Abstract: An image recognition method is conducted by extracting characteristic points of the pattern of an image formed by video signals from an image pickup device, within the whole or a limited area of a frame of a display, and measuring the distribution of the characteristic points of the image pattern. With this method, images can be recognized with minimal image processing time and with reduced influence of noises.

Abstract: A device for measuring an interval between two plate-like objects includes a light source for projecting a light toward the objects, a detector for detecting a position of incidence, upon a predetermined surface, of the light projected by the light source and deflected by the two objects, and a calculating portion for measuring the interval of the two objects on the basis of the detection by the detector.

Abstract: A device for detecting the positional relationship between first and second objects in a predetermined direction includes a light source for emitting light in a direction to the first or second object, and a first detecting portion for detecting the position of incidence of a first light deflected by the first and second objects, wherein the position of incidence of the first light upon the first detecting portion is changeable with a change in the positional relationship between the first and second objects in the predetermined direction. A second detecting portion detects the position of incidence of a second light deflected by at least one of the first and second objects, wherein the state of the position of incidence of the second light resulting from a change in the positional relationship between the first and second objects, in the predetermined direction differs from that of the first light.

Abstract: A position detecting method for detecting the position of a substrate by use of a grating pattern provided on the substrate includes irradiating the grating pattern with first and second radiation beams having different wavelengths to produce first and second diffraction beams of different wavelengths; and receiving the first and second diffraction beams by use of a sensor to determine the position of the substrate on the basis of the position of incidence of each of the first and second diffraction beams on the sensor.

Abstract: A characteristic point such as an image contrast of a target image in an image screen of an object produced by an image sensor is counted, a correlation between counts at two points in time is determined. A drive means for preventing vibration of an imaging lens is controlled in accordance with the correlation signal and imaging information such as in-focus or out-of-focus information.

Abstract: An imaging device has detection means for detecting an image vibration of the imaging device and drive means for driving at least one of a photoelectric conversion device for converting a light of an object transmitted through a lens system of the imaging device to an electrical signal and the imaging device itself in a direction to cancel the vibration. For a high frequency image vibration, the vibration is compensated by using a piezoelectric device.

Abstract: An information recording-reproducing apparatus provided with a first light beam for recording information on a recording medium and a monitoring second light beam for reproducing the recorded information simultaneously with the recording is characterized in that when only the reproduction of already recorded information is effected, a focus control signal or a tracking control signal is obtained by the use of the first light beam.

Abstract: An in-focus state detection device having a light source for emitting a near-infrared light for detecting an in-focus state of an object lens by sensing the light of the light source reflected by an object by a sensor through the object lens is disclosed. The in-focus state of the object lens to a visible light is exactly detected by correcting a relation between the light of the light source transmitted through the object lens and the sensor in accordance with a change in chromatic aberration information of the object lens to the light of the light source.

Abstract: This invention presents a range finding device when 1st and 2nd detection images of an object are scanned by signal storing type image sensing means to obtain image scan signals, which are quantized by quantization means to produce quantized image data for said 1st and 2nd detection images. On the basis of the thus obtained quantized image data, the location within the 2nd detection images of one set of M successive elements of the 2nd detection image which is most similar to M successive elements of the 1st detection image is detected, and with the aid of the data of this location, the distance between the device and the object is determined. According to this improved device, sequence control means, which controls a series of operations for range finding, will firstly cancel the signals stored in said image sensing means as unnecessary signals, when said series of operations is initiated, and then enables proper storing of image signals in the image sensing means so as to properly control the device.

Abstract: An optical device in which the projecting beam from beam projector is projected to outside through a part area of an imaging optical system and, of the reflected beam reflected by the outside and entering the imaging optical system, the reflected beam passing through another area of the imaging optical system is received by photoelectric light-receiving element and wherein the beam projecting optical axis of the beam projector and the light-receiving optical axis of the photoelectric light-receiving element are set so that the point of intersection between each of the optical axes and the principal plane of the imaging optical system does not satisfy, on the principal plane, a point-symmetrical relationship with respect to the point of intersection between the principal plane and the optical axis of the imaging optical system.

Abstract: This specification discloses a distance detecting device in a camera for detecting the relative positional relation between two detection images of an object obtained by two optical systems spaced apart from each other by a predetermined base length, to thereby enable the distance from the camera to the object to be known, characterized in that the picture-taking optical system of the camera is used also as one of the optical systems.

Abstract: This invention presents a range finding device when 1st and 2nd detection images of an object are scanned by signal storing type image sensing means to obtain image scan signals, which are quantized by quantization means to produce quantized image data for said 1st and 2nd detection images. On the basis of the thus obtained quantized image data, the location within the 2nd detection images of one set of M successive elements of the 2nd detection image which is most similar to M successive elements of the 1st detection image is detected, and with the aid of the data of this location, the distance between the device and the object is determined. According to this improved device, sequence control means, which controls a series of operations for range finding, will firstly cancel the signals stored in said image sensing means as unnecessary signals, when said series of operations is initiated, and then enables proper storing of image signals in the image sensing means so as to properly control the device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for detecting an incident position of radiation beam, particularly, its center or center of gravity. The detecting device is provided with a scanning type radiation beam sensing device having a plurality of radiation sensing elements in a linear arrangement, and the sensing device is disposed in such a manner that its radiation receiving surface may be substantially coincided with an incident surface of the radiation beam to be detected. When reading an output from the sensing device, the time sequential output signals from the sensing device are split into predetermined sections, and the signal quantities among the sections are compared. In this way, the position of the center or the center of gravity of the radiation beam on the incident surface is detected with the position corresponding to a split point of the signals as the reference.

Abstract: A focus detecting device which performs focus detection in such a manner that an image of an object formed through an image forming lens is received by an array of many electric charge storing type photo-sensors and, under such a condition, the image is electrically scanned by extracting, in a time serial manner, the output of each photo-sensor, and then the sharpness of the image is detected from a scanning output thus obtained; or that two images of the object which are formed through a range-finding optical system with an apparent parallax corresponding to distance to the object are received by different arrays of such photo-sensors respectively and, under such a condition, the two images are electrically scanned separately from each other by extracting, in a time serial manner, the output of each of the photo-sensors and scanning outputs thus obtained are compared with each other to detect the relative parallax of the two images.

Abstract: This invention presents a range finding device when 1st and 2nd detection images of an object are scanned by signal storing type image sensing means to obtain image scan signals, which are quantized by quantization means to produce quantized image data for said 1st and 2nd detection images. On the basis of the thus obtained quantized image data, the location within the 2nd detection images of one set of M successive elements of the 2nd detection image which is most similar to M successive elements of the 1st detection image is detected, and with the aid of the data of this location, the distance between the device and the object is determined. According to this improved device, sequence control means, which controls a series of operations for range finding, will firstly cancel the signals stored in said image sensing means as unnecessary signals, when said series of operations is initiated, and then enables proper storing of image signals in the image sensing means so as to properly control the device.