The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 04, 2006
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1998
Hitoshi Onoda, Yokohama, JP;
Keiji Ohtaka, Yokohama, JP;
Terutake Kadohara, Yokohama, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A camera capable of automatically detecting a main object in a sensed image. A distance distribution generation unit discriminates a plurality of areas in the sensed image on the basis of a predetermined condition, and a main object area determination unit automatically determines the main object area out of the discriminated areas. If the determined main object area is different from the area where an operator intends to focus on and the operator wishes to change the main object area, a new main object area is selected in accordance with an instruction inputted from a main object area changing unit. Then, the camera focuses on the selected main object area.