Method and apparatus for determining focus direction and amount
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use with an auto focus system which includes lens means that produces first and second radiation distribution patterns of a scene to be focussed upon, the patterns being similar and in a first relative position when the lens means is in a proper focus position with respect to the scene, the patterns moving away from the first relative position in a first relative direction as the relative position of the scene and the lens means changes from the proper focus position in one direction and the patterns moving away from the first relative position in a second relative direction as the relative position of the scene and the lens means changes from the proper focus position in a direction opposite to the one direction comprising, in combination:
- a first plurality of radiation detectors positioned to receive the first radiation distribution pattern, each radiation detector in the first plurality of radiation detectors operable to produce an output indicative of the radiation received thereby;
a second plurality of radiation detectors positioned to receive the second radiation distribution pattern, each radiation detector in the second plurality of radiation detectors operable to produce an output indicative of the radiation received thereby, each radiation detector in the second plurality of radiation detectors having a positionally corresponding radiation detector in the first plurality of radiation detectors so that, when the lens means is in a proper focus position, the output of each radiation detector in the second plurality of radiation detectors is substantially equal to the output of its positionally corresponding radiation detector in the first plurality of radiation detectors;
shift register means connected to receive the outputs of the radiation detectors in the first and second plurality of radiation detectors and operable to shift the outputs of the radiation detectors in one of the plurality of radiation detectors with respect to the outputs of the positionally corresponding radiation detectors in the other of the plurality of radiation detectors;
signal receiving means connected to the shift register means to receive the outputs of the radiation detectors in the first and second plurality of radiation detectors and to produce a plurality of consecutive outputs, Vi, in accordance with the expression ##EQU9## where N is the number of radiation detectors in the first plurality of radiation detectors, n is any number of 1 to N, a represents the output of individual radiation detectors in the first plurality of radiation detectors, b represents the output of individual radiation detectors in the second plurality of radiation detectors and i represents the number of shifts of the shift register from -N/2 to +N/2;
difference means connected to the signal receiving means to receive each two consecutive values of Vi and to produce consecutive outputs, Di, representative of the difference therebetween;
storage means connected to the difference means to receive and store the outputs Di ;
comparator means connected to the storage means to receive the latest value of Di and the largest Di value previously stored in the storage means and to produce an output DL representative of the largest Di compared;
means connecting the comparator means to the storage means to substitute the DL output for the largest Di value previously stored in the storage means; and
signal processing means connected to the storage means to receive the largest DL signal, Dm, when i=+N/2 and to produce an output, L.E., indicative of P(Vm /Dm +im) where P is a constant proportional to the distance between radiation detectors in the first and second plurality of radiation detectors, and Vm and im are the Vi and i values when the DL value is equal to Dm.
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Abstract
A system for determining the range to an object utilizing a plurality of radiation responsive detectors arranged in groupings wherein a first grouping of detectors receives radiation from the object in a first pattern and the second grouping of detectors receives radiation from the object in a second pattern. The patterns move with respect to one another as the distance between the object and the system changes. The range is determined from a determination of the relative position of the patterns by computing where the patterns will coincide if the focusing lens of the system is moved. The output is a signal having a characteristic indicative of the desired direction of motion of the lens and a characteristic indicative of the amount of such motion necessary to produce a proper focus condition.
40 Citations
10 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use with an auto focus system which includes lens means that produces first and second radiation distribution patterns of a scene to be focussed upon, the patterns being similar and in a first relative position when the lens means is in a proper focus position with respect to the scene, the patterns moving away from the first relative position in a first relative direction as the relative position of the scene and the lens means changes from the proper focus position in one direction and the patterns moving away from the first relative position in a second relative direction as the relative position of the scene and the lens means changes from the proper focus position in a direction opposite to the one direction comprising, in combination:
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a first plurality of radiation detectors positioned to receive the first radiation distribution pattern, each radiation detector in the first plurality of radiation detectors operable to produce an output indicative of the radiation received thereby; a second plurality of radiation detectors positioned to receive the second radiation distribution pattern, each radiation detector in the second plurality of radiation detectors operable to produce an output indicative of the radiation received thereby, each radiation detector in the second plurality of radiation detectors having a positionally corresponding radiation detector in the first plurality of radiation detectors so that, when the lens means is in a proper focus position, the output of each radiation detector in the second plurality of radiation detectors is substantially equal to the output of its positionally corresponding radiation detector in the first plurality of radiation detectors; shift register means connected to receive the outputs of the radiation detectors in the first and second plurality of radiation detectors and operable to shift the outputs of the radiation detectors in one of the plurality of radiation detectors with respect to the outputs of the positionally corresponding radiation detectors in the other of the