Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited

Fujifilm Corporation

Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.

Takaaki Kotani

Seiji Takada

Seimei Ushiro

Tatsuo Saito

Shigenori Goto

Shuichi Ishii

Naoyuki Nishino

Hiroyuki Uchiyama

Yutaka Yoshida

Tokuji Sato

Hiroshi Ohmura

Tsutomu Tanaka

Wataru Sasaki

Yasuhiro Nishitani

Katsumi Motomura

Soichiro Kimura

Yoshiaki Yamamoto

In order to reduce the frame rate, when all photodiodes contributing to output of a video signal in a CMOS image sensor must be simultaneously exposed (at the timing of strobe flashing &#x394;ts), as in a case where strobe is flashed, readout pixels composing the CMOS type image sensor are thinned such that the number of photodiodes contributing to the video signal outputted from the CMOS type image sensor is reduced. A time period &#x394;tp2 required for processing (of the video signal caused by a row of photodiodes) in an analog processing circuit connected to the succeeding stage of the CMOS type image sensor is shortened, thereby reducing the frame rate.

Solid-state electronic image pickup apparatus and method of driving the same

An electronic camera is provided with an image pickup sensor, a flash repeating an emission of a flashlight plural times according to a light emission timing pulse which repeats plural times, a photographic lens leading photographic light to an image pickup sensor in which the photographic light is composed of external light and a reflected light of a flashlight emitted by the flash, and an MPU generating a light emission timing pulse according to a timing based on a generation timing of an action timing pulse and controlling a timing for emitting a flash light emitted by the flash.

Electronic camera with repeating flash

There is disclosed a distance measuring equipment capable of performing efficiently a greater accuracy of focusing without troubling an operator, and a camera incorporating thereinto such a distance measuring equipment. By the use of the first focusing algorithm switches and set up to the turn-off state, the turn-off state and the contact side, respectively, so that AF-dedicated photo detector circuit performs once a ratio arithmetic processing in accordance with photo-currents I and I from the PSD . In case of the short distance area, they are dealt with as the focusing data. In case of the middle distance area, the ratio arithmetic processing is performed by n times. In case of the long distance area, by the use of the second focusing algorithm switches and set up to the turn-off state, the turn-on state and the contact side, respectively, so that the ratio arithmetic processing is performed in accordance with the photo-current I and the constant current I from the constant current source . In case of the longest distance area, by the use of the third focusing algorithm switches and set up to the turn-on state, the turn-off state and the contact side, respectively, so that the light quantity arithmetic processing is performed in accordance with the additional values of the photo-currents I and I and the constant current I to determine focusing data.

Distance measuring equipment and camera

Flash light is repeatedly emitted in a pulse state by intermittently turning on and off an IGBT. The flash light reflected by a subject is received by a phototransistor to integrate a received light amount with a capacitor. While the IGBT is turned off, a charging voltage of the capacitor is converted to digital data. Based on the obtained data, it is judged whether emitting the flash light is stopped or not.

Flashing device of an automatic light-regulation type

There are disclosed a distance measuring equipment capable of performing a distance measurement with greater accuracy suppressing cost up, and a camera. In case of the short distance area and the middle distance area, switches and are set up to the turn-off state, and switch is set up to take the contact side, so that photo-current signals I and I from PSD are fed to input terminals and to perform a usual ratio arithmetic processing. In case of the long distance area, the switches and are set up to the turn-off state and the turn-on state, respectively, and the switch is set up to take the contact side, so that photo-current signal the I and fixed current signal I are fed to the input terminals and to perform a ratio arithmetic processing based on the fixed current signal. In case of the longest distance area, the switches and are set up to the turn-on state and the turn-off state, respectively, and the switch is set up to take the contact side to form a first signal transmission path, so that an addition value of the photo-current signals I and I and the fixed current signal I are fed to the input terminals and to perform a ratio arithmetic processing based on light quantity to determine focusing data.

There is disclosed a distance measuring equipment capable of enhancing an accuracy of focusing, and a camera capable of enhancing an accuracy of focusing and/or reducing a cost with a small scale of circuit. In the event that a photography is performed at the relatively short distance, first and second switches of an SPD are switched by an MPU to turn off and turn on, respectively. An AF-dedicated photo detector circuit determines a distance up to a subject in accordance with both the photo-currents I and I obtained through two signal electrodes. On the other hand, in case of the relatively long distance, the MPU switches the first and second switches of the SPD are switched to turn off and turn on, respectively, so that another AF-dedicated photo detector circuit determines a distance up to the subject in accordance with photo-current I obtained from one of the signal electrodes. In this manner, in the event that a photography is performed at the relatively long distance, there is performed a processing of determining a distance up to the subject in accordance with a total quantity of light.

A camera is provided with an SPD and a PSD suitable for implementing a camera capable of enhancing an accuracy of focusing and/or reducing a cost with a small scale of circuit. In the event that a photography is performed at a relatively short distance, a switch is switched by an MPU to offer a low impedance state. An AF-dedicated photo detector circuit determines a distance I,and I,obtained through a pair of signal electrodes of the PSD. On the other hand, in case of a relatively long distance, the MPU switches the switch to offer a high impedance state in accordance with distance data representative of the determined distance, so that an AF-dedicated photo detector circuit determines a distance up to the camera subject in accordance with photo-current I,obtained from one of the signal electrodes of the PSD. In this manner, in the event that a photography is performed at a relatively long distance, there is performed a processing of determining a distance up to the subject in accordance with a total quantity of light.

