Abstract: An active auto focus system in which a beam of modulated energy is projected towards a subject to be focussed upon with the energy reflected therefrom directed towards a detector array. The detector array comprises a number of radiation responsive elements arranged in parallel rows and in a pattern which permits the reflected energy to impinge upon at least one detector in each of the rows simultaneously. The arrangement allows a digital type output indicative of the position of the reflected energy on the array and thus the position of the subject from the camera.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for adjusting the outputs of radiation responsive detectors to correct for mismatching.

Abstract: A passive and low cost object detector utilizing a focus module used in auto focus cameras to determine the presence of objects within the field of view of the module.

Abstract: An active auto focus system in which a beam of modulated energy is projected towards a subject to be focussed upon with the energy reflected therefrom directed towards a detector array. The detector array comprises a number of radiation responsive elements arranged in parallel rows and in a pattern which permits the reflected energy to impinge upon at least one detector in each of the rows simultaneously. The arrangement allows a digital type output indicative of the position of the reflected energy on the array and thus the position of the subject from the camera.

Abstract: Range finding equipment for use with optical systems and particularly low cost cameras to provide for proper focus of a remote object. A small number of radiation detectors are positioned to receive radiation in first and second patterns from the object to be focused upon through an auxiliary lens. The outputs of the detectors are processed to produce a resultant signal which is indicative of the position for proper focus. The auxiliary lens is coupled to the taking lens of the camera and means are provided for moving both lenses in accordance with the resultant signal so that the taking lens is in a proper focus position. The detectors may be photo diodes to facilitate the use of log signals to thereby compensate for differences in intensity of the scene being viewed.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the direction a lens should be moved in order to provide a proper focus of a remote object on a predetermine plane. A plurality of radiation detectors are positioned to receive radiation in first and second patterns from the object and to produce signals in accordance therewith. A first plurality of radiation detectors produces signals indicative of the radiation received in the first pattern while a second plurality of radiation detectors produces signals indicative of the radiation received in the second pattern. The two patterns coincide at the proper focus but at other than the proper focus the two patterns are spaced from one another in a direction which depends upon the direction the lens should be moved to achieve proper focus. The low frequency components in the patterns are determined by taking the sums of the outputs of groups of detectors in the first and second plurality of detectors so that individual fluctuations in individual detectors are smoothed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the direction the taking lens of a camera should be moved in order to provide a proper focus condition. A plurality of radiant energy detectors are positioned to receive energy from a scene being viewed and a first group of such detectors produces a first output signal pattern while a second group of such detectors produces a second output signal pattern. The two patterns coincide at the desired focus position but move with respect to one another in a first or opposite direction depending upon the focus condition. The slope of one or both of the patterns at predetermined positions is multiplied by the difference in value from the outputs of the detectors to create values which are summed. The sign of the summed values is representative of the direction the taking lens must be moved to bring the patterns into coincidence at the desired focus position.

Abstract: A radiation filter for use in a range determining system to reduce the effects of radiation falling on the edges of a radiation detector used in the system to a greater extent than radiation falling on the central portion of the detector.

Abstract: A radiation responsive detector arrangement for use with a range determination system. A first plurality of detector pairs are mounted to receive radiation from a lenslet array which produces a plurality of images of the exit pupil of a first objective lens whose f number is equal to or less than a predetermined value and a second plurality of detector pairs are mounted to receive radiation from the lenslet array which produces a plurality of images of the exit pupil of a second objective lens whose f number is greater than the predetermined value. Switch means is provided so as to use the outputs of the first plurality of detector pairs in the range determination system when the first objective lens is employed and to use the outputs of the second plurality of detector pairs in the range determination system when the second objective lens is employed.

Abstract: A corrector lens for use in a distance determining system employing a plurality of detector elements arranged in pairs and mounted proximate a plurality of lenslets. Each lenslet creates an image of the exit pupil of the objective lens of the system and when the objective lens is properly positioned, each of the detectors of each pair receives approximately the same amount of radiation. The corrector lens operates to direct radiation from the objective lens to the lenslets so that each lenslet receives radiation generally along its optic axis rather than at an angle thereto so that the radiation detectors may be mounted approximately equal distant on opposite sides of the axis and thus receive radiation from the lenslets along substantially equal paths.

Abstract: A lenslet array for use in a distance determining system. The array utilizes a plurality of cylindrical lenslets arranged in parallel relation with a crossed cylindrical lens arranged transverse to the lenslets and lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the lenslets. The focal lengths of the lens and the lenslets are chosen so that they project an oblong image in a common image plane. Elongated radiation detectors are positioned within the oblong image.

Abstract: An auto focus system includes first and second detector arrays which receive first and second detection images of an object. The detection images are displaced from each other by a distance which depends upon the distance to a remote object. The detector arrays produce output signals which vary with the position of the detection images and thus with the distance to the object. The output signals are processed to provide a resultant signal indicative of the distance to the object and this signal may be used, for example, to control the position of a lens in a photographic camera.

Abstract: A system for determining the range to an object utilizing a plurality of radiation responsive detectors such as charge coupled devices arranged in groupings where a first grouping of detectors receives radiation from the object primarily through a first portion of a lens and a second grouping of the detectors receives radiation from the object primarily through a second portion of the lens. There is a predetermined relationship between the outputs of the detectors in the first grouping with respect to the detectors in the second grouping when the object is at a predetermined range and changes in the range of the object produce changes in the relationship so as to produce a resultant signal which varies with the range and which may be used for the automatic focussing of photographic or television cameras.

Abstract: A camera lens forms an image of an object on an image plane. First and second mirrors produce respective first and second detection images of the object on respective first and second arrays of light sensors. These arrays form portions of an integrated circuit chip. One of the mirrors is moved throughout a scanning period to move its image on the corresponding array. A signal processing circuit receives the outputs of the light sensors and produces an output signal which experiences peaks for certain positions of the moved mirror. A circuit which receives the output signal produces a pulse for each peak which is larger than all previous peaks in the scanning period. One of the mirror positions causes the light distributions of the images to be in best correspondence on the arrays. This mirror position represents the existing object distance and produces a maximum one of the peaks, whereby this position produces the last pulse to be produced in the scanning period.

Abstract: An adjustable camera lens forms an image of an object on an image plane. First and second mirrors produce respective first and second detection images of the object on respective first and second arrays of light sensors. These arrays form portions of an integrated circuit chip. Upon each actuation of the apparatus to provide a focusing adjustment of the lens, a single pass scanning mechanism moves one of the mirrors, independently of the lens, completely through its full range of movement in a single scanning pass, and then arrests this scanning movement of the mirror until the apparatus is subsequently actuated again to initiate a subsequent scanning and focusing operation. The scanning movement of the mirror moves the corresponding image on the corresponding array.

Abstract: A digital auto focus system includes first and second detector arrays which receive first and second detection images of an object. The detection images are displaced by a number n of detectors depending upon the distance between the object and the detector arrays. The output signals of the detector arrays are processed to provide a signal indicative of the number n. This signal may be used, for example, to control the position of a lens in a photographic system.

Abstract: An optical gauging apparatus includes structure defining a pair of light beams. One of the beams comprises a reference beam while the other is a measuring beam. An object to be gauged is positioned to partially interrupt the measuring beam. The partially interrupted measuring beam is compared with the reference beam as the object to be gauged is run through the gauging process.

Abstract: A focus detecting system includes first and second auxiliary optical devices for forming first and second auxiliary images of an object on first and second detector devices, respectively, which in some illustrated embodiments are closely disposed on a single substrate. Each detector device includes a plurality of linearly displaced light responsive elements, each element in the first detector device having a corresponding element in the second detector device in relatively the same position with respect to the detector devices. One of the optical devices moves with respect to its associated detector device to shift the light distribution pattern of the corresponding auxiliary image in the direction of the linear displacement of the light responsive elements.

Abstract: A primary lens, which forms a primary image of an object on an image plane, is arranged to be positioned by a lens focusing motor. First and second auxiliary optical elements, which may be lenses or mirrors, produce respective first and second detection images of the object on respective first and second arrays of light sensors. One of these elements is reciprocated in continuously repeated periods or cycles to move its image back and forth continuously on the corresponding array. A signal processing circuit receives the outputs of the light sensors and produces a correlation pulse each time that the cycling element occupies the correlation position at which it brings the light distributions of the images into best correspondence on the respective arrays. The time and element position in each cycle at which this occurs are measures of the object distance.

Abstract: A multi-color recording medium responsive to a magnetic or an electrostatic recording field for recording an input signal thereon and having a continuous web of a transparent encapsulating material containing a suspension of highly reflective flakes with these flakes being selectively orientable between two incident light reflecting states. These flakes are distributed in individual micro-capsules with each capsule having a predetermined response to an applied force field to allow orientation of the suspended particles therein from one light reflecting state to another.