plurality of radiation detectors; signal receiving means connected to the shift register means to receive the outputs of the radiation detectors in the first and second plurality of radiation detectors and to produce a plurality of consecutive outputs, Vi, in accordance with the expression ##EQU9## where N is the number of radiation detectors in the first plurality of radiation detectors, n is any number of 1 to N, a represents the output of individual radiation detectors in the first plurality of radiation detectors, b represents the output of individual radiation detectors in the second plurality of radiation detectors and i represents the number of shifts of the shift register from -N/2 to +N/2; difference means connected to the signal receiving means to receive each two consecutive values of Vi and to produce consecutive outputs, Di, representative of the difference therebetween; storage means connected to the difference means to receive and store the outputs Di ; comparator means connected to the storage means to receive the latest value of Di and the largest Di value previously stored in the storage means and to produce an output DL representative of the largest Di compared; means connecting the comparator means to the storage means to substitute the DL output for the largest Di value previously stored in the storage means; and signal processing means connected to the storage means to receive the largest DL signal, Dm, when i=+N/2 and to produce an output, L.E., indicative of P(Vm /Dm +im) where P is a constant proportional to the distance between radiation detectors in the first and second plurality of radiation detectors, and Vm and im are the Vi and i values when the DL value is equal to Dm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6)
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5. The method for determining the direction and amount of lens of a camera should be moved in order to achieve the proper focus position with respect to a remote object which camera includes lens means that produces first and second radiation distribution patterns of the scene, and a plurality N of positionally corresponding radiation detector pairs, a first detector in each pair being identified as an a detector and the second detector in each pair being identified as a b detector and the detector pairs being mounted to receive radiation from the remote scene with the a detectors receiving radiation in the first radiation distribution pattern and the b detectors receiving radiation in the second radiation distribution pattern comprising the following steps:
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Step 1--presenting the outputs from all of the a and b detectors to a memory for storage; Step 2--shifting the outputs of the b detectors a number of positions with respect to the a positionally corresponding detectors in a first direction; Step 3--determining a value Vi from the shifted outputs of the b detectors and the outputs of the a detectors in accordance with the equation ##EQU10## where i represents the number of shifts of the b detector outputs with respect to the positionally corresponding a detector outputs; Step 4--storing the value Vi and the i value with which it is associated; Step 5--shifting the b outputs one position in a direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the positionally corresponding a outputs; Step 6--determining a new Vi from the above equation (1) and storing the new Vi and i values; Step 7--subtracting the first and second Vi values to obtain a first Di value; Step 8--storing the value Di and the Vi and i values with which it is associated; Step 9--repeating Steps 5 through 8 to obtain a new Di value; Step 10--comparing the old Di and the new Di value to determine which is largest and storing the largest Di value and the corresponding Vi and i values with which it is associated; Step 11--repeating Steps 5 through 10 until i=+N/2 at which time the largest D value, Dm, and the Vi and i values with which it is associated (Vm and im) are stored; and Step 12--determining the lens extension value from the equation
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">L.E.=P(V.sub.m /D.sub.m +i.sub.m)where P is a constant representing the lens extension per shift.
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7. Apparatus for use in an auto focus system which includes first plurality, N, of radiation detectors A1, A2, A3 . . . An mounted in a first array with each detector operable to produce an output a1, a2, a3 . . . an representative of the radiation received thereby, a second plurality of radiation detectors B1, B2, B3 . . . Bn mounted in a second array with each detector operable to produce an output b1, b2, b3 . . . bn representative of the radiation received thereby, radiation transmissive means for transmitting radiation from a remote object so as to produce first and second radiation patterns at the first and second arrays respectively, when said radiation transmission means is in a first position relative to the remote object the first and second patterns produce substantially equal radiation on detectors having the same subscripts in the first and second arrays, when said radiation transmission means is in a position other than the first position relative to the remote object the first and second patterns change so that the detectors with the same subscripts in the first and second arrays normally receive different radiation, the improvement comprising:
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shifting means connected to receive the outputs a1, a2, a3 . . . an and b1, b2, b3 . . . bn and operable to produce an output signal in which the outputs b1, b2, b3 . . . bn are shifted with respect to the outputs a1, a2, a3 . . . an ; signal producing means connected to the shifting means and operable to produce a signal, i, causing consecutive shifts of the outputs b1, b2, b3 . . . bn from a first position to a second position; first computer means connected to the shift means and to the signal producing means to receive the outputs therefrom and operable to produce an output signal Vi for each value of i according to the equation ##EQU11## difference means connected to receive the output of the first computer means and operable to produce an output signal Di indicative of the difference between successive Vi outputs from the computer means; comparator means connected to the difference means to receive the Di signal therefrom and operable to produce an output signal Dm indicative of the largest value of a Di signal received from the difference means; and second computer means connected to the comparator means to receive the Dm signal and to produce an output signal, L.E. according to the equation L.E.=P(Vm /Dm +im) where P is a constant and Vm and im are Vi and i values used in obtaining Dm. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification