Focus detection system

• US 20060104622A1
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakata, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,460,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/96
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/34 using different areas in a pupil plane
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/12 Reflex cameras with single objective and a movable reflector or a partly-transmitting mirror
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/672 based on the phase difference signals

Abstract

A focus detection system includes a line sensor array having areas including pixels, wherein the line sensor array photoelectrically converts object light received by each pixel into electric charges, and outputs accumulated electric charges as an image signal; monitor sensor arrays, adjacent to the areas of the line sensor array, for monitoring amounts of light received thereby to output monitor signals, respectively; a controller which terminates an integral operation of the line sensor array immediately after the monitor signals reach an integration termination value; and a saturation detecting device for detecting whether the image signal reaches a predetermined level of saturation. If the saturation detecting device detects that the image signal reaches the predetermined level of saturation, the controller changes the integration termination value so that the monitor signals reach the integration termination value quicker, and makes the line sensor array perform the integral operation again.

Claims

1. A focus detection system comprising:

at least one line sensor array having a plurality of areas, each of which includes a plurality of pixels, wherein said line sensor array photoelectrically converts object light received by each of said plurality of pixels into electric charge to accumulate said electric charge, and outputs said accumulated electric charge as an image signal;

a plurality of monitor sensor arrays, positioned so as to be adjacent to said plurality of areas of said line sensor array, for monitoring amounts of light received by said plurality of areas of said line sensor array to output monitor signals representing said amounts of light, respectively;

a controller which terminates an integral operation of said line sensor array immediately after said monitor signals reach an integration termination value; and

a saturation detecting device for detecting whether said image signal reaches a predetermined level of saturation,

wherein, in the case where said saturation detecting device detects that said image signal reaches said predetermined level of saturation, said controller changes said integration termination value so that said monitor signals reach said integration termination value in less time, and makes said line sensor array perform said integral operation again.

2. The focus detection system according to claim 1, further comprising an amplifier which amplifies said image signal at a predetermined amplification factor,

wherein, in a normal integral operation, said controller changes said integration termination value in stages so that said integral operation is completed in less time, and increases said predetermined amplification factor in stages if not all said monitor signals reach said integration termination value even after a lapse of a predetermined maximum integration time, and

wherein said controller changes said integration termination value in stages so that said integral operation is completed in less time without changing said predetermined amplification factor if not all said monitor signals reach said integration termination value even after a lapse of said predetermined maximum integration time in a case where said line sensor array performs said integral operation again.

3. The focus detection system according to claim 2, wherein said controller changes said predetermined maximum integration time to a second predetermined maximum integration time shorter than said predetermined maximum integration time, and makes said line sensor array perform said normal integral operation if said amplification factor is one of equal to and smaller than a predetermined multiple of said amplification factor and if an integration time of said integral operation is longer than a predetermined period of time.

4. The focus detection system according to claim 2, wherein said saturation detecting device detects whether said image signal, which is amplified by said amplifier, reaches said level of saturation.

5. The focus detection system according to claim 2, further comprising a transfer device for transferring electrical signals accumulated in said plurality of areas, respectively, to said amplifier,

wherein said amplifier amplifies said electrical signals output from an output port of said transfer device.

6. The focus detection system according to claim 1, wherein said line sensor array comprises a plurality of line sensor arrays, each of which has said plurality of areas.

7. The focus detection system according to claim 1, wherein said focus detection system is incorporated in a camera to serve as a component of an autofocus system of said camera.

8. The focus detection system according to claim 7, wherein said camera is an SLR camera.