Abstract: A focus lens and a zoom lens group having a first zoom lens and a second zoom lens are controlled separately from one another in an internal-focus camera. The positions of the focus lens and the second zoom lens in the zoom lens group are tracked, and are controlled to approach no closer to one another than a minimum safe distance to avert collisions between the focus lens and the second zoom lens.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes a pupil dividing device for dividing an exit pupil of an objective lens into separate areas, a field mask located at a position substantially optically equivalent to an image forming position of the objective lens, a condenser lens located in the vicinity of the field mask to make the exit pupil conjugate with the pupil dividing device, a light quantity distribution forming device for receiving light transmitted through the separate areas and forming light quantity distribution portions wherein the relative position of the light quantity distribution portions varies in accordance with a focus state of the objective lens, and a focus detection apparatus having at least one group of photoelectric transducers which receive the light quantity distributed by the pupil dividing device. The condenser lens is moved in accordance with the position of the exit pupil of the objective lens.

Abstract: In a lens control apparatus for detecting a magnification lens position and a focus compensation lens and controlling a focus compensation position in zooming such that a focused position of the focus compensation lens with respect to a discrete magnification lens position is controlled with reference to a stored table in accordance with an object distance, when the magnification lens position and the focus compensation lens position are not stored in the table, the focus compensation lens position is estimated from the table data and the current lens positions.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes a pupil dividing device for dividing an exit pupil of an objective lens into separate areas, a field mask located at a position substantially optically equivalent to an image forming position of the objective lens, a condenser lens located in the vicinity of the field mask to make the exit pupil conjugate with the pupil dividing device, a light quantity distribution forming device for receiving light transmitted through the separate areas and forming light quantity distribution portions wherein the relative position of the light quantity distribution portions varies in accordance with a focus state of the objective lens, and a focus detection apparatus having at least one group of photoelectric transducers which receive the light quantity distributed by the pupil dividing device. The condenser lens is moved in accordance with the position of the exit pupil of the objective lens.

Abstract: In a lens control apparatus for detecting a magnification lens position and a focus compensation lens and controlling a focus compensation position in zooming such that a focused position of the focus compensation lens with respect to a discrete magnification lens position is controlled with reference to a stored table in accordance with an object distance, when the magnification lens position and the focus compensation lens position are not stored in the table, the focus compensation lens position is estimated from the table data and the current lens positions.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes first and second lenses, first and second detection devices, and a control device. The first lens varies magnification, and the second lens, positioned on a focal-plane side of the first lens, corrects variation of an image forming position. The first detection device detects at least one of temperature and humidity. The second detection device detects positions of the first and second lenses. The control device controls movement of the second lens during movement of the first lens by using outputs from both the first and second detection devices.

Abstract: A focus detecting device of the kind using an area sensor which has a plurality of focus detecting areas necessitates setting a correction value for every one of the focus detecting areas and storing all the correction values thus obtained, whereas, according to the invention, the correction value for each of the focus detecting areas of the area sensor is obtained by an arithmetic operation using, as variables, two parameters indicative of the position of the area, so that a focus detecting device can be arranged to obviate the necessity of storing all the correction values for the respective focus detecting areas.

Abstract: A camera in which the ratio of an object to the photographing frame can be set comprises a varifocal lens in which the in-focus position is changed in accordance with the change in the focal lens and a focusing lens for correcting the focus by the varifocal lens. The size of the object is set to the desired size by using the varifocal lens, and thereafter the deviation of the in-focus point is controlled by the focusing lens. Since the zooming is carried out by using a varifocal lens, a camera can be provided in which the ratio of an object to the photographing frame can be set in a simple structure.

Abstract: A zoom lens adjustment method capable of being applied to zoom lenses for use in video cameras, electronic still cameras, or the like employing solid-state image sensors. An amount of integral movement .delta.1 by which a first lens group (G1) and a second lens group (G2) must axially move from an extreme-wide-angle-state (W) reference positions to cause the actual and reference image planes (IPA and IPR) to coincide is determined. Then, an amount of additional movement .delta.2 by which only the first lens group must be moved to cause the actual and reference image planes to coincide after causing the first and second lens groups to move in integral fashion by the amount .delta.1 when in the extreme-telephoto-state reference positions is determined. Then, from the values of .delta.1 and .delta.

Abstract: A lens control apparatus which corrects a variation in a focus position due to a zooming operation by driving a compensator lens at a standard speed according to a predetermined cam locus is arranged to determine a correction direction on the basis of an integral value of a high-frequency component and a correction speed on the basis of the ratio of the high-frequency component to a luminance difference, and to combine the correction speed based on the state of focus with the standard speed.

Abstract: Zooming systems consistent with the present invention are used with a camera having a zoom lens barrel which moves in at least two zoom directions. The zooming system comprises a switch for selecting a zooming operation of the camera. An encoder detects a zoom position of the zoom lens barrel and generates a zoom position signal representing the detected zoom position. A memory stores focus error data for each zoom position and for each zoom direction at each zoom position. A zoom motor driver drives a zoom motor which moves the zoom lens barrel in the zoom directions. Finally, a controller controls the camera by: driving the zoom motor in a motor direction while the switch means is turned on; driving the zoom motor for a predetermined period of time in the motor direction after the switch is turned off; and calculating an auto focus correction value based on the detected zoom position and the focus error data corresponding to the detected zoom position.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device has a rangefinder CCD sensor unit that measures a defocus amount with respect to the image of an object which is focused by an optical system. A focusing lens group of the optical system is driven into a focusing position based on the measured defocus amount. An object image moving speed, at which the image of the object moves, is calculated based on at least two defocus amounts which are measured. If the difference between a present defocus amount and a preceding defocus amount is smaller than a predetermined value, the focusing lens group is driven to move the focusing position at a tracking speed corresponding to the object image moving speed. If the difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the focusing lens group is driven at a previously calculated object image moving speed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image recording apparatus for recording an image signal outputted from an image sensing device on a recording medium held in a cassette. The image recording apparatus comprises a reading device for reading information about control of the image sensing device from incident data stored in a memory device installed in the cassette, a supplying device for generating data for setting the image sensing device from the information read by the reading device and supplying the data to the image sensing device, a generating device for generating information about the control of the image sensing device based on data for setting the image sensing device and a writing device for writing the generated information into the memory device installed in the cassette. Since the generating device and the writing device are provided, the image recording apparatus can provide satisfactory ease of operation.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a camera, comprises a computing device which computes a parallax correction signal for correcting a parallax of a viewfinder on the basis of a focusing distance and a focal length of an image forming optical system, and a driving device which drives the viewfinder on the basis of the parallax correction signal provided by the computing device.

Abstract: A zoom tracking apparatus and method in a video camera. An offset adjustment is achieved by deriving applied voltage of the zoom position sensor only by use of data relating to positions of the zoom lens respectively associated with several optional points and corresponding positions of the focusing lens involving focusing while shifting the zoom lens in one direction. The offset adjustment is, thereby, achieved rapidly and accurately, and an accurate focus upon zoom tracking is obtained. The minimum quantity of trace data is stored in the internal ROM of the control circuit, while a trace tracking of the focusing lens associated with the shift of the zoom lens is achieved in a region where an error may occur possibly upon detecting the position of the zoom lens by use of a focusing evaluation value, thereby capable of achieving the trace tracking accurately.

Abstract: The position of a rear lens group at the time power is turned off is stored in a memory as a relative value on the basis of the positions of the rear lens group focusing on a subject at a near point and at an infinity point, respectively, with respect to the position of a zoom lens group at power off. When power is turned on, the rear lens group is moved to the reference position by a pulse motor, and the position of the zoom lens group is detected by an encoder. After the position detection operation, the rear lens group is moved to a position calculated according to the current position of the zoom lens group and the relative value stored in the memory.

Abstract: Data output means for outputting the moving position data of respective movable lens groups in a zoom lens according to designated magnification data and object distance data is provided, thereby smoothly and easily performing the drive control operation for a zoom lens in which not only the focus-adjusting movable lens but also the power-changing movable lens is moved at the time of focus adjustment. Alternatively, reference data output means for outputting designed moving positions of the respective movable lens groups according to the designated magnification data and object distance data, as well as adjustment data output means for outputting amounts of adjustment corresponding to the individual differences of the respective lenses in the movable lens groups are provided, thereby smoothly, easily, and correctly performing the drive control operation for the zoom lens in which not only the focus-adjusting movable lens but also the power-changing movable lens is moved at the time of focus adjustment.

Abstract: A focus detection device and method permits the shooting lens to follow the movement of the photographic object without a focussing delay due to the calculation time and the movement of the object. The system includes a camera, a shooting lens, a focus detection device for detecting a desired focussing position of the shooting lens for an object, and a communications circuit. The lens includes a shooting lens driving circuit moving the shooting lens to focus, a shooting lens driving control circuit that controls the shooting lens driving circuit, a monitoring circuit that monitors the shooting lens movement by the shooting lens driving circuit, and a shooting lens data memory circuit that stores camera data.

Abstract: An automatic focus adjustment device which accurately performs end point detection of the range of movement of a photographic lens to smoothly drive the photographic lens completely to a focus position. The automatic focus adjustment device includes a defocus amount detection device to detect a position deviation of the image position of a subject formed by the photographic lens from an image forming plane. An actuation amount necessary to drive the photographic lens by the detected defocus amount is calculated. An actual actuation amount decision device decides whether the actual actuation amount output to drive the lens is within a permissible range predetermined for the drive.

Abstract: A focal point position correction apparatus for a camera with a zoom lens system, has an adjustment amount calculation device for calculating an adjustment amount .delta.h of at least one lens unit Gh in the zoom lens system using a formula based on focal length information that defines a change amount corresponding to the focal length of the entire lens system and correction coefficients pre-stored for back focus adjustment, and a lens unit driver for moving the lens unit Gh by the adjustment amount .delta.h along the optical axis in the respective focal length states so as to correct any deviation, of the focal point position with respect to the film surface of a best image surface, caused by manufacturing errors, over the entire zooming range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lens driving device, such as an automatic focusing device, which is arranged to detect a difference (the amount of overrun) between a given target amount of driving of a lens and an amount in which the lens is actually driven in a lens driving cycle, correct the next target amount of driving of the lens according to data formed by the accumulation of difference information on the detected difference, and drive the lens by the target amount corrected in this manner, thereby effecting lens driving which takes the past amount of overrun into account.