Abstract: An apparatus has a member to be driven, an actuator for driving the member, a position detector and a controller. The actuator drives the member to move by an amount proportional to a given number of pulses. The position detector detects a position of the member in predetermined detection steps. The controller determines in steps smaller than the predetermined detection steps a target position up to which the member is to be moved. Then, it controls the actuator up to a detection-step position before the target position by closed-loop control in accordance with a detection result from the detector. Further, it controls the actuator from the detection step position to the target position by open-loop control.

Abstract: A focus detector amplifies a plurality of sets of output signals from a plurality of photoelectric transfer element arrays by the most preferable amplifying mode and focuses a focus of an optical lens system on a desired object among a plurality of objects corresponding to the photoelectric transfer element arrays by selecting a method for deciding a defocus among a nearest position priority method, a lateral direction priority method and a reliability priority method responding to a condition of the objects.

Abstract: Disclosed is a focus detection optical system of a single lens reflex camera wherein a quick return mirror directs a part of luminous flux incident through a photographic lens system towards an optical sensor unit to detect the focusing state of the photographic lens system. The quick return mirror comprises a main mirror part which transmits said part of luminous flux while reflects the other part of luminous flux, and a sub-mirror part attached to the main mirror part so as to direct the part of luminous flux having transmitted the main mirror part toward the optical sensor unit. The main mirror part is provided with an infra-red cut coat which is formed on at least partial area of the light output side surface of the main mirror part which faces the sub-mirror part.

Abstract: A viewfinder of a camera having a multi-point type auto-focus function, in which a photographing lens can be focused on one of a plurality of objects in a plurality of focus detection zones within the field of view, when viewed through a viewfinder, includes a focusing plate which is provided with a plurality of split-image prisms corresponding to the focus detection zones within the finder field of view.

Abstract: A rangefinding device for a camera, in which a light projecting unit for projecting near-infrared light to an object and a light receiving unit for receiving object-reflected light reflected from an object are provided in such a manner as to be nearly in parallel with each other. The light receiving unit is provided with: a prism having a total reflection surface for reflecting almost all of object-reflected light having been incident thereon; and a light receiving element for receiving object-reflected light that is reflected by this total reflection surface of the prism. Further, the total reflection surface of the prism is formed so that a sum of an angle of incidence and an angle of reflection of object-reflected light reflected by the total reflection surface of this prism is greater than 90.degree. degrees.

Abstract: A focus detection function is disposed on the focal plane of an objective lens. The in-focus state of the objective lens is determined with respect to a plurality of range-finding regions in a photographic range by employing the focus detection function. A correction value of the objective lens corresponding to a predetermined range-finding region among the plurality of range-finding regions is already stored, thereby finding correction values corresponding to regions other than the predetermined region. As a result, focus detection with respect to the regions other than the predetermined region can be performed.

Abstract: A photometry device includes a light-receiving element that photoelectrically converts light from the subject field and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the light. The light-receiving element is provided with at least one light-receiving pixel that is optically shielded from the light A photometry value input unit inputs the photometric output from the light-receiving element. An accumulation time setting unit sets the accumulation time of the light-receiving element on the basis of the output of the photometry value input unit, and computes the setting value of the accumulation time on the basis of the output of the light-receiving pixel.

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus includes an optical unit provided on an image plane side of an objective lens for detecting a focus state of the objective lens, the optical unit forming a plurality of light quantity distributions, a photoelectrical changing unit having a plurality of elements for outputting a relative positional signal between the plurality of light quantity distributions, and a circuit for detecting a focus state of the objective lens. The optical unit includes a reflecting mirror having a light condensing property for reflecting a light beam from the objective lens to form an object image on a predetermined surface, a secondary imaging lens having at least a pair of lenses for causing the object image formed on the predetermined surface to be reimaged on the photoelectrical changing unit and a pair of apertures having aperture portions respectively corresponding to the pair of lenses.

Abstract: An optical element which has a rear principal point located before a center of its thickness or a front focal point located after the center of its thickness and at least one surface which functions as a lens by utilizing the diffraction phenomenon.Further, a focal point detecting optical system using a projector optical element or light emitting optical element which has a surface functioning as a lens by utilizing the diffraction phenomenon.

Abstract: A multi-point object distance measuring device which includes a plurality of object distance measuring areas, and a detecting device for detecting the amounts of defocus or distances of objects in the plurality of object distance measuring areas. The plurality of object distance measuring areas are disposed in a manner such that at least two object distance measuring areas of the plurality of object distance measuring areas partially overlap each other.

Abstract: An optical beam splitter has an imaging lens assembly with a single optical axis and reflectors located on the image side of the lens to produce a number of real images of an object imaged by the lens. The imaging lens assembly is designed to image the real image formed by a camera lens assembly on the optical axis where the camera lens assembly has an exit pupil a known distance on the object side of this real image. The imaging lens assembly is then adapted to image this exit pupil of the camera lens to an aperture plane adjacent the reflectors. The optical beam splitter is described in particular in an application in an electronic high speed camera wherein multiple images of an object are formed for high speed photography.

Abstract: A photographing optical apparatus includes reflecting members for reflecting images transmitted along a plurality of optical paths having parallax; optical systems arranged on the plurality of optical paths behind the reflecting members; optical members for reducing vertically the images passing through the optical systems; and an image sensor disposed at or near the imaging plane of the images so that the images reduced by the optical members are formed on the image sensor. By moving the reflecting members, a convergent angle is changed and stereoscopic photography and panoramic photography become possible.

Abstract: In a distance measuring apparatus, a light-detecting portion in a trigonometric distance measuring apparatus using a passive method is also used as a light-detecting portion for photometry processing. Thus, the luminance range for distance measurement is widened. The distance measuring apparatus includes two light-detecting portions arranged in correspondence with two optical systems. Correction filters for luminous efficacy correction is arranged in the optical paths of each optical system covering halves of the corresponding light-detecting portions.

Abstract: A TTL exposure control apparatus having a camera body to which different interchangeable lenses can be detachably attached is disclosed. At least one of the interchangeable lenses is an interchangeable wide-angle lens having a distortion. The wide-angle lens has a memory for storing an exposure correction value corresponding to the distortion. The camera body includes a photometering device which measures photometering data using light transmitted through the interchangeable lenses, and a photometering data correcting device for correcting the measurements by the photometering device in accordance with the exposure correction value read from the memory when the interchangeable wide-angle lens is attached to the camera body.

Abstract: A scanning exposure apparatus and method wherein an original and a substrate are moved relative to an illumination region to which pulse light is projected.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a projection optical system for projecting an object image; a focal detection system for detecting a defocus state of the object image with respect to a photosensitive plane by a light emitted from the projection optical system; a finder system for observing the object by the light emitted from the projection optical system, the finder system being provided with a light modulation unit for creating a light transmission state when electric energy is input and a cutoff state when electric energy is not input, and the light modulation unit being disposed so as to cover the view field of the finder system; and a control unit for controlling input of the electric energy to a light modulation unit, the control unit controlling so as not to input electric energy when the user does not look through the finder system.

Abstract: In a camera and an autofocus controlling method thereof, displacement amounts between intensity distributions of light at corresponding first and second areas of an image sensing device are detected, and a plurality of displacement detection signals are generated. A high contrast area of an object to be photographed is also detected, and a contrast detection signal corresponding to that area is produced. A focus detection signal is produced based on one of the plurality of displacement detection signals corresponding to the contrast detection signal.

Abstract: A focus state detection device includes a field mask aperture having a shape created from the overlapping portions of two areas. The first area is formed by the outermost perimeter of the cross-section of light rays passing through the field mask plane toward each of the arrays of photoelectric conversion devices from each of point of the conjugal images of the arrays of photoelectric conversion devices at the primary imaging plane. The second area is formed by line segments that are the projection onto the field mask plane of the boundary lines at the surface of each re-imaging lens on the side toward the arrays of photoelectric conversion devices. The use of this shape causes light to be directed within the boundary lines of the outer perimeter of each of the re-imaging lenses. Through the use of this shape, the creation of stray light and internal reflection in the focus state detection optical system are suppressed, and stable focus state detection precision is enabled.

Abstract: A method of detecting a focus position of a projection optical system at a high throughput and with high accuracy. A sensor pattern (SP) which is provided on a wafer stage (WS) as a light-receiving part of a photoelectric sensor (PES) is moved in the direction of an optical axis (AX) of a projection optical system (PL), and at the same time, it is moved in a direction (X) perpendicular to the optical axis (AX). While doing so, a reticle pattern (RP) which is provided on a reticle (R) is illuminated by illuminating light (IL) for exposure, and an image of the reticle pattern (RP) is formed on the sensor pattern (SP) through the projection optical system (PL). Light passing through the sensor pattern (SP) is received by the photoelectric sensor (PES), and a focus position is detected on the basis of the intensity of the transmitted light.

Abstract: An optical low-pass filter is built with circular phase components consisting of randomly distributed convex and concave surfaces. The area of the phase components is structured to cover 1/2 the entire surface area of the low-pass filter. Moreover, the phase components are set to a height such that the phase difference between the light passing through the phase components and the other areas of the filter is 1/2 its wavelength. The optical low-pass filter is installed in front of the photometric optical system. It is therefore possible to precisely measure light regardless of incidence of light from the photographic subject even when using photometric sensors that have been divided into multiple units.

Abstract: There is disclosed a focus detecting device adapted for use in a camera or the like and provided with; a phototaking optical system for forming an image of the object on a reference plane; a focus detecting optical system for separating, from the light beam passing through the phototaking optical system, at least a pair of light beams passing through spatially different areas on a first predetermined plane axially spaced by a first distance from the reference plane, thereby forming images of the object; a photoelectric converting device composed of plural photosensor elements and adapted to generate object image signals corresponding to the intensity distribution of the object images formed by the focus detecting optical system; a phototaking optical system information device for generating information on the shape of exit pupil at fully-open diaphragm of the phototaking optical system and on a second distance from the reference plane to the exit pupil; a focus detecting optical system information device for

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion unit includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices for receiving light from an object and storing charge corresponding to the quantity of the received light. A monitor unit outputs a monitor signal corresponding to the received light quantity from the start of the charge storage by the photoelectric conversion unit. When a predetermined time elapses from the start of the charge storage by the photoelectric conversion unit, a monitor read unit reads out the output monitor signal from the monitor unit. A time determining unit determines a charge storage end time on the basis of the monitor signal read out by the monitor read unit. When the charge storage end time determined by the time determining unit elapses, a signal read unit reads out charge signals stored in the photoelectric conversion devices of the photoelectric conversion unit.

Abstract: In a focus detecting apparatus, comprising a focus detecting optical system which leads two images created by the light passing through two different points of an objective lens onto a pair of one-dimensional image sensor arrays, a divider for dividing the pair of image sensor arrays into small blocks to take out the image output from each block, a focus detection calculator for shifting, from each other, the image outputs obtained from the pair of image sensor arrays to calculate the relative shift amount of the two images, and a modifier for changing the width of the blocks; a focus detecting apparatus further comprising a decider which decreases the width of the blocks through the modifier when it analyzes the space frequency component of the subject and determines that the subject includes a high-frequency component, or increases the width of the blocks when it determines that the subject includes a low-frequency component.

Abstract: A multispot autofocus system, usable with a camera, includes a radiation emitter for emitting visible or infrared radiation. The radiation is divided into at least three discrete beams of radiation by one or more holographic and/or diffractive optical elements. The beams of radiation are directed to different areas of a scene to be recorded. An amount of radiation reflected from the scene is measured. A correct focus position of an optical system of the camera is determined based on the amount of radiation reflected from the scene which is measured.