Focusing control and indication of information relating to an object

• US 4,748,509 A
• Filed: 09/17/1987
• Issued: 05/31/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Limited 3-12 Moriya-Cho Kanagawa-Ku
• Original Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Limited (JVC Kenwood Corporation)
• Inventors: Otake, Yoshichi, Nomoto, Kaichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Application Number:
  US07/098,035
• Time in Patent Office: 257 Days
• Field of Search: 354/400, 354/402, 354/195.1-195.13, 352/140, 355/56, 355/59, 358/227, 350/429
• US Class Current: 348/347
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/959 by adjusting depth of field during image capture, e.g. maximising or setting range based on scene characteristics

Abstract

A video camera with an optical system including a zoom lens system and a rear lens system provided therebetween wherein focusing is performed by varying the distance between the rear lens system and an imaging pickup device of the video camera. The video camera further includes a first sensor for sensing the position of the rear lens system to detect a relative distance between the rear lens system and the image pickup device, a second sensor for sensing the position of the zoom lens system to detect a focal length of the optical system. An arithmetic unit provided in the video camera calculates a distance to an object on the basis of the detected relative distance and the detected focal length and, in response to zooming operation, calculates a relative distance between the rear lens system and the image pickup device on the basis of the calculated distance to the object and the focal length detected by the second sensor. The arithmetic unit generates an error signal on the basis of the difference between the calculated relative distance and the relative distance detected by the first sensor and controls the position of the rear lens system on the basis of the generated error signal.

Claims

1. A video camera with an optical system including a zoom lens system and a rear lens system wherein focusing is performed by varying the distance between said rear lens system and an imaging pickup device of said video camera, comprising:

first sensor means for sensing the position of said rear lens system to detect a relative distance between said rear lens system and said image pickup device and for producing a first detection signal indicative of the detected relative distance;

second sensor means for sensing the position of said zoom lens system to detect a focal length of said optical system and for producing a second detection signal indicative of the detected focal length;

drive means for driving said rear leans system; and

control means responsive to said first and second detection signals from said first and second sensor means for calculating a distance to an object on the basis of the detected relative distance and the detected focal length, detecting a zooming operation of said optical system on the basis of the second signal produced by said second sensor means, and, in response to the detection of the zooming operation, calculating a relative distance between said rear lens system and said image pickup device on the basis of the calculated distance to said object and the focal length detected by said second sensor means, said control means generating a control signal to supplying it to said drive means to move said rear lens system so that the relative distance obtained by the signal from said first sensor means becomes equal to the calculated relative distance.

2. A video camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means detects the zooming operation on the basis of variation of the position of said zoom lens system.

3. A video camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising indication means for indicating the distance to the object calculated by said control means

4. A video camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising third sensor means for sensing a lens opening degree of said optical system to generate a third detection signal indicative of the sensed opening degree, second control means responsive to said first to third detection signals for calculating a depth of field to produce a signal indicative of the calculated depth of field, and indication means is responsive to the signal from said second control means for indicating the calculated depth of field.

5. A video camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second control means calculates a depth of focus on the basis of the sensed lens opening degree and the detected focal length and then calculates the depth of field on the basis of the calculated distance to the object and the calculated depth of focus.

6. A video camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising second control means for detecting the attachment of a conversion lens to said optical system, reading information relating to the attached conversion lens, and producing a second control signal on the basis of the read information to supplying it to said drive means so that the position of said rear lens system is controlled to bring said optical system with said conversion lens into the focus state.

7. A video camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein the information is the magnification of the attached conversion lens and said second control means calculates a resultant focal length of said optical system and said conversion lens on the basis of the magnification of said conversion lens and determines the controlled amount of said rear lens system on the basis of the calculated resultant focal length.

8. A video camera as claimed in claim 7, further comprising indication means for indicating the resultant focal length calculated by said second control means.

9. A video camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein said conversion lens is encased in a conversion lens unit, said conversion lens unit having memory means storing the information relating to said conversion lens and when said conversion lens is attached to said optical system, said memory means being coupled to said second control means so that the information relating to said conversion lens is read by said control means.