Abstract: In a pair of photometric sensors which receive an object light flux through a pair of the light-receiving lenses are formed on a semiconductor chip on which a pair of the sensor arrays are formed. Further, one of a pair of the photometric sensor performs photometry at an upper part of the footage, and the other photometric sensor carries out photometry at a lower part of the footage.

Abstract: A camera system which is capable of performing highly accurate focusing in a short time by using two kinds of AF methods, is disclosed. The camera system calculates the target driving amount of the focusing lens based on the result of detection by a first focus detection unit, and performs a first driving control to drive the focusing lens toward a position corresponding to the target driving amount and a second driving control to drive the focusing lens based on the result of detection by the second focus detection unit. When the remaining driving amount to the target driving amount of the focusing lens by the first driving control becomes a predetermined amount, the camera system switches from the first driving control to the second driving control without stopping the focusing lens.

Abstract: A camera which optimally corrects focus variations caused by stopping down of the stop, is disclosed. The camera comprises a focus detection unit and a controller which controls the driving of the focus lens. The controller drives the focus lens based on the detection result from the focus detection unit when the stop is in a first state. Then, the controller sets the stop in a second state and drives the focus lens based on the detection result from the focus detection unit in the second state.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide an autofocus apparatus and method, and an image sensing apparatus capable of shortening the AF time without decreasing the AF precision even when the total number of acquired AF evaluation signals is large. To achieve this object, whether previous and current photographing conditions satisfy a predetermined requirement in photographing is determined. When the previous and current photographing conditions are determined to satisfy the predetermined requirement, a focusing state only near an in-focus position in previous photographing is detected. When the previous and current photographing conditions are determined not to satisfy the predetermined requirement, a focusing state in the object region is detected. An in-focus position is determined by detecting the focusing state, and the in-focus position and photographing conditions are stored for the next photographing. A focus lens is moved to the in-focus position to photograph.

Abstract: The autofocus apparatus determines a focus position according to a result of sampling an AF evaluated value and drives a lens system to the focus position. This autofocus apparatus further performs a flash in synchronism with a sampling timing of an AF evaluated value, and the light quantity of each flash is maintained substantially constant.

Abstract: A camera includes a luminance distribution detecting unit, a changing point determining unit, and an exposure controller. The luminance distribution detecting unit detects distribution of brightness in a photographing picture. The changing point determining unit determines a changing point of a bright portion and a dark portion with reference to the distribution of brightness detected by the luminance distribution detecting unit. The exposure controller decides that exposure is to be executed on the bright portion or the dark portion based on a position of the changing point determined by the changing point determining unit.

Abstract: A camera of the present invention comprises a sensor unit for measuring a distance to a subject. Moreover, the sensor unit includes a photoelectric conversion element, a housing with which the photoelectric conversion element is covered and in which a first through hole is formed in a predetermined position, and an electric substrate which is electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element and in which a second through hole is formed in the predetermined position. Furthermore, the second through hole formed in the electric substrate is disposed opposite to the first through hole formed in the housing in a state in which the electric substrate is electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element.

Abstract: Provided is a camera capable of contributing reductions in the number of components and manufacturing costs. A holding member is mounted on a top portion of a camera body. A block portion for holding a device for range-finding, a finder and so on, a semicylindrical portion for holding a battery, and a plate portion for holding a gear train of the camera body are integrally combined to form the holding member. Therefore, the number of components of the camera can be reduced, thereby resulting in a reduction in the manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A focal-length adjusting unit for photographing apparatuses includes a distance-measuring means for detecting the amount of defocus to an object by using a light beam of the object passing through a photographing optical system; at least two optical elements located in an optical path for distance measurement, deflecting incident light from the object to introduce the light into an image sensor or a distance-measuring sensor; a variable optical-property element constituting at least one of the optical elements, capable of changing the deflection of light in accordance with an applied voltage or an applied current; and a voltage applying means or a current applying means for applying a voltage or a current in accordance with the distance-measuring output of the distance-measuring means. In this case, before a distance measurement is made by the distance-measuring means, the function of light deflection of the variable optical-property element is set to a predetermined value.

