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:
Jun. 21, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 25, 2007
Applicants:
Toshimi Watanabe, Yokohama, JP;
Toshiaki Maeda, Yokohama, JP;
Tadashi Ohta, Yokohama, JP;
Inventors:
Assignee:
Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/232 (2006.01); G03B 13/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
An auto-focus (AF) camera enables AF operation with high speed and enhanced accuracy. The AF operation encompasses step-scanning the focus lens of the camera from the closest focal position to infinity, or vice versa. In one embodiment, the steps in the step-scanning are made smaller around a position judged to be close to the focus position, and the steps are made larger at other positions.