Abstract: An electronic camera comprising an image sensor configured to capture an electronic image and a shutter mechanism. The electronic camera further comprises a controller configured to control the shutter mechanism and the image sensor. The controller comprising a processor and a memory having computer-readable code embodied therein which, when executed by the processor, causes the controller to: open the shutter mechanism, allow light to reach the image sensor for an exposure, automatically cause the image sensor to capture a first digital image of a scene using a first capture setting and automatically cause the image sensor to capture a second digital image of the scene using a second capture setting. The first capture setting includes a first value and the second capture setting includes a second value respectively of at least one of an aperture parameter, a shutter speed parameter, an ISO sensor gain parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for capturing a bracketing sequence of digital image frames. An apparatus includes a digital camera and at least one memory including camera settings. The apparatus further includes a processor configured to control operation of the digital camera together with the camera settings. The apparatus further includes a user interface for at least one of inputting and adjusting the camera settings. The user interface enables user to manually define an image capture sequence including a first camera setting input and a second camera setting input. The processor is configured to store the image capture sequence in the at least one memory, and to control the digital camera to capture a bracketing sequence of digital image frames using the first camera setting input and the second camera setting input.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus, comprises an image sensor having focus detection pixels configured to detect a phase difference of the subject image, a calculation unit configured to calculate a defocus amount of the subject image based on signals of the focus detection pixels, a focus control unit configured to adjust focus of the imaging optical system based on the defocus amount that was calculated, and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the imaging optical system is in an in-focus state by comparing the defocus amount to a predetermined threshold value, wherein the determination unit sets a larger value for the predetermined threshold value in a case where the imaging optical system focuses on a moving subject than in a case where the imaging optical system focuses on a still subject.

Abstract: An imaging device of the present disclosure includes: an optical system including a focus lens; an imaging system configured to generate image data based on an image obtained by the optical system; a DFD processing unit configured to calculate DFD distance information regarding a subject distance based on a plurality of blur signals and a plurality of pieces of image data having different focusing positions, the image data being obtained from the imaging system following drive of the focus lens; a measuring unit configured to measure a variation of a subject image of the image data; and a control unit configured to control the DFD processing unit to calculate the DFD distance information when the variation is equal to or more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A camera includes a lens barrel including a first lens frame that supports a first lens and is configured to move in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens barrel, a second lens frame that supports a second lens and is configured to move in an optical-axis direction which is parallel to the optical axis; a first lock member configured to connect with the first lens frame to restrict movement of the first lens frame; a second lock member configured to connect with the second lens frame to restrict movement of the second lens frame; a connection portion that connects the first lock member and the second lock member; and an actuator configured to move one of the first lock member and the second lock member and thereby control the first lock member and the second lock member to restrict the movement.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus including an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject to output image data, an optical system that includes a focus lens and is configured to form an image of the subject on the imaging unit, a finder that allows a user to view the subject, a proximity sensor configured to sense proximity of an object to the finder, and a controller configured to perform a focus operation to drive the focus lens to focus on the image of the subject when the proximity sensor senses proximity of an object, and fix the position of the focus lens after completion of the focus operation until a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for accelerating data transfer between networked databases. First provided are a plurality of databases coupled by a network. At least one laser unit is coupled to each database. In operation, such laser units are capable of communicating data between the databases via free space by way of a laser beam. This allows data communication at a rate faster than that which the network is capable.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes a first detector configured to generate first information corresponding to a contrast state of a picked-up image, a second detector configured to detect second information that is used for focus control and different from the first information, a controller configured to provide the focus control, and a first operating member operable by a user, wherein the controller provides the focus control that uses the first information but does not use the second information when the first operating member is not operated, and provides the focus control that uses at least the second information when the operating member is operated.

Abstract: A device, method and a computer program product are shown for correcting the focus error in an optical device, wherein in a first position of the optical device at least one focus detector is focused onto a given image plane of the target subject and the distance (d1) between the optical device and the given image plane is locked and wherein in a second position of the optical device following a reorientation of the optical device for achieving the desired framing of the image the shutter is released, the method comprising sensing a distance vector parallel to the focus plane after reorientation between the first position and the second position after reorientation, calculating a focus correction value (de) from the sensed distance vector and adding the focus correction value (de) as a corrective to the locked focus distance (d1).