Abstract: To prevent temporary reduction of battery voltage when driving a shutter, an exposure control drive apparatus is provided with a boosting circuit for boosting a voltage of the battery and outputting a boosted voltage. A capacitor is charged by the boosted voltage for driving an actuator of an exposure control mechanism. A detecting circuit detects a current flowing in the boosting circuit and a control circuit controls operation of the boosting circuit in accordance with a magnitude of the detected value so that the boosting circuit is prevented from boosting the battery voltage when the detected current exceeds a predetermined level and is permitted to boost the battery voltage when the detected current is below the predetermined level. In this manner, the current flowing from the battery is prevented from exceeding a maximum level.

Abstract: An optical distance sensor is provided with a substrate on which a light emitting element and a light detecting element are disposed, and a single optical structure including a first converging mechanism for converging a light beam emitted from the light emitting element, a second converging mechanism for converging a light beam reflected by an object at a distance to be measured, and a reflecting mechanism for deflecting the light beam reflected by the object twice.

Abstract: An autofocus system for maintaining a sample in the focal plane of a primary lens is disclosed. A light source generates a monitor beam which is focused onto the sample through the primary lens. The reflected beam passes back through the primary lens and is directed to a secondary lens. The beam is then split by a reflective wedge into two portions with different path lengths such that the beam waists of the two portions are spatially separated. An aperture is located between the two beam waists. A bi-cell photodetector measures the intensity of the two beam portions transmitted by the aperture. The measured intensity levels vary with respect to the position of the sample. By comparing the measured intensity levels, an indication of the position of the sample can be obtained.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to realize high-precision exposure control while maintaining a short time lag until actual exposure processing is executed after an operation input for the start of image sensing processing. To achieve this object, an exposure control value for executing proper exposure control is calculated by an exposure calculation unit upon reception of an image sensing processing preparation start instruction. Exposure is controlled on the basis of the exposure control value calculated by the exposure calculation unit, and an image is sensed. Whether the exposure calculation unit calculates an exposure control value before an image sensing processing start instruction is received upon reception of the image sensing processing preparation start instruction is determined. If no exposure control value is determined to have been calculated, the luminance level of image information of the image is corrected.

Abstract: Ranges of objects are determined using a camera equipped with a rotating optical axis displacement unit (ODU). The ODU receives light about an offset line of sight, and displaces it to a substantially parallel camera line of sight. The displaced light is focussed onto an image sensor. Images of a scene are captures as the ODU rotates. Range information is calculated from the apparent motion of objects in the captured images.

Abstract: A camera with a blurring correction unit including, a displacement sensor 2 attached to the camera and capable of measuring a displacement of the camera, and driving mechanisms 12 and 22 capable of independently moving an optical component or a photographic member 8 including a lens in at least two directions, respectively, the driving mechanisms actuated in accordance with a detection signal of the displacement sensor 2, the camera capable of correcting a disturbance in a picked-up image due to blurring, wherein soft focus is attained by forcedly actuating the driving mechanisms 12 and 22 of the blurring correction unit.

Abstract: An improved method for automatic exposure control at a digital camera is described. In response to a user request for capture of a digital image, image data is captured on the camera's image sensor. The captured image data includes pixel values of brightness of pixels of the image sensor. A histogram of pixel values is generated based upon brightness of pixels of the image sensor. The histogram that is generated is then evaluated to determine whether an image is overexposed or underexposed. Coarse exposure settings for capture of a digital image are automatically generated based upon scaling the histogram of pixel values towards the midpoint of a pre-selected interval. The coarse exposure settings and image data that have been captured are evaluated to determine whether light sources are present. In the event that light sources are determined not to be present, the coarse exposure settings are adjusted based upon not scaling said histogram beyond the largest histogram value.

