Abstract: A lane departure avoidance system disables start of steering control or terminate running steering control upon determination that a value of a at least one selected variation, which is selected from a first variation, a second variation, a third variation, and a fourth variation, is equal to or more than a corresponding threshold. The first variation is a variation of a lateral position of an own vehicle relative to lane marking lines recognized by a recognition unit, and the second variation is a variation of a yaw angle of the own vehicle relative to the recognized lane marking lines. The third variation is a variation of a curvature of the recognized lane marking lines, and the fourth variation is a variation of a pitch angle of the own vehicle.

Abstract: A lane departure avoidance system disables start of steering control or terminate running steering control upon determination that a value of a at least one selected variation, which is selected from a first variation, a second variation, a third variation, and a fourth variation, is equal to or more than a corresponding threshold. The first variation is a variation of a lateral position of an own vehicle relative to lane marking lines recognized by a recognition unit, and the second variation is a variation of a yaw angle of the own vehicle relative to the recognized lane marking lines. The third variation is a variation of a curvature of the recognized lane marking lines, and the fourth variation is a variation of a pitch angle of the own vehicle.

Abstract: A zoom adjustment system, comprising a touch panel, a course detector, and a first zoom adjuster, is provided. The touch panel has an input surface. The touch panel detects a certain location on the input surface when it is touched. The touch panel detects a touched location. The course detector detects a course traced on the input surface by the touched location when the touched location is moved about on the input surface while maintaining continuous contact with the input surface. The first zoom adjuster adjusts a magnification of a photographic optical system according to the traced course detected by the course detector.

Abstract: A zoom adjustment system, comprising a touch panel, a course detector, and a first zoom adjuster, is provided. The touch panel has an input surface. The touch panel detects a certain location on the input surface when it is touched. The touch panel detects a touched location. The course detector detects a course traced on the input surface by the touched location when the touched location is moved about on the input surface while maintaining continuous contact with the input surface. The first zoom adjuster adjusts a magnification of a photographic optical system according to the traced course detected by the course detector.

Abstract: An autofocus camera having a face recognition function, includes a photographing optical system including a focusing lens group; an image pickup device; an autofocusing system which performs a focus search process, and further performs a focusing operation in which the focusing lens group is moved to an in-focus position that is detected by the focus search process; a switch which activates the autofocusing system; a face recognition device for recognizing a face image based on object images; and a controller which makes the autofocusing system set the focus detection area on a face recognition area at which the face image is recognized and makes the autofocusing system perform the focus search process and the focusing operation on the focus detection area regardless of whether the switch is turned ON when the face recognition device recognizes the face image.

Abstract: A camera having a focus adjusting system and a face recognition function includes a photographing optical system; an image pickup device; a focus adjusting device which performs a focus search process in which the image pickup device captures object images at different positions while the focusing lens group moves between near and far extremities thereof to detect an in-focus lens position; and a face recognition device for recognizing a face image based on the image signals, wherein if the face recognition device recognizes the face image and an in-focus state is previously achieved on the face image previously recognized, the focus adjusting device determines a range of movement of the focusing lens group based on sizes and positions of the face image captured when the in-focus state was previously achieved and the face image currently recognized on a picture plane.

Abstract: A focus adjusting method for adjusting focus by moving a focusing lens group of a photographing optical system, wherein the focus adjusting method includes a first search stage at which a focus search operation is performed based on an image formed in a large focus area while the focusing lens group is moved stepwise over an entire range of movement thereof from the near extremity to the far extremity, and a second search stage at which the focus search operation is performed, based on images formed in small focus areas, at front and rear close vicinities of the in-focus position while the focusing lens group is moved stepwise over a portion of the entire range of movement thereof.

Abstract: A camera having an image stabilizer includes a focus adjusting system which captures images at different positions along an optical axis of a focusing lens group of a photographing optical system via an image pickup device while performing a searching operation in which the focusing lens group detects an in-focus position based on contrasts of the captured images; a vibration detector for detecting camera shake; a shake-reduction driving device which is driven to prevent an object image formed on the image pickup device from shaking relative thereto when the vibration detector detects camera shake; and a controller which controls the focus adjusting system so as to one of suspend and terminate the searching operation one of when the vibration detector detects the camera shake during the searching operation and when the camera shake lasts for more than a predetermined period of time during the searching operation.

Abstract: A focus detection method for detecting a focus state based on object images formed through a photographing optical system in at least one focus detection area, while performing a search operation, includes determining at least one support area which overlaps the focus detection area; determining an in-focus position of the focusing lens group in the focus detection area to be an in-focus position of the focusing lens group when a brightness of the object is one of equal to and higher than a predetermined value; and determining an in-focus position of the focusing lens group upon an in-focus state being detected in the focus detection area and in the support areas which overlaps the focus detection area when the brightness of the object is lower than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A zoom adjustment system, comprising a touch panel, a course detector, and a first zoom adjuster, is provided. The touch panel has an input surface. The touch panel detects a certain location on the input surface when it is touched. The touch panel detects a touched location. The course detector detects a course traced on the input surface by the touched location when the touched location is moved about on the input surface while maintaining continuous contact with the input surface. The first zoom adjuster adjusts a magnification of a photographic optical system according to the traced course detected by the course detector.

Abstract: A camera with a photographing optical system, including a focus adjusting system which captures images at different focal positions via an image pickup device while moving a focusing lens group within a controllable searching range, and moves the focusing lens group to the in-focus position; a memory which stores a first image captured when an in-focus state is achieved; and a comparing device which compares the first image stored in the memory with a second image captured via the image pickup device before commencement of movement of the focusing lens group. The focus adjusting system operates within a limited searching range including a current position of the focusing lens group when predetermined conditions are satisfied, including a condition upon which it is determined that the first image and the second image match each other completely or by a predetermined degree.

