Abstract: An AF autofocus camera system for automatically controlling an objective lens for focusing an object including a focus detector for generating defocus data carrying information of a defocus amount and a defocus direction based on a focus condition of an object to be focused through an objective lens detected at a detection cycle, and a focus condition memory for storing defocus data obtained in a present detection cycle, a previous detection cycle, and a cycle before the previous detection cycle. The system further includes first and second infocus detectors for detecting the infocus condition based on the defocus data itself and the average of the defocus data, respectively. First and second lens drive controllers are provided for driving and stopping the objective lens responsive to the first and second infocus detectors, respectively.

Abstract: An automatic focus condition detecting device comprising an objective lens; a unit for receiving light from an object through the objective lens; a focus detecting unit responsive to the output of the receiving unit for detecting a focusing condition of the objective lens; a unit responsive to the output of the receiving unit for judging whether or not it is possible for the focus detecting unit to detect a focusing condition of the objective lens; a lens position detecting unit for detecting whether or not the objective lens is positioned within a predetermined range included in the lens driving range; a unit for driving the objective lens; and a unit for controlling the driving unit to drive the objective lens when the judging judges that it is impossible for the focus detecting unit to detect a focusing condition and, moreover, the lens detecting unit detects that the objective lens is positioned within the predetermined range, for the purpose of a search a lens position where the focus detecting unit can

Abstract: A solid state image sensor drive apparatus in accordance with the present invention enables a solid state image sensor to start integration of photoelectric current in response to an integration clear signal so that electric charges are accumulated to a prescribed level and transferred to a shift register. The accumulated electric charges transferred to the shift register are read out successively based on a transfer signal so that it is supplied to a microcomputer performing various operations. At this time, if a request for interruption is inputted from a load to the microcomputer, the transfer signal supplied to the shift register is stopped and the content of the shift register is not supplied to the microcomputer. When the interruption processing in the microcomputer is completed, the transfer signal is supplied again to the shift register so that transfer of data from the shift register to the microcomputer is restarted.

Abstract: An image sensing device includes a light receiving unit having light receiving elements for producing electric charges corresponding to intensity of light received by the light receiving elements; an accumulator for accumulating the electric charges produced by the light receiving unit; a transferring unit for transferring the accumulated electric charges in response to a predetermined transfer clock; a discharge unit for discharging electric charges received; a first gate between the accumulator and the transferring unit for controlling the transference of the accumulated electric charges to the transferring unit; a second gate between the transferring unit and the discharge unit for controlling the transference of the electric charges in the transferring unit to the discharge unit; a gate control for controlling the first and second gates to interrupt the transference of electric charges through the first and second gates for performing the accumulation of the accumulator, to permit the transference of accu

Abstract: An image sensor system for sensing an image of an object includes a plurality of image sensor arrays. Each array comprises photoelectric converting elements arranged to receive the object image and accumulation cells coupled to each photoelectric converting element for accumulating charges produced from the photoelectric converting element. A buffer memory cells are coupled respectively to the accumulation cells for temporarily storing the accumulated charges shifted from the accumulation cells in response to the completion of the charge accumulation in each array. A shift register is provided to receive accumulated charges from the buffer memory cells in every one of the arrays after all the arrays complete the charge accumulation. The accumulated charges stored in the shift register are then sequentially outputted.

Abstract: An improved focus detecting apparatus comprises a photographic lens, focus adjusting apparatus for driving the photographic lens which has been placed on an initial focusing position to an in-focus position, an auxiliary light emitting apparatus for emitting an auxiliary light and a switch for selecting whether the focus adjustment should be carried out with the auxiliary light emitted or the focus adjustment should be carried out without the auxiliary light. The initial focusing position of the photographic lens can be switched dependent on whether the auxiliary light is emitted or not.

Abstract: An automatic focusing divice for a camera is disclosed. The automatic focusing device has sensing means for sensing light intensity distributions within narrow and wide areas of a field of view of an objective lens, respectively and can be operated in either operation mode of one-shot AF mode and continuous AF mode. When the one-shot AF mode is designated, said narrow area which is narrower than said wide area is automatically selected for focus condition detection and, when the continuous AF mode is designated, said wide area is automatically selected.

Abstract: An improved focus detecting apparatus comprises a photographic lens, a focus detecting device for detecting the focusing condition of the photographic lens and a lens driving means for driving the photographic lens based on the focusing condition detected, and the photographic lens is driven, in advance, to a focusing position where a frequently used magnification rate determined in accordance with the focal length of said photographic lens is attained, and then driven to an in-focus position.

Abstract: A camera with a multi-zone focus detecting device has an objective lens mounted on a camera. An image formed by the objective lens is divided into a plurality of zones. In each zone, a focusing condition is detected based on the image formed by the objective lens so as to produce a plurality of focusing condition data. Based on the result of the focusing conditions, one zone is selected. Furthermore, a light which has passed through the objective lens is measured separately in each zone so as to produce a plurality of measured light data. Based on a focusing condition data obtained from the selected zone, the objective lens is driven to an infocus condition. When the objective lens is driven to the infocus condition, a measured light data obtained from the selected zone is used for calculating exposure data with which the exposure is controlled.

Abstract: An image sensing system comprises photoelectric conversion element array which responds to the light from a subject and produce charges responding to the quantity of incident light, storage parts temporarily storing the charges produced by the array and a shift register which receives and outputs the charges in the storage parts. A first gate is installed between the array and the storage parts and a second gate is installed between the storage parts and the shift register. The storage time of the charges and the like can be controlled by controlling the first and the second gates by a control circuit. Then, when the subject is of high luminance, the charges are stored into the storage parts with the array and storage parts connected intact to each other by putting the first gating means in the ON state, and the completion of integration thereof is performed by putting the first gate in the OFF state.

Abstract: An automatic focus control device including a plurality of photo-sensors corresponding, respectively, to a plurality of focus detecting regions, an optical system for guiding light to the photo-sensors, a first calculating device for calculating first defocus amounts upon reception of signals from the photo-sensors, respectively, a storage for storing deviation amounts in a direction of an optical axis for the focus detecting regions, respectively and a second calculating device for calculating second defocus amounts corrected on the basis of the first defocus amounts and the deviation amounts, respectively.

Abstract: An automatic focusing condition detecting device comprising an objective lens; a light receiving unit having a plurality of receiving portions, each receiving portion being adapted to receive through the objective lens light from one of a plurality of focusing areas, respectively; a focus detecting unit for detecting based on the output of each receiving portion a focusing condition of the objective lens in the respective focusing area; a unit for judging based on the output of each receiving portion whether or not it is possible for the focus detecting unit to detect a focusing condition of the objective lens in the respective focusing area; a unit for driving the objective lens; and a unit for controlling the driving unit to drive the objective lens when the judging unit judges that it is possible for the focus detecting unit to detect a focusing condition in at least one but not whole of the focusing areas, for the purpose of investigation whether or not there is another focusing area where the focus detec

Abstract: A camera with an automatic focusing device has an objective lens mounted on a camera. An image formed by the objective lens is divided into a plurality of zones. In each zone, a brightness distribution is obtained so as to detect a rough focusing condition in each zone, thereby producing a plurality of rough focusing condition data. Based on the result of the rough focusing condition data, one zone is selected. Furthermore, a precise focusing condition is detected in the selected zone based on the light contained in the selected zone, so as produce a precise focusing condition data. Based on the precise focusing condition data obtained from the selected zone, the objective lens is driven to an infocus condition.

Abstract: A focus detecting device for a camera is disclosed which employs a CCD for producing an image signal carrying focus information. A monitoring circuit has a charge storing circuit for storing the charge generated from a light receiving element, so that the monitoring circuit monitors the amount of light received from the target object to be photographed and produces a charge signal representing the monitored amount. A reference signal generator is provided for producng a reference signal. Since the reference signal generator is defined by the same circuitry as the charge storing circuit, undesirable fluctuation in the charge signal will also be seen in the reference signal. Since undesirable fluctuation in both signals can be counterbalanced with each other, the comparison between the charge signal and the reference signal can be done with high accuracy.

Abstract: A focus detection device which repeatedly calculates correlations between first and second image signals representing light intensity distributions on first and second image sensor arrays by shifting one of the image signals relative to the other to find an amount of shift affording the highest correlation includes shift range restriction means for restricting the shift range for the present correlation calculation in accordance with the amount of shift found through the last correlation calculation to afford the highest correlation. The shift range restriction is inhibited when the result of the last correlation calculation was not reliable indicating an infeasible condition of the focus detection.

Abstract: A focus condition detecting device for a camera is disclosed. The device provides first and second image sensors for calculating correlations between images each having passed through an objective lens of the camera. A plurality of image detecting blocks are defined on the first image sensor in order to execute correlation calculations with respect to each block for detecting focus conditions. A focus condition which indicates the focus condition among those obtained from the correlation calculations with use of each block is employed as the most probable focus condition. In the present invention, correlation calculations unnecessary for finding the rearmost focus condition are omitted.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device for a camera is disclosed. The automatic focusing device has sensing means for sensing light intensity distributions within narrow and wide areas of a field of view of an objective lens, respectively and can be operated in either operation mode of one-shot AF mode and continuous AF mode. When the one-shot AF mode is designated, said narrow area which is narrower than said wide area is automatically selected for focus condition detection and, when the continuous AF mode is designated, said wide area is automatically selected.

Abstract: An image sensor system for sensing an image of an object includes a plurality of image sensor arrays. Each array comprises photoelectric converting elements arranged to receive the object image and accumulation cells coupled to each photoelectric converting element for accumulating charges produced from the photoelectric converting element. A buffer memory cells are coupled respectively to the accumulation cells for temporarily storing the accumulated charges shifted from the accumulation cells in response to the completion of the charge accumulation in each array. A shift register is provided to receive accumulated charges from the buffer memory cells in every one of the arrays after all the arrays complete the charge accumulation. The accumulated charges stored in the shift register are then sequentially outputted.

Abstract: A camera with an automatic focusing device has an objective lens mounted on a camera. An image formed by the objective lens is divided into a plurality of zones. In each zone, a brightness distribution is obtained so as to detect a rough focusing condition in each zone, thereby producing a plurality of rough focusing condition data. Based on the result of the rough focusing condition data, one zone is selected. Furthermore, a precise focusing condition is detected in the selected zone based on the light contained in the selected zone, so as produce a precise focusing condition data. Based on the precise focusing condition data obtained from the selected zone, the object lens is driven to an infocus condition.

Abstract: A focus condition detecting device which generated first and second light intensity distribution signals representing light intensity distributions on first and second arrays arranged to receive lights having passed through different areas of the exit pupil of an objective lens is arranged so as to divide the first light intensity distribution signal into a plurality of blocks. Each of the portions of the first light intensity distribution signal belonging to the respective blocks is shifted relative to the second light intensity distribution signal by sequentially changing an amount of shift, so that correlations therebetween are calculated for finding the amount of shift providing the highest correlation.