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:
Jun. 05, 2001
Applicants:
Yoshiharu Kobayashi, Sakai, JP;
Kazumi Yukawa, Legal Representative, Sakai, JP;
Masahito Niikawa, Sakai, JP;
Inventors:
Yoshiharu Kobayashi, Sakai, JP;
Kazumi Yukawa, legal representative, Sakai, JP;
Masahito Niikawa, Sakai, JP;
Assignee:
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/232 (2006.01); H04N 5/222 (2006.01); G03B 3/00 (2006.01); H04N 5/235 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
Flash emission is required when image data have a low luminance value and when it is determined that flash emission is not prohibited, the built-in flash is used for autofocus (AF). An AF evaluation value is obtained under the flash emission, and the lens is driven based on this value. This operation is repeated until it is determined that the lens is focused, and accurate AF is executed even in dark conditions.