Abstract: A focus detection method includes moving a focusing lens group from the near extremity toward the far extremity in a search operation, and stopping the focusing lens group upon first detecting an in-focus state to determine an in-focus position of the focusing lens group when detecting a focus state in each of a plurality of focus detection areas while performing the search operation, and moving the focusing lens group firstly to one of the near extremity and the far extremity which is closer to a current position of the focusing lens group and subsequently toward the other thereof, and stopping the focusing lens group upon first detecting an in-focus state to determine an in-focus position of the focusing lens group when detecting a focus state in the single focus detection area while performing the search operation.

Abstract: An AF camera includes a focusing lens group; an autofocus system which performs a searching process for detecting an in-focus position by moving the focusing lens group within a predetermined searching range to move the focusing lens group to the in-focus position; and a first switch and a second switch. After completion of the searching process, the autofocus system repeats the searching process over a first searching range closer to a far side than a near-side movable end upon the first switch being turned ON, with a current position of the focusing lens group serving as the near-side movable end; and the autofocus system repeats the searching process over a second searching range closer to a near side than a far-side movable end upon the second switch being turned ON, with a current position of the focusing lens group serving as the far-side movable end.

Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus includes an imaging device for capturing object images via a photographing lens; a lens driving device which moves a focusing lens group; a manual focus adjustment device which actuates the lens driving device to move the focusing lens group in response to a manual operation; a focus detection device for making the imaging device capture an object image to determine a contrast value thereof each time the focusing lens group moves by a predetermined amount of movement due to the manual operation, and for detecting an in-focus position of the focusing lens group in accordance with contrast values detected by the focus detection device at different lens positions; and a controller which moves the focusing lens group to the in-focus position via the lens driving device if a deviation exists between a stopped position and the in-focus position.

Abstract: A camera includes a focus adjusting system; first and second switches for a focus adjusting system and an exposure device; and a controller. If the second switch is operated before the focusing lens group reaches a specified focal length position, the search operation stops and the exposure device activates after the focus adjusting system performs the search operation until an infinite focus position. If the second switch is operated after the focusing lens group reaches the specified focal length position, the search operation immediately stops and the exposure device activates. If the in-focus position is detected by the search operation after completion thereof, the focusing lens group moves to the in-focus position and the exposure device activates. If no in-focus position is detected by the search operation after completion thereof, the focusing lens group moves to the specified focal length position and the exposure device activates.

Abstract: A focus detection method, for detecting a focus state of an object image in accordance with a contrast of the object image which is formed in a focus detection area, includes capturing the object images while moving a focusing lens group of a photographing lens stepwise within a predetermined range of movement thereof; determining contrast values of the plurality of object images in the focus detection area; and setting a position of the focusing lens group as an in-focus position when a contrast value, attained when the focusing lens group is positioned at one of the closest focus position and the infinite-focus position or at a position within a predetermined range of steps from the one of the closest focus position and the infinite-focus position toward the other of the closest focus position and the infinite-focus position, is at a maximum contrast value.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes a lens drive mechanism for moving a focusing lens group, and a controller for detecting a contrast value of the object image and moving the focusing lens group. The controller calculates a difference between maximum and minimum contrast values detected at the different positions of the focusing lens group; compares contrast values at two adjacent lens positions to determine whether the contrast value increases successively and subsequently decreases successively; detects a maximum contrast value, if the contrast value increases successively and subsequently decreases successively; calculates the maximum contrast value via a point of intersection between straight lines of two linear approximation expressions if the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value; calculates the maximum contrast value from a quadratic approximation expression, if the difference is smaller than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes a focusing lens group, and a controller. The controller establishes a first predetermined number and a first criterial value if a maximum contrast value and/or minimum contrast value is outside a predetermined range, and a second predetermined number and second criterial value if the maximum and minimum contrast values are within the predetermined range; compares contrast values detected at adjacent positions to determine whether the contrast value of the object image increases once and subsequently decreases by the first or second predetermined number of times; detects a maximum contrast value if the contrast value of the object image increases once and subsequently decreases by the first or second predetermined number of times; determines a difference between the maximum contrast value and a detected contrast value; and selects the maximum contrast value if the difference exceeds the first/second criterial value.

Abstract: A focus adjusting method for adjusting focus by moving a focusing lens group of a photographing optical system, wherein the focus adjusting method includes a first search stage at which a focus search operation is performed based on an image formed in a large focus area while the focusing lens group is moved stepwise over an entire range of movement thereof from the near extremity to the far extremity, and a second search stage at which the focus search operation is performed, based on images formed in small focus areas, at front and rear close vicinities of the in-focus position while the focusing lens group is moved stepwise over a portion of the entire range of movement thereof.

Abstract: An autofocus camera having a face recognition function, includes a photographing optical system including a focusing lens group; an image pickup device; an autofocusing system which performs a focus search process, and further performs a focusing operation in which the focusing lens group is moved to an in-focus position that is detected by the focus search process; a switch which activates the autofocusing system; a face recognition device for recognizing a face image based on object images; and a controller which makes the autofocusing system set the focus detection area on a face recognition area at which the face image is recognized and makes the autofocusing system perform the focus search process and the focusing operation on the focus detection area regardless of whether the switch is turned ON when the face recognition device recognizes the face image.