Active AF camera having remote control apparatus

• US 5,014,080 A
• Filed: 02/08/1990
• Issued: 05/07/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Miyadera, Shunichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell E.
• Application Number:
  US07/476,773
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 354/402, 354/403, 354/401, 354/266, 354/412, 352/140
• US Class Current: 396/59
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/32 using active means, e.g. light emitter including both an active and a passive focus detecting device G02B7/285; using ultrasound G02B7/40
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08

Abstract

An active AF camera comprises an active object distance measuring device including a first infrared emitter which emits first infrared radiation for measuring an object distance of an object to be photographed and a first infrared receiver which receives the infrared radiation reflected from the object. A remote control receiver is also provided which receives second infrared radiation emitted from a second infrared emitter of a remote control apparatus for remotely controlling the camera. The first infrared receiver and the remote control infrared receiver are made as a common infrared receiver.

Claims

1. An active AF camera comprising an active object distance measuring device including a first emitter which emits a first signal transmitting wave medium for measuring an object distance of an object to be photographed and a first receiver which receives the signal transmitting wave medium reflected from the object, and remote control means including a second emitter and a remote control receiver which receives a second signal transmitting wave medium emitted from said second emitter of said remote control means for remotely controlling the camera, wherein said first receiver and the remote control receiver comprise a single common receiver.

2. An active AF camera according to claim 1, wherein said signal transmitting wave medium is infrared rays.

3. An active AF camera according to claim 1, further comprising an object distance calculating means for arithmetically calculating the object distance when said single common receiver receives the first signal transmitting wave medium, said remote control means performing a release operation of the camera when said single common receiver receives the second signal transmitting wave medium, and switching means for selectively connecting the output of said single common receiver to said remote control means or to said object distance calculating means.

4. An active AF camera according to claim 3, further comprising a switch control means for controlling said switching means to connect said single common receiver to said object distance calculating means when said first emitter emits the first signal transmitting wave medium and otherwise connect said single common receiver to said remote control means.

5. An active AF camera comprising an active object distance measuring device including a first emitter which emits first signal transmitting wave medium for measuring an object distance of an object to be photographed and a first receiver which receives the signal transmitting wave medium reflected from the object, a second emitter which emits second signal transmitting wave medium for remotely controlling the camera, and a second receiver which receives the second signal transmitting wave medium emitted from the second emitter, said first receiver and the second receiver comprising a single receiver.

6. An active AF camera according to claim 5, wherein said signal transmitting wave medium is infrared rays.

7. An active AF camera having a remote control apparatus and an active object measuring device, comprising a single receiver which receives object distance measuring signal transmitting wave medium emitted from the active object distance measuring device and remote controlling signal transmitting wave medium emitted from the remote control apparatus.

8. An active AF camera according to claim 7, wherein said signal transmitting wave medium is infrared rays.

9. An active AF camera according to claim 7, further comprising a control means for controlling said single receiver so that said single receiver receives first the remote controlling signal transmitting wave medium and then the object distance measuring signal transmitting wave medium in the course of a remote control photographing.

10. An active AF camera having a remote control function in which a first receiver receives remote controlling signal transmitting wave medium to send an object distance signal, and an object distance measuring function in which object distance measuring signal transmitting wave medium is emitted in accordance with the object distance signal, so that the object distance measuring signal transmitting wave medium which is reflected from an object to be photographed is received by a second receiver to detect an object distance of the object, said first receiver and said second receiver comprising a single common receiver.

11. An active AF camera according to claim 10, wherein said signal transmitting wave medium is infrared rays.

12. An active AF camera according to claim 10, wherein said single common receiver receives the remote controlling signal transmitting wave medium first and then the object distance measuring signal transmitting wave medium in the course of a remote control photographing.

13. An active AF camera according to claim 12, further including a control means for controlling the camera, wherein after the object distance is detected, said control means drives a focusing lens incorporated in the camera to a desired focal position corresponding to the object distance and then release a shutter of the camera.