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US 5,204,710 AGranted
Camera having zoom lens system
AssigneeMinolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsTakeya Tsukamoto, Masatoshi Itoh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A camera having a zoom lens system and detecting means for detecting photographic conditions such as distance to an object, a photographic magnification and like. Differentiation between a focal length range enabling a power zoom operation and a focal length range not enabling the power zoom operation is provided by the detecting means. The zooming operation is permitted only to a short focal length side in a particular region determined by the distance to the object, the focal length and the like. Further, an auto zooming operation is permitted only in the particular region.
Claims30
A camera having a zoom lens system, comprising:
- detecting means for detecting an object condition about an object to be photographed;
- an operating member;
- driving means for driving said zoom lens system in order to change a focal length thereof when said operating member is manually operated;
- and
- restricting means, based on the result of said detecting means, for restricting an operation of said driving means within a predetermined range of focal lengths.
2 more elements
A camera having a zoom lens system, comprising:
- first detecting means for detecting an object distance about an object to be photographed;
- second detecting means for detecting a focal length of said zoom lens system;
- driving means for driving said zoom lens system;
- drive controlling means, based on the result of said first detecting means, for automatically controlling said driving means in order to set a specific focal length;
- judging means for judging whether the focal length detected by said second detecting means is in a first focal length region or a second focal length region;
- first controlling means operable when said judging means judges that the focal length is in the first focal length region, for activating said driving controlling means, and
- second controlling means operable when said judging means judges that the focal length is in the second focal length region, for preventing the operation of said drive controlling means even if the focal length detected by said second detecting means does not accord with the specific focal length.
4 more elements
A camera having a zoom lens system, comprising:
- first detecting means for detecting a focus condition on an object to be photographed;
- adjusting means for adjusting a focusing lens of said zoom lens system in order to realize an in-focus condition based on the result of said first detecting means;
- second detecting means for detecting a position of said focusing lens;
- third detecting means for detecting a moving amount of said focusing lens from the infinity focusing position based on the result of said first and second detecting means, said moving amount being necessary to realize the in-focus condition;
- judging means for judging whether or not the detected moving amount is larger than a predetermined amount;
- and
- driving means for driving said zoom lens system in order to change a focal length thereof when said judging means judges the detecting moving amount is larger than the predetermined amount.
4 more elements
A camera having a zoom lens system, comprising;
- first detecting means for detecting an object distance about an object to be photographed;
- driving means, based on the result of said first detecting means, for automatically driving said zoom lens system in a first direction in order to set a specific focal length;
- an manually operable member for changing a focal length of said zoom lens system;
- judging means for judging whether or not said first direction corresponds to a second direction in which the zoom lens system is driven with said manually operable member;
- and
- stopping means for stopping an operation of said driving means when judging means judges that said first direction does not correspond to said second direction.
3 more elements
A camera having a zoom lens system divided into several ranges of focal length, comprising;
- a manually operating member;
- driving means for driving said zoom lens system when said manually operating member is operated;
- first detecting means for detecting which range said zoom lens is in;
- second detecting means for detecting a moving amount of said zoom lens system;
- and
- resetting means for resetting the moving amount detected by said second detecting means in response to said first detecting means detecting when said zoom lens moves from one range to another range.
3 more elements
A camera having a driven member divided into several ranges of amounts of movement, comprising:
- a manually operating member;
- driving means for driving said driven member when said manually operating member is operated;
- first detecting means for detecting which range said driven member is in;
- second detecting means for detecting a moving amount of said driven member;
- and
- resetting means for resetting the moving amount detected by said second detecting means in response to a detection by said first detecting means that said driven member is driven from one range to another range.
3 more elements
A camera having a zoom lens system, comprising:
- driving means for driving said zoom lens system;
- automatic zooming means for automatically controlling said driving means;
- manual zooming means for controlling said driving means in response to a manual operation;
- detecting means for detecting a focal length of said zoom lens system;
- judging means for judging whether the focal length detected by said detecting means is in a first focal length region or a second focal length region, and
- controlling means for controlling said automatic zooming means and said manual zooming means so that only said automatic zooming means is operable when the focal length detected by said detecting means is in the first focal length region and only said manual zooming means is operable when the focal length detected by said detecting means is in the second focal length region.
3 more elements
A camera having a zoom lens system, comprising:
- first detecting means for detecting an object distance to an object to be photographed;
- determining means for determining a specific focal length based on the result of said first detecting means;
- second detecting means for detecting a focal length of said zoom lens system;
- driving means for driving said zoom lens system in order to change a focal length thereof;
- first drive controlling means for driving said driving means in a first direction in order to change a focal length of said zoom lens system toward the specific focal length and for stopping said driving means when the focal length of said zoom lens system reaches the specific focal length;
- an operating member;
- second drive controlling means for driving said driving means in a second direction corresponding to an operation of said operating member, and
- controlling means, operable after an operation of said first drive controlling means, for preventing an operation of said second drive controlling means, if the second direction does not accord with the first driving direction and for permitting the operation of said second drive controlling means, if the second direction accords with the first direction.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.