Abstract: In a camera provided with an instrument supporting frame, with which a light projecting device or a light receiving device of an automatic focusing apparatus are combined at a predetermined position, a retaining piece, which is capable of elastically pushing and holding the light projecting device or the light receiving device at the predetermined position, is formed through integral molding together with the instrument supporting frame. The device is held by the retaining piece at the predetermined position and is adhered in this state to the instrument supporting frame by use of an adhesive agent.

Abstract: This invention provides an automatic framing camera that identifies a still subject, frames it, and photographs it.

Abstract: An automatic focusing camera has a release button (15) on a top wall of its camera body, and a release switch (32) is disposed underneath the release button such that the release switch is turned on by pressing down the release button. An autofocus IC (31) for calculating a subject distance is placed behind the release switch at about the same height as the release switch.

Abstract: This invention provides an image sensing lens device which can communicate independently of the resolution of a position detection means of an optical means in a communication with a camera that pertains to driving control of the optical means. More specifically, the lens device imaginarily divides the movable range using predetermined normalized information more than the minimum required resolution of the optical system, and communicates position information of the optical system between a lens and camera, between a lens and accessory, and the like using the imaginary normalized position information.

Abstract: A camera uses a program shutter as a shutter device. When an exposure value becomes larger than EV9, a stop of the camera is closed down so as to increase an f-number. In a case that the camera is loaded with a photographic film having film sensitivity of ISO 1000 or more, an upper limit of a focus set position of a taking lens is fixed to 3 m. By utilizing a depth of field, a picture is taken in a state that a blur is reduced, relative to a subject existing within a range from a comparatively short photographic-distance to a far photographic-distance.

Abstract: In order to measure a distance with high accuracy, a corresponding pixel extraction section reads a projection transformation matrix from a storage section, determines a reference pixel corresponding to a standard pixel, and outputs the pixel value thereof to a correlation value computation section. The correlation value computation section computes the mutual correlation value between a predetermined small area with the standard pixel being the center and a similar small area with the reference pixel being the center, as the sum of the squares of the difference of each pixel within the small area. A distance computation section extracts the point of the smallest value of an addition value input from the correlation value computation section and the points before and after it, creates a second-order curve passing through the three points, and outputs a distance corresponding to the smallest value of the second-order curve, as the distance of the standard pixel, to a distance image memory.

Abstract: A camera includes a finder for enabling an image which is shot on a film to be monitor-displayed by branching a portion of a light beam (image) imaged by a picture-taking lens system, by an up/down movable pellicle mirror comprised of a half mirror, to let the image be received on a image pick-up device. In this camera, a pupil-dividing LCD is arranged in front of the image pick-up device to impart a phase difference to the light beam imaged by the picture-taking lens system to obtain corresponding image data. By doing so, phase difference AF control is carried out. The image pick-up device has both the function of monitoring a pick-up image and the function of detecting a just-in-focus state.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus includes a light receiving device having at least one array of photoelectric conversion elements, wherein each of the photoelectric conversion elements converts light received thereon into an electric charge and accumulates the electric charge so that each the accumulated electric charge is output in order from each photoelectric conversion element as an electrical picture signal of the light receiving device; an A/D converter which converts the picture signal into digital image data; a converting device which performs a logarithmic transformation on the digital image data to replace the digital image data with sensor data; and an operation device which performs a distance measuring calculation in accordance with the sensor data.

Abstract: Provided is a camera capable of contributing reductions in the number of components and manufacturing costs. A holding member is mounted on a top portion of a camera body. A block portion for holding a device for range-finding, a finder and so on, a semicylindrical portion for holding a battery, and a plate portion for holding a gear train of the camera body are integrally combined to form the holding member. Therefore, the number of components of the camera can be reduced, thereby resulting in a reduction in the manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A camera provided with a body having an opening for object light to enter, a photographic optical system having an inclined surface for refracting object light entering from the opening to form an image of the object light, and an image sensing element for sensing the object image formed by the photographic optical system, wherein the photographic optical system is disposed within the body so as to form a space between the body and a reflective surface of the inclined surface relative to the object light entering from the opening, and some of the structural parts of the camera are arranged adjacent to the inclined surface in the space.