Semiconductor photo detector element, distance measuring equipment, and camera

A still camera is provided with an area image sensor for obtaining digital image data, an LCD viewfinder, components for photographing image frames on a photo filmstrip in response to a shutter release operation, and a memory for storing the image data. The image data of one frame is written in the memory synchronously with each shutter release operation. In association with the image data of one frame, an ID code of the filmstrip and a frame number of the photographed image frame corresponding to the image data are written in the memory. Based on the data written in the memory, the display device can display a still image of the image frame photographed on the filmstrip, accompanied with the frame number of the photographed image frame. The still camera may be connected to a personal computer to transfer the data written in the memory to a memory of the personal computer, for displaying a still image of the photographed image frame along with the ID code and the frame number on an external monitor, or for making a hard copy of the photographed image frame.

Still camera

A multi-beam type rangefinding method and device uses three LEDs arranged along a line perpendicular to a base line, and a PSD for receiving light reflected from three measurement regions of a photographic scene. In the gain determining procedure, a selected LED emits light at least once. In the rangefinding procedure, it emits light a plurality of times. Light reflected from an object is received by the PSD which outputs two channel signals. The two channel signals are amplified by two gain control amplifiers which are adjusted to have the same gain. The gain is adjusted to be an optimum value for the two channel output signal levels. Upon changing the gain, light projection by a selected LED is stopped until the output of each gain control amplifier becomes stable. If one of the two channel output signals saturates during the rangefinding procedure, the light projection/measurement is repeated at the same gain after a lapse of predetermined delay time. If the number of times when the output signal saturates becomes a predetermined number during the rangefinding procedure, the rangefinding procedure is recommenced.

Method and apparatus for rangefinding

A CPU writes in a RAM various data obtained in a rangefinding procedure, e.g. offset values, gain values, data actually measured using a series of rangefinding LEDs, corresponding distance data obtained from each of the measurement data, and the optimum distance data used for setting a taking lens. When specifying an inspection mode, a microcomputer reads these written data out of the RAM to indicate them on an LCD numerically. Light emitting diode displays output the write data as light signals in intermittent light emission. To correct an error in the mounting position of the rangefinding LEDs, correction data are generated and written beforehand in an erasable ROM.

Autofocus camera and a method of regulating the same

A range finding device having a light projector and a light receiver. The light projector has a mirror for reflecting toward a subject near-infrared light emitted laterally from an IRED. The mirror has a reflection surface extending farther in a direction perpendicular to the base line direction than in the base line direction. According to the embodiment of this invention, for a light source unit, a base plate holding a plurality of IREDs is packaged in a transparent plastic package. The base plate is formed with arms extending out of the package. The light source unit is fixed on the camera body by the arms. The light receiver also uses a base plate with the similar arms.

Light projector for range finding device

A range finding device having a plurality of LEDs for projecting toward a scene to be photographed a plurality of spot beams of light disposed in a horizontal line, and a PSD for receiving light reflected from the object. Two channel signals from the PSD are amplified by gain control amplifiers and converted into digital signals. The two channel digital signals are obtained for each LED, and the ratio between the two digital signals is used for calculating a distance datum. Of a plurality of distance data obtained for respective LEDs, an optimum one is selected. For the calculation of a distance datum, there is used a microcomputer which controls an image taking sequence. The gain of the gain control amplifier is automatically adjusted by the measured data obtained in accordance with pulsed light emitted during the initial period of driving the LED. Digital signals obtained prior to the light emission of the LED are used for calculating an offset correction value. Each LED emits a pulsed light beam at a predetermined interval. An average value of digital signals for the pulsed light beams is used for calculating a distance datum. Several pulsed light beams during the initial period are not used for range finding or gain control. If the gain of the gain control amplifier is not proper, the range finding is interrupted and a distance datum specific to the then-existing gain value is used.

Stabilized range finder for use with an electronically controlled camera

A range finding device used on an automatic focusing camera comprises a plurality of light receiving photoelectric elements for receiving light reflected from subjects at different distances in the field each of which provides a subject distance signal. A subject brightness detecting device provides brightness information as to the subject, and a distance information providing device provides distance information based on the distance signals. A data table carries data as to a plurality of lens positions predetermined according to combinations of various subject distances and subject brightness. Based on combinations of information as to the subject brightness and subject distance, any of a plurality of lens positions is selected. To the selected lens position the taking lens of the camera is adjusted so as to include the subject within the depth of field of the taking lens.

Range finding device for cameras

A distance measuring device is provided with a plurality of comparators which are respectively connected to a plurality of light receiving elements for receiving light reflected from a subject. The plurality of comparators detect the levels of output signals of the light receiving elements. The comparators are supplied with reference voltages to be used for comparison with the output signals, the reference voltages being set diffrerent for each comparator according to the distance from which the respective light receiving element receives light.

Distance measuring device

A camera is provided with a data table memory which stores control data for controlling not only the position of a taking lens but also the aperture size of a program shutter. The data also determines whether a flash unit is to be actuated depending on the subject distance as well as the subject brightness, so that the depth of field and hence the focusable range can be enlarged by stopping down the aperture and using a flash light. The data table memory further stores flash timing data for controlling the timing of flashing of the flash unit.

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Tokyo, Japan

Takaaki Kotani