Exposure control device in a camera

An exposure control device in a camera comprising:

• focus detection means for detecting a focus state with respect to each of a plurality of focus detection areas and producing a corresponding plurality of defocus amounts;
• weight producing means for producing a plurality of weights corresponds to said plurality of focus detