Abstract: In automatic focusing devices of the type which detect a defocus degree and a focusing direction and according to the results of detection, automatically shift a lens to an in-focus position, an accurate defocus degree cannot be obtained when the lens position is far away from an in-focus point. In such a case, focus detection must be carried out by driving the lens in the focusing direction solely according to information on the focusing direction, which, because of a weak signal from the detection output, necessitates a slow lens driving speed and accordingly takes a long time for shifting the lens position to an in-focus point. Another problem with conventional devices is the possibility of hunting, which tends to occur before the in-focus position is attained.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprises: a photodetector for converting an optical image to a charge signal; a recombination circuit for recombining a portion of the charges in the photodetector with the majority carrier; an instruction circuit for instructing change-over between the still mode, in which only one predetermined image signal is formed in the photodetector, and the movie mode, in which a plurality of image signals are formed; and a controller for switching the recombining capability by the recombination circuit during the formation of an image in accordance with an instruction output of the instruction circuit, in which the recombining capability in the still mode is controlled so as to be higher than that in the movie mode.

Abstract: A color information detecting device comprising a plurality of color detecting apparatus for detecting respective different color lights from each other, converting apparatus for producing an output in non-linear relation to the input signal, changeover apparatus for selectively applying the outputs of the color detecting apparatus to the converting apparatus, apparatus for coinciding a number of successive outputs of the converting apparatus, and computing apparatus for computing the coincided signals from the coincidence apparatus. The device also includes a first constant current source for applying current of a prescribed intensity and a second constant current source for supplying current of another intensity equal to the prescribed intensity times the intensity of the current supplied from the first source which are included so that another mode can operate. The outputs of the first and second constant current sources are selectively applied to the converting apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of detecting the focusing condition of an image forming optical system to an object, in which two images of the object are formed with respective light beams from the prescribed exit pupil areas lying in almost symmetry to each other with respect to the optical axis of the optical system and are sensed to obtain an equal number of picture element data for each of the images, and based on the thus-obtained picture element data, while sequential shifting for the first image is carried out from its one end to its opposite end, and a sequential shifting for the second image from its symmetric one end thereto to its opposite end, each by a predetermined number of picture elements, a correlation betweeen the first and second images in every predetermined equal number of picture elements is sought, whereby an optimum correlation is obtained, the corresponding mutual positional relationship between the above-described predetermined numbers of picture elements is detected to discriminate whether

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprises: a photo detecting unit for converting an optical image to electrical information; and unnecessary charge transfer unit, formed in a peripheral portion of the photo detecting unit, for transferring the unnecessary charges; a charge removing unit provided at the final end of the unnecessary charge transfer unit; and a drive circuit for driving the unnecessary charge transfer unit synchronously with the transfer of the whole electrical information in the photo detecting unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprising: a photosensing part for converting an object to be photographed into electrical information and storing; storage control means for outputting a signal to control the storage state in the photosensing part; clamping means for clamping a part of electrical information read out from the photosensing part; and inhibiting means for inhibiting a change in output signal of the control means at least during the clamping operation by the clamping means.

Abstract: A focus detecting system has a signal processing circuit for processing output signals from photoelectric transducer elements and generating an output representing the focusing state. A circuit is provided to stabilize the output against abrupt changes in focusing condition.

Abstract: A code plate for a camera comprises parts arranged in various two-dimensional shapes highly suited for an automatic focus control system for a zoom lens.

Abstract: The disclosed color information detecting device is constructed of detectors each for detecting a one of a number of different colors and each having a number of light receiving faces. The detectors are arranged on the same plane independently of each other. The light receiving faces of each detector are electrically connected and have their center of sensitivity distribution located at about the same point as that of the faces of another detector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a signal accumulating time control method for a signal accumulating type radiation sensing device which produces an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of incident radiation and accumulates the same. According to the improvement of the present invention, the accumulating time is controlled by successive approximation at different intervals when there happens a situation in which the accumulating time must be changed greatly.

Abstract: A still picture recording apparatus comprising: a solid-state image pick-up device having an image pick-up part or image sensing part for generating charges in response to an incident light, a memory part for taking the charges generated by the image pick-up part and for temporarily storing them, and a readout part for reading out the stored charges from the memory part; a recorder for recording a video signal to be output from the image pickup device; and a controller for controlling the recorder and the image pick-up part, this controller enabling the recorder to record a still picture and causing the image pick-up part to prevent overflow charges which are generated by the image pick-up part from flowing into the memory part in the image pick-up device during the recording of the image pick-up signal by the recorder.

Abstract: A compression type A/D converter for producing an output in the form of a digital value almost equal to the square root of the input analog value. For this purpose, the A/D converter is constructed as a dual-slope A/D converter in which the current signal for inverse integration increases as a function of a polynominal of order n (n=1) of the inverse integration period.

Abstract: A photo-detecting device employed for photo-detecting a storage type photo-sensor which produces information stored therein according to light inputs on the form of signals integrated in a real time and nondestructive manner. Timing for reading out the output of the photo-detecting apparatus by a control circuit which controls on the basis of the output of the photo-detecting apparatus is to be determined according to the output of the photo-detecting apparatus when the photo-detecting means stores information corresponding to the light inputs. A period of time after storage is started by the photo-detecting means and before the information is read out by the control circuit is determined during the process of storing the information.

Abstract: In a signal accumulating time control method and apparatus for a signal accumulating type radiation sensing device which produces an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of incident radiation and accumulates the same, an accumulating time controller has first and second different control modes and is adapted to change over from one of said first and second control modes to the other when the intensity of said incident radiation fluctuates a large amount.

Abstract: This specification discloses improvements in the so-called sharpness detection type algorism in which three light receiving means are provided near a predetermined focal plane and forwardly and rearwardly thereof to quantitatively detect the out-of-focus relative to the predetermined focal plane and the sharpnesses of the images at the positions of the three light receiving means are detected. More particularly, it discloses a technique whereby the range in which the amount of in-focus error can be detected is increased by using as a signal for normalizing an error signal a signal indicative of the difference between the sharpness of the image on the light receiving means disposed near the predetermined focal plane and the smaller one of the sharpnesses of the images on the light receiving means at the opposite ends.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control system for carrying out the focus detection and the light measurement of a camera by means of which after the termination of the exposure the next focus detection and the next light measurement are controlled systematically so as to be started at a proper timing respectively in such a manner that the next focus detection and the next light measurement is prohibited before the diaphragm in the exposure state is brought back into the stationary state, in order to prevent the misoperation.

Abstract: This specification discloses an apparatus for detecting and counting the pulse from a monitor signal source which repetitively forms a pulse in association with a member to be controlled and thereby detecting the amount of movement of the member to be controlled. In the apparatus, depending on whether the pulse put out from the monitor signal source for the first time starts from a rising signal or from a falling signal, the count mode of the pulse is made into a falling pulse count mode or a rising pulse count mode, thereby ensuring accurate detection of the amount of movement to be accomplished.

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus is disclosed which includes a focusing optical system for forming an object image on a predetermined focal plane and photoelectric devices disposed before and behind the focal plane at substantially equal distances from the plane. The photoelectric devices detect the focus states of the object images formed thereon respectively. The focus state of the object image on the focal plane is detected depending on whether or not the focus states on the photoelectric devices are equal to each other. According to the invention such a focus detecting apparatus further includes a mask for gradually decreasing the quantity of light incident upon the photoelectric devices in the direction away from the center of the incident beam. Under the action of such a mask, the focus states of object images before and behind the predetermined focal plane at substantially equal distances from the focal plane are made approximately equal to each other.

Abstract: A signal circuit for an automatic focusing lens is disclosed which has a displacement monitoring signal generator for generating a displacement monitoring signal representing the displacement of the lens by repeatedly turning on and off in accordance with the movement of the lens. The signal circuit is further provided with a limit signal generator for generating limit signals which represent that the lens has been moved to an infinity and a minimum-focusing-point. The displacement monitoring signal generator is connected to the limit signal generator and the output of the displacement monitoring signal is inhibited in accordance with the output of the limit signal, thereby preventing such a problem that the operation to move the lens will have been continued after the lens has been moved to the infinity or minimum-focusing-point.

Abstract: This specification discloses an energizing control of a drive element for driving a motor or the like which drives a focusing lens. The energization is controlled on the basis of the detection of whether or not the position of the focusing lens is within the quasi-in-focus state, and when the continuation of the quasi-in-focus state for a predetermined time period or more is detected, energization of the driving element is stopped.