Camera having object distance measuring device

• US 5,247,327 A
• Filed: 07/15/1992
• Issued: 09/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Himeno, Nobuhiro, Suzuka, Shinya
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOH, JAE
• Application Number:
  US07/913,487
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 354/400, 354/402, 354/403, 354/412, 354/408, 354/266
• US Class Current: 396/56
• 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

A camera having a focusing function that is operable in accordance with distance data of an object to be photographed. The distance data is detected by using a measuring light. The camera includes a remote control unit that is separate from a camera body of the camera and which is actuated from an object side to emit measuring light toward the camera body. The camera also includes at least two light receivers to receive the measuring light emitted by the remote controller, a direction detector for detecting the direction of the measuring light received by the at least two light receivers, and a distance calculator for calculating distance data of the object in accordance with the direction of the measuring light detected by the direction detector.

Claims

1. A camera having a focusing function that is operable in accordance with distance data of an object to be photographed, said distance data being detected using a measuring light, said camera comprising:

a remote controller that is separate from a camera body of said camera and which is capable of being actuated from an object side to initially emit said measuring light from said remote controller toward said camera body;

at least two light receivers on said camera body that receive said measuring light emitted by said remote controller;

means for detecting a direction of said measuring light received by said at least two light receivers; and

means for calculating distance data of said object in accordance with said direction of said measuring light detected by said direction detecting means.

2. A camera according to claim 1, further comprising a zoom lens.

3. A camera according to claim 2, further comprising a first focal length calculating means in said camera body for calculating a focal length of said zoom lens so as to locate said object to be taken within an angle of view of said zoom lens, in accordance with said distance data from said distance calculating means.

4. A camera according to claim 3, further comprising a second focal length calculating means in said camera body for calculating a focal length of said zoom lens so as to maintain a predetermined size of an image of said object with respect to a film in accordance with said distance data of said distance calculating means, regardless of said distance of said object from said camera body.

5. A camera according to claim 4, further comprising a zoom lens driving means in said camera body for moving said zoom lens in a direction of an optical axis thereof so as to obtain a predetermined focal length.

6. A camera according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined focal length is identical to said focal length calculated by said first focal length calculating means.

7. A camera according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined focal length is identical to said focal length calculated by said second focal length calculating means.

8. A camera according to claim 5, wherein further comprising a focal length selecting means in said camera body for comparing said focal length calculated by said first focal length calculating means and said focal length calculated by said second focal length calculating means to select a focal length which gives a wide angle of view of said zoom lens.

9. A camera according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined focal length is identical to said focal length selected by said focal length selecting means.

10. A camera according to claim 5, further comprising a focal length mode selecting means in said camera body for selecting a mode in which said focal length of said zoom lens is said focal length calculated by said first focal length calculating means, a mode in which said focal length of said zoom lens is said focal length calculated by said second focal length calculating means, or a mode in which said focal length of said zoom lens is said focal length selected by the focal length selecting means.

11. A camera according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined focal length is said focal length selected by said focal length mode selected means.

12. A camera according to claim 11, further comprising a taking mode selecting means for selecting a mode in which said zoom lens is moved by said zoom lens driving means in said optical axis direction thereof, or a mode in which said zoom lens is manually moved in said optical axis direction thereof.

13. A camera according to claim 1, further comprising means for warning that said distance data is not being outputted by said distance calculating means within a predetermined period of time.

14. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said warning means comprises a warning sound generator.

15. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said warning means comprises a warning light generator.

16. An autofocus camera system, comprising:

a camera body having at least two light receivers thereon which are separated from each other by a predetermined optical base length;

a remote controller that is separate from said camera body and which is capable of being actuated from an object side to initially emit a measuring light from said remote controller toward said at least two light receivers; and

a distance calculating means provided in said camera body for calculating a distance of said remote controller from said camera body in accordance with data of said measuring light which is received by said at least two light receivers and said optical base length.

17. A camera having a focusing function that is operable in accordance with distance data of an object to be photographed, said data being detected by using a measuring light, said camera comprising:

a remote control that is separate from a camera body of said camera and which is capable of being actuated from an object side to initially emit a measuring light from said remote control toward said camera body, in at least two different positions;

at least two light receivers on said camera body that receive said measuring light emitted by said remote control means;

means for detecting a direction of said measuring light that is received by said at least two light receivers; and

means for calculating distance data of said object in accordance with said direction of said measuring light detected by said direction detecting means.

18. A camera according to claim 17, wherein said remote control means comprises a remote controller which is moved between two different positions.

19. A camera according to claim 17, wherein said remote control means comprises two separate remote controllers.

20. A camera according to claim 17, further comprising means for warning said distance data is not being outputted by said distance calculating means within a predetermined period of time.

21. A camera according to claim 20, wherein said warning means comprises a warning sound generator.

22. A camera according to claim 20, wherein said warning means comprises a warning light generator.

23. A camera according to claim 18, wherein said at least two light receivers receive bundles of rays emitted by said remote controller in two different directions.

24. A camera according to claim 17, wherein said at least two light receivers receive bundles of rays emitted by remote controllers in two different directions.

25. A camera according to claim 19, wherein said at least two light receivers receive bundles of rays emitted by said two separate remote controllers.

26. A camera according to claim 18, wherein said direction detecting means detects said directions of said bundles of rays emitted by said remote controller from different positions, in accordance with signals outputted by said remote controller and received by said at least two light receivers.

27. A camera according to claim 19, wherein said direction detecting means detects said directions of said bundles of rays emitted from two remote controllers, in accordance with signals outputted by said two separate remote controllers and received by said at least two light receivers.

28. A camera according to claim 17, wherein said at least two light receivers comprise spaced CCD'"'"'s that are provided on right and left front wall portions of said camera body.

29. A camera according to claim 17, wherein said at least two light receivers comprise spaced PSD'"'"'s that are provided on right and left front wall portions of said camera body.

30. A camera according to claim 23, wherein said at least two light receivers comprise spaced CCD'"'"'s that are provided on right and left front wall portions of said camera body.

31. A camera according to claim 25, wherein said at least two light receivers comprise spaced PSD'"'"'s that are provided on right and left front wall portions of said camera body.

32. A camera according to claim 23, further comprising a position comparing means determining whether said remote controller in two different positions is within a predetermined angle of view of a zoom lens, in accordance with said distance data that is calculated by said distance calculating means.

33. A camera according to claim 25, further comprising a position comparing means for determining whether said two remote controllers are within a predetermined angle of view of a zoom lens when located at said two different positions, in accordance with said distance data that is calculated by said distance calculating means.

34. A camera according to claim 24, further comprising a timer, said timer being started upon a commencement of an object distance measurement.

35. A camera according to claim 34, further comprising means for compulsively releasing a shutter when said distance calculating means calculates distance data of one of said two separate remote controllers and when a counting operation of said timer is completed.

36. A camera according to claim 32, further comprising a warning means that generates a warning signal when said position comparing means determines that a remote controller provided at one of said two different positions is not within a predetermined angle of view of a zoom lens.

37. A camera according to claim 33, further comprising a warning means that generates a warning signal when said position comparing means determines that one of said two separate remote controllers provided at said two different positions is not within a predetermined angle of view of a zoom lens.

38. A camera according to claim 33, further comprising a warning means that generates a warning signal when said position comparing means determines that both of said two separate remote controllers are not within a predetermined angle of view of a zoom lens.

39. A camera according to claim 33, further comprising a warning means that generates a warning signal when said position comparing means determines that both of said two separate remote controllers are not within a predetermined angle of view of a zoom lens.

40. A camera according to claim 36, wherein said warning means comprises a warning sound generator.

41. A camera according to claim 36, wherein said warning means comprises a warning light generator.

42. A camera according to claim 37, wherein said warning means comprises a warning sound generator.

43. A camera according to claim 37, wherein said warning means comprises a warning light generator.

44. A camera according to claim 38, wherein said warning means comprises a warning sound generator.

45. A camera according to claim 38, wherein said warning means comprises a warning light generator.

46. A camera having a focusing function that is operable in accordance with distance data of an object to be photographed, said distance data being detected by using a measuring light and calculated by a distance calculating means, said camera comprising:

a remote control means that is separate from a camera body of said camera and which is capable of being actuated from an object side to emit remote releasing light toward said camera body;

an emission inducing means which emits an emission inducing light upon receipt of said remote releasing light emitted by said remote control means;

said remote control means further comprising means for intermittently emitting remote measuring light upon receipt of said emission inducing light emitted by said emission inducing means; and

,

an emission ceasing means which emits an emission ceasing light toward said remote control means to cease said emission of said remote measuring light when said distance data is calculated by said distance calculating means.

47. A camera, comprising:

a remote controller that is separate from a camera body of said camera and which is capable of being actuated from an object side to initially emit a measuring light from said remote controller toward said camera body;

at least two, light receivers on said camera body that receive said measuring light emitted by said remote controller;

means for detecting a direction of said measuring light that is received by said at least two light receivers; and

means for calculating a focal length of a lens associated with said camera that corresponds to a position of an object to be photographed having said remote controller in accordance with said direction of said measuring light detected by said direction detecting means, such that said object to be photographed is imaged within a film frame by said lens.