Abstract: A digital imaging device, such as a digital camera, minimizes shutter lag by determining some capture parameters, such as focus and exposure settings, before a user of the device has indicated that a photograph is to be taken. The parameters are updated when the device becomes substantially still before the indication that a photograph is to be taken.

Abstract: A camera has a contrast detection section which detects contrast of an object image signal obtained through a taking lens, and a multipoint distance measuring section which ranges a plurality of points in a photographic screen through a pair of optical systems different from the taking lens. A first focus adjustment section focuses the taking lens in accordance with a detection result of the contrast detection section, and a second focus adjustment section focuses the same based on a distance measuring result of the multipoint distance measuring section. A position determination section determines a position of a main object in the photographing screen from the distance measuring result, and when it determines that the main object is positioned on a center, the first focus adjustment section is operated by a selection section, and when the main object is positioned on a periphery, the second focus adjustment section is operated.

Abstract: A digital camera 10 includes a CCD imager 14. When an interval photographing or an animation photographing is selected, an object is photographed by the CCD imager 14 for a plurality of times, and compressed image data is generated each photographing by each photographing. The generated compressed image data is stored in a temporary area of an magnetooptical disk 42. Upon completion of photographing the desired number of frames, the generated respective compressed image data are converted into a moving image file, and moved to a proper recording area of the magnetooptical disk 42. Frame rate information is written in the moving image file. Upon reproducing, firstly, the frame rate information is detected, the compressed image data of each frame is reproduced in accordance with this information. The moving image that moves at a desired speed is displayed on a monitor 30.

Abstract: A first area of a predetermined size is set as a focus area from which AF evaluation values are picked up in AF control when a focus mode is a normal one. When the focus mode changes to a macro mode, a second area narrower than the first area is set as the AF area. Thus, in the macro mode, focus search is performed automatically through the narrower area. AF frames indicative of the first and second areas are displayed on a through image.

Abstract: In a lens system in which a momentary mode in which AF is operated when an AF switch SW2 is pressed and a continuous mode in which the AF is continuously operated can be selected, a CPU uses the AF switch SW2 for use in the momentary mode as an AF stop switch, and stops an AF process when the AF switch SW2 is pressed (turned on) in the continuous mode.

Abstract: A camera includes a base, a focusing lens, a retaining wheel, a pushing member, and a retaining hook. The base has a cylindrical and vertical opening in it. The focusing lens is rotationally fixed within the opening. The retaining wheel is rotationally fixed in the base. The horizontal sides of the retaining wheel include a ratchet side, a smooth side, a first end, and a second end positioned over the connecting portions of the ratchet side and the smooth side. The pushing member is horizontally and movably fixed in the base for moving the focusing lens and the retaining wheel. The retaining hook includes a horizontal arm and a vertical arm. The horizontal arm can move across the upper side of the retaining wheel, and the vertical arm can thus contact each of the horizontal sides of the retaining wheel.

Abstract: In a multifunction camera, an area selector is used both as an operation key in a first selection mode for selecting the focus detection area of the focus detection device, and as an operation key in a second selection mode for selecting the function setting of the camera. A mode selector is provided which is settable at three positions including a local position, wide position, and lock position. The focus detection area selected at the local position is locked when the mode selector is set at the lock position and has been moved from the local position to the lock position, whereas the wide position is locked when the mode selector has been moved from the wide position to the lock position.

Abstract: An electro-optical framing camera forward motion compensation (FMC) system comprising a moving shutter and a full frame focal plane array detector is disclosed. The reconnaissance system is designed to minimize the variation of image motion from a target scene across the focal plane array. The full frame focal plane array, such as a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), is designed to transfer and add the image from pixel to pixel at a predetermined rate of image motion corresponding to the region exposed by the focal plane shutter. The focal plane shutter aperture and velocity are set to predetermined values coordinated with the available illumination. The CCD image transfer rate is set to minimize the smear effects due to image motion in the region of the scene exposed by the focal plane shutter. This rate is variable with line of sight depression angle, aircraft altitude, and aircraft velocity/altitude ratio.

Abstract: An automatic-focusing camera is provided with a multiple-point distance-measurement device having a plurality of distance-measurement areas, a multiple-division photometry device having a plurality of photometry areas, and a multiple-division light-amount-control device having a plurality of light-amount-control areas. Part of the photometry areas and part of the light-amount-control areas correspond to the distance-measurement areas. When a taking lens is focused on a subject, its focus is locked. Out of the information obtained from the multiple-point distance-measurement device, a set of information obtained when the focus of the taking lens is locked is compared with a set of information obtained immediately before a shot is taken, and thereby a change in picture composition after the locking of the taking lens focus is detected. This makes it possible to achieve exposure control in ambient-light shooting and light amount control in flash shooting in accordance with a change in picture composition.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a projecting optical system for projecting an image of an object in a viewfield onto an image receiving surface. First detecting structure is provided for detecting which position is viewed in the viewfield. Second detecting structure is provided for detecting a defocus for the image receiving surface of the image of the object. Optical system driving structure is provided for driving a portion of the projecting optical system according to the defocus detected by the second detecting structure. A processor is provided for causing the detection by said second detecting structure and the drive by said optical system driving structure to be repeated until the image of the object is focused on the image receiving surface.

Abstract: A camera which has a visual line detection device to detect the visual line of a photographer, and which inhibits visual line detection and automatic focus adjustment operations when these operations are unnecessary. Visual line detection may be inhibited, for example, when a manual focus lens is used in the camera, or when a self-timer mode is being used and the photographer is not observing the camera viewfinder. In these types of situations, the visual line detection, focus detection region selection based upon the visual line detection result and focus adjustment action based upon the visual line detection result are inhibited, thereby preventing useless consumption of electric power, and preventing focusing on undesired objects.

Abstract: An auto-focus camera performs a focusing and a photometry when a shutter button is half depressed in an auto-focus mode. In this case, when an MF button is depressed, a result value of the focusing is held as long as the MF button is depressed even if the shutter button is released. When the shutter button is depressed again, only the photometry is performed. On the other hand, when the MF button is depressed in a manual focus mode, an object distance can be set by an UP/DOWN dial which is also used for setting various kinds of photographing items. The MF button is used for maintaining an AF lock, and is used for instructing the setting of the object distance in the manual-focus mode.

Abstract: In a camera of the present invention, when a shutter button is depressed half, a focusing and a photometry are executed. If the shutter button is held in a state of being depressed half, the results are retained. In this case, if an MF button is depressed, the photometry result is retained while the MF button 48 is being depressed, even if the shutter button is released. When the shutter button is depressed half again, only the photometry is performed.

Abstract: An automatic-focus camera has a focus lock system that stores focus adjusting information so that a photo-taking lens may be kept focused on an object during one or more exposures. The camera has a self timer, an automatic exposure system with different program modes, and has continuous as well as single-frame operating modes. The focus lock system, which has different focus lock modes, influences the manner in which various operations of the camera are performed.

Abstract: An automatic focus camera having a focal point detection unit to detect a focal point status of a photographic lens in relation to the subject, a focal point adjustment unit which drives the photographic lens to an in-focus position based on the detection results of the focal point detection unit, an audio device which generates an audio sound when the photographic lens is in-focus, a primary control unit which repeatedly executes the focal point adjustment operation of focal point adjustment unit until release is executed, and a prohibition unit which, during control by the primary control unit, drives the audio device only when photographic lens is in-focus the first time, and prohibits drive of the audio device when in-focus the second and subsequent times.

Abstract: A camera having a device for setting plural modes of camera operation with a single operating member. The camera operates in various modes of operation, including a first focus detection region mode in which focus detection of a photographic lens is performed in a first focus detection region in a photographic picture plane, and a second focus detection region mode in which focus detection of a photographic lens is performed in a second focus detection region which is narrower than the first focus detection region. The camera also operates in plural focusing adjustment modes of operation, including a first drive mode in which further focusing adjustment movement of the lens is inhibited once the photographic lens has been focused, and a second drive mode in which focus adjustment movement continues even after focusing of the photographic lens. The various combinations of the focus detection region modes and the focus adjustment modes are changed by the single operating member.