Abstract: A lens displacing mechanism for an objective lens comprising an actuator movable to displace the objective lens, and a shaped memory alloy (abbreviated to SMA) wire which when heated contracts to a memorized shape to move the actuator to displace the objective lens, is characterized in that the SMA wire has opposite ends that are fixed in place and an intermediate movable portion between the opposite ends that directly contacts the actuator to move the actuator when the SMA wire is heated to contract.

Abstract: A color scannerless range imaging system includes an illumination system for illuminating the scene with modulated illumination of a predetermined modulation frequency and an image capture section positioned in an optical path of the reflected illumination from the scene for capturing a plurality of images including (a) at least one range image corresponding to the reflected modulated illumination and including a phase delay corresponding to the distance of objects in the scene from the range imaging system, and (b) at least one other image of reflected unmodulated illumination corresponding to color in the scene.

Abstract: This invention relates to a focal position adjusting apparatus having a lens which converges an electromagnetic wave to a focal position; first electrodes fixed to the lens; second electrodes being opposed arranged so as to be spaced apart from each of the electrodes in the optical axis direction of the lens; a power supply which supplies variable voltage which applies voltage to the first electrodes and the second electrodes and a biasing unit which biases the lens in a direction using an attractive force caused by static electricity between each of the first and second electrodes and the opposed electrodes caused by the application of a voltage.

Abstract: A distance-measuring apparatus for a camera comprises an area sensor, an integration circuit, and a switching circuit. The above-mentioned area sensor receives light of a picture image in the image plane. The integration circuit integrates output signals of this area sensor. The control circuit controls operations of starting and stopping the integration of the above-mentioned integration circuit, based on output signals corresponding to a specific block of the above-mentioned area sensor. The switching circuit switches the above-mentioned specific block according to using state of the camera.

Abstract: A focal-length adjusting unit for photographing apparatuses includes a distance-measuring means for detecting the amount of defocus to an object by using a light beam of the object passing through a photographing optical system; at least two optical elements located in an optical path for distance measurement, deflecting incident light from the object to introduce the light into an image sensor or a distance-measuring sensor; a variable optical-property element constituting at least one of the optical elements, capable of changing the deflection of light in accordance with an applied voltage or an applied current; and a voltage applying means or a current applying means for applying a voltage or a current in accordance with the distance-measuring output of the distance-measuring means. In this case, before a distance measurement is made by the distance-measuring means, the function of light deflection of the variable optical-property element is set to a predetermined value.

Abstract: Lens barrel has a changeover member for changing the lens focusing operation between automatic focusing and manual focusing. The lens barrel includes an automatic focusing unit for automatically adjusting a focusing operation of the lens, a changeover unit for selectively choosing either the manual focusing unit or the automatic focusing unit, and a locking mechanism for prohibiting the changeover operation of the changeover unit.

Abstract: A dual film image and electronic image capture camera matches the captured electronic image shown in an image display with the captured film image in regard to sharpness, when the film image capture lens is misfocused on a far object farther from the camera than the subject because of unintended misranging to the far object, and when the film image capture lens is misfocused on a near object closer to the camera than the subject because of unintended misranging to the near object. Thus, in each instance, the displayed electronic image will indicate the captured film image is out of focus.

