Auto-focus camera with solid state range finder

Abstract

An auto-focus camera includes a range finder device having no moving parts. First and second stationary lens devices receive radiation from an object along two spatially separate paths. First and second sensing devices, each comprising a plurality of photo-responsive elements, are arranged to receive the radiation passing through the first and second lens devices, respectively. The first and second sensing devices provide electrical signals representative of the relative position of the intensity distribution of the radiation passing through the second lens device and falling on the second sensing device with respect to the position of the intensity distribution of the radiation passing through the first lens device and falling on the first sensing device. A detecting circuit connected to the first and second sensing devices provides an output signal indicative of that of a plurality of predetermined zones in which the object is located. The camera further includes a control circuit responsive to the range finder output signal for moving the objective lens in the camera to a position at which an image of the object is properly focused on a light sensitive film within the camera.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.