermined low contrast condition where the detected chrominance and luminance levels are less than predetermined levels and a controller for controlling the focus detector on the basis of the focus signal and inhibiting a focus adjusting operation of the focus detector or reducing a speed thereof in accordance with a discriminating result of the discriminator.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus, which includes an eye point sensor for detecting an eye point in a frame, a calculation circuit for calculating average coordinates of the eye point in the frame detected by the eye point sensor, a setting circuit for setting a distance measurement frame at the average coordinates output from the calculation circuit, and a control circuit for controlling the size of the distance measurement frame according to the focal length, is disclosed.An image pickup apparatus, which includes a focus calculation circuit for detecting a focus state by detecting the dispersion range of an eye point, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A lens control system is disclosed, which comprises a focusing lens drive for driving a focusing lens for focus control, a zooming lens drive for driving a zooming lens for zooming, a focusing lens position detector for detecting the Position of the focusing lens, a zooming lens position detector for detecting the position of the zooming lens, and a control circuit for controlling, when the zooming lens position detector detects that the zooming lens is in a macro region, the focusing lens drive to stop the focusing lens at a predetermined position.

Abstract: An exposure control device includes an area setting circuit which sets a light measuring area on a part of an image sensing plane; a judging circuit which detects a back light image plane on the basis of a difference in level between video signals corresponding to the inside and the outside of the light measuring area; a high luminance detecting circuit which detects a high luminance part of the image sensing plane on the basis of the video signals; and a control circuit arranged to have the light measuring area set on the image sensing plane excluding the high luminance part from the light measuring area by controlling the area setting circuit on the basis of the output of the high luminance detection circuit when the image sensing plane is judged to be a back light image plane by the judging circuit.

Abstract: An image pickup device comprises a photoelectric conversion device for converting an optical image focused on an image pickup area into an electrical signal, a monitor for displaying the optical image on a monitor image frame, a visual axis detection device for detecting the visual axis of the operator's eye on the monitor image frame, a discrimination circuit for discriminating whether the detected visual axis is present inside a predetermined area on the monitor image frame, a detection area setting circuit for setting a detection area for extracting predetermined control information in the image pickup area and a control circuit for controlling the detection area setting circuit based on the output of the discrimination circuit.

Abstract: A recording or reproducing apparatus has a rotary head drum which is composed of a rotary drum with magnetic heads mounted on the outer periphery thereof and a stationary drum. It records a signal on or reproduces a signal from a magnetic tape by running the magnetic tape which is pulled around the predetermined portion of the outer peripheral surface of the rotary head drum. An angle varying member for varying the angle formed between the magnetic tape and the rotary head drum is provided at least at one of the locations where the magnetic tape enters and leaves the rotary head drum. Alternatively, a member for positioning the magnetic tape relative to the rotary head drum may be provided.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus operating with adaptive selection of a first tracing algorithm in which an object image is traced by moving a detecting area capable of being movably set on an image sensing plane in such a manner that the luminance level difference between the inside and the outside of that area becomes maximum and a second tracing algorithm in which the object image is traced by moving the position of the detecting area in such a manner that a point at which a contrast becomes maximum comes to coincide with a central portion of the detecting are depending on the state of the image sensing plane. The threshold values for changing over between the first tracing algorithm and the second tracing algorithm are made to have a hysteresis characteristic.

Abstract: An automatic focus adjusting device in a camera system includes a focus detecting circuit for a focusing state of an object image formed on an image plane by a photographic lens, a control circuit for producing a control signal on the basis of an output of the focus detecting circuit and for outputting the control signal to the photographic lens to control the same, and a characteristic detecting circuit for detecting a predetermined optical characteristic of the photographic lens. The control circuit is arranged to transmit the control signal to the photographic lens by defining as a parameter a change of the optical characteristic detected by the characteristic detecting circuit.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device comprises a binary coded information producing unit for producing binary coded information by comparing the levels of a predetermined component in each of a plurality of areas set on an image sensing plane of and image sensor with a predetermined value, a first detector for comparing binary coded information in each of the plurality of areas in one field with that in another field among a plurality of fields differing timewise from each other to produce a signal based on the difference between the two binary coded information, a second detector for detecting a total value, for one image plane, of differences in the predetermined component between adjacent areas among the plurality of areas of the image sensing plane, a computing unit for obtaining a degree of relative variations in information on images formed on the image sensing plane in different fields by computing the result of detection made by the first and second detectors and a control unit for controlling a focus adjusti

Abstract: A control system computes a plurality of detection data and outputs a control amount for a control target. The control system includes a detecting circuit for detecting the plurality of detection data, a first computing circuit for quantitatively computing a degree at which the plurality of detection data output from said detecting circuit conform with a preset condition in accordance with a predetermined function and generating an output function for controlling the control target, a second computing circuit for computing a centroid of an external figure which is obtained by processing an external figure of the output function, output from the first computing circuit, in accordance with predetermined approximation, and a driving section for driving the control target based on an output from the second computing circuit.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprises a light measuring circuit for performing a weighted light measurement on the basis of a light measuring area set in a predetermined position within an image sensing plane, a detecting circuit for detecting the levels of the luminance signals obtained from a plurality of detecting areas set within the image sensing plane, a discriminating circuit for discriminating the state of an object being photographed on the basis of the output of the detecting circuit, a compensation circuit for compensating a light measurement signal produced by the light measuring circuit in a backlighting photographic state, and a compression circuit for controlling a compression point and/or a compression rate of a high-luminance signal in accordance with the amount of compression performed by the compression circuit.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device which is capable of movably setting a focus detecting area on an image sensing plane comprises a position detecting circuit which detects the position of a picture-taking object within the focus detecting area, a storage circuit which stores a plurality of object position data detected at different points of time by the position detecting circuit, a computing circuit which computes the moving position of the focus detecting area by smoothing the object position data stored by the storage circuit and object position data currently detected, and an area setting circuit which shifts the focus detecting area on the basis of the shifting position computed by the computing circuit.

Abstract: An exposure control device includes an area setting circuit which sets a light measuring area on a part of an image sensing plane; a judging circuit which detects a back light image plane on the basis of a difference in level between video signals corresponding to the inside and the outside of the light measuring area; a high luminance detecting circuit which detects a high luminance part of the image sensing plane on the basis of the video signals; and a control circuit arranged to have the light measuring area set on the image sensing plane excluding the high luminance part from the light measuring area by controlling the area setting circuit on the basis of the output of the high luminance detection circuit when the image sensing plane is judged to be a back light image plane by the judging circuit.

Abstract: An optical equipment comprises: a first lens for focusing and compensation for magnification variation; a second lens for magnification variation; position detection means for detecting positions of the first lens and the second lens; focus detection means for detecting a focus status; lens drive means for driving the first lens and the second lens; and control means for controlling the lens drive means in accordance with information from the position detection means and the focus detection means. The control means determines a drive range of the first lens in which a circle of confusion may be zero, in accordance with focal length information, and inhibits the first lens from being driven out of the range during the magnification variation of the second lens.

Abstract: An object tracing device comprises an area setting circuit which sets a detection area on an image sensing plane for detection of information about an object image formed on the image sensing plane; an object tracing circuit arranged to detect any change occurring in the position of the object image on the image sensing plane and to cause the set position of the detection area to change while following the object image; a recording instruction circuit for giving a recording start instruction to a recording circuit which is arranged to record image information including the object image obtained on the image sensing plane; and a control circuit which causes the object tracing circuit to begin to act in response to the instructing action of the recording instruction circuit.

Abstract: An automatic focus adjusting device comprises an image sensor arranged to convert into a video signal an object image formed on its image sensing plane by a photo-taking lens optical system and to produce the video signal; a circuit which detects a high-frequency component included in the video signal; a circuit which detects from the video signal the degree of sharpness of the image on the basis of the width of the edge part of the image; a driving circuit which changes the position of the optical system relative to the image sensing plane in the direction in which the detection output of the high-frequency component and that of the degree of sharpness increase; and a control circuit which controls the driving speed of the driving circuit according to the detection output of the degree of sharpness.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device which is capable of movably setting a focus detecting area on an image sensing plane comprises a position detecting circuit which detects the position of a picture-taking object within the focus detecting area, a storage circuit which stores a plurality of object position data detected at different points of time by the position detecting circuit, a computing circuit which computes the moving position of the focus detecting area by smoothing the object position data stored by the storage circuit and object position data currently detected, and an area setting circuit which shifts the focus detecting area on the basis of the shifting position computed by the computing circuit.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device for a camera is arranged to binary-code luminance levels obtained in a plurality of areas set on an image sensing plane; to detect any change in the binary coded inforamtion between timewise different fields; and to compute a degree and range of the change. An automatic focusing action is brought to a stop when the computed degree of change exceeds a predetermined value on the assumption that the change results from a movement of the camera due to camera shake or panning. In case that the degree of change is less than the predetermined value, the change is considered to have resulted from a movement of an object to be photographed. In that event, the focusing action is allowed to continue by tracing the moving object witha focus detecting zone.

Abstract: A lens control system is disclosed, which comprises a focusing lens drive for driving a focusing lens for focus control, a zooming lens drive for driving a zooming lens for zooming, a focusing lens position detector for detecting the position of the focusing lens, a zooming lens position detector for detecting the position of the zooming lens, and a control circuit for controlling, when the zooming lens position detector detects that the zooming lens is in a macro region, the focusing lens drive to stop the focusing lens at a predetermined position.

Abstract: An automatic focus adjusting device comprising extracting circuitry for extracting a focus signal from an image sensor corresponding to the degree of focusing of an image sensing signal output from the sensor, a drive device for adjusting focus so as to bring an optical system into a focuses state on the basis of the focus signal and a control unit operative to detect a magnification varying operation of the optical system for controlling a loop gain of a closed loop encompassing the image sensor, the extracting circuitry and the drive device.