Abstract: The camera includes a strobe device, a distance-measuring device and a heat insulating section. The strobe device has a light source for irradiating light onto an object at the time of photographing. The distance-measuring device measures the distance to the object. The heat insulating section is provided between the strobe device and the distance-measuring device, so as to prevent the heat generated by the strobe device from being transmitted to the distance-measuring device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a distance measuring apparatus for measuring the distance to an object. The apparatus has a line of charge couple device (CCD) elements which are operated as two sensors (PSA, PSB) for passive sensing and one sensor (AS) in combination with a light emitting element (40) for active sensing. An infrared light cut-off filter (33) is provided on the light receiving surface of all the elements while a visible light cut-off filter (34) is overlaid the light receiving surface of the elements corresponding to the active sensor. An optical system (20) is located to form an image of the object on the sensors. A control circuit (50) initially operates the passive sensors during passive sensing and then operates the active sensor during active sensing. The provision of both passive and active sensing in one apparatus enables miniaturization, a decrease in weight, and cost-savings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a camera which can inhibit release operations upon abnormalities in operations of a movable lens group, thereby preventing the camera from failing severely. A lens optical system having a movable second lens group is provided within a lens barrel. An error is stored into a CPU if there is a malfunction in a moving operation of the second lens group. Release operations are inhibited if the lens barrel error is stored. Consequently, severe failures can be prevented from occurring due to release operations carried out when the second lens group fails to move appropriately.

Abstract: A film scanner for scanning an image formed on a film, is provided with a line sensor unit that scans the image in a main scanning direction, and a table supporting the film. The table is slidable in an auxiliary scanning direction. A geared transmission is provided to receives the driving force of a driving source and outputs, to a table driving mechanism, one of a first and a second driving force. The first driving force is a force with which the table driving mechanism drives the table in a forward direction at a first speed, and the second driving force is a force with which the table driving mechanism drives the table in a reverse direction at a second speed that is different from the first speed.

Abstract: A image sensing apparatus comprises an image sensor that senses an image of a subject to obtain an image signal; an image display device that is capable of displaying a sensed image based on the image signal obtained by the image sensor; a display designating unit that designates whether or not the sensed image is displayed by the image display device when the image of the subject is sensed by the image sensor; and a focus evaluating value obtaining device that obtains a focus evaluating value for adjusting a focus based on the image signal obtained by the image sensor. The focus evaluating value obtaining device obtains the focus evaluating value based on an image signal which is obtained by the image sensor and corresponds to a part of a region of an display image displayed by the image display device if said display designating unit does not designate that said sensed image is displayed by said image display device when the image of the subject is sensed by said image sensor.

Abstract: An automatic focusing camera has a release button (15) on a top wall of its camera body, and a release switch (32) is disposed underneath the release button such that the release switch is turned on by pressing down the release button. An autofocus IC (31) for calculating a subject distance is placed behind the release switch at about the same height as the release switch.

Abstract: An indicator for an optical instrument including an observational optical system to observe an image formed by an objective optical system having a focusing lens group, comprising a lens position detecting device to detect a position of the focusing lens group, a distance detecting device to obtain an object distance according to a position of the focusing lens group detected by the lens position detecting device, and a display device to display an object distance detected by the distance detecting device.

Abstract: A control unit box and one of standard point members are provided close to a connection of first and second bars. A standard plane is defined by the standard point members. A loop antenna is provided in a mount unit situated on the top surface of the control unit box. The box is positioned such that a ratio of a second distance to a first distance is less than tan 8°. The first distance is from the point member to the mount unit, along the standard plane, and the second distance is from the standard plane to the top surface of the mount unit, along a direction perpendicular to the standard plane. The antenna is connected to an oscillator of 310 MHz. With respect to the antenna, the total length is approximately 0.48 m, a height from the top surface of the unit box is approximately 9.5 mm, and the inner diameter is approximately 25 mm.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical device including an optical member, a driving member for driving the optical member, a storage member for storing preset information about driving of the optical member, an information write device for writing the preset information in the storage member from the outside of the optical device, and a control member for performing driving control of the driving member. The control member performs preset driving control of the driving member on the basis of the preset information stored in the storage member.

Abstract: A camera with through-the-lens lighting, comprising:

Abstract: A photographic camera changeable between a normal photographic mode in which an almost entire area of an exposure frame of a photographic film is exposed with an intention of making a print from the exposure frame with a normal printing magnification and a pseudo magnified photographic mode in which a specific partial area of an exposure frame of a photographic film is exposed with an intention of making a print from the exposure frame with a larger printing magnification than the normal printing magnification and able to record trimming-data of an exposure frame exposed in the pseudo magnified photographic mode on the photographic film and is intended to be used in printing process comprises a distance measuring device having a measurement range greater than a focusing range of the taking lens, a lens setting mechanism for setting the taking lens in fixed positions including positions for the closest focussing distance and for infinity in accordance with camera-to-subject distance measured by the distance me

Abstract: A first stop plate with a small stop opening is disposed behind a taking lens, and a second stop plate with a middle stop opening is disposed between a first and second lens, which comprise the taking lens. Upon moving a changeover knob to an ON position, a flash unit and the second stop plate are actuated such that the middle stop opening is retracted from an photographic light path PL. The small stop opening is retracted from the photographic light path PL when subject luminance is less than a predetermined value. In high-luminance condition, the small stop opening and the middle stop opening are set on the photographic light path PL, and in middle-luminance condition, the small stop opening is retracted. In low-luminance condition, the middle stop opening is retracted by operation of the changeover knob, so only a large stop opening is set on the photographic light path PL.

Abstract: An indicator for an optical instrument including an observational optical system to observe an image formed by an objective optical system having a focusing lens group, comprising a lens position detecting device to detect a position of the focusing lens group, a distance detecting device to obtain an object distance according to a position of the focusing lens group detected by the lens position detecting device, and a display device to display an object distance detected by the distance detecting device.

Abstract: There is provided a camera with an automatic focusing device having hybrid AF unit capable of always performing a reliable automatic focusing operation on a moving object to provide a more preferable photographic result. The camera includes first distance measuring unit 4 having at least a pair of light receiving sensors, for measuring the distance of an object by receiving a beam of light from the object, second distance measuring unit 3 having light projecting unit for projecting a beam of light upon the object and light receiving unit for receiving a beam of light reflected therefrom, for measuring the distance of the object by projecting a beam of light upon the object with the light projecting unit and by receiving a beam of light reflected therefrom with the light receiving unit and distance measuring method selecting unit 2 for selecting either the first distance measuring unit or the second distance measuring unit.

Abstract: At power-on, a digital camera starts to operate with a display unit off (state S1). At a subsequent half shutter press of a shutter button, a quick return mirror is flipped down and phase difference AF is performed with live view display off (state S3). At a subsequent full press of the shutter button, the digital camera enters an image capture operation. With a quick return mirror in the up position, a focusing lens is moved to its in-focus, front focus and rear focus positions, at each of which contrast in an AF area of predetermined partial portion of an image is obtained for comparison to select a position of the focusing lens with maximum contrast (state S4). Then, image data is obtained and recorded on a memory card (state S5). With the above processing, the digital camera can perform autofocusing, as circumstances demand, by a contrast AF method.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus for a camera, having a photometering device, includes a light receiving device including distance measuring zones defined by at least part of a plurality of photometering zones, and at least one array of photoelectric conversion elements, wherein each of the photoelectric conversion elements converts light received thereon into an electric charge and accumulates the electric charge so that each of the accumulated electric charges is output in order from each photoelectric conversion element as an analog picture signal of the light receiving device; an A/D converter which converts the analog picture signal into digital image data; a transformation range setting device which sets a transformation range corresponding to photometering data of the photometering zones that overlap the distance measuring zones; and a logarithmic transformation device which performs logarithmic transformation on the digital image data at the transformation range to obtain sensor data.

Abstract: An autofocus apparatus of a camera includes a lens, a range-finding device for detecting a direction and an amount of defocus, a driving circuit for driving the lens, a memory for storing the latest driving direction of the lens, and a control circuit for canceling a backlash of the lens when the driving direction of the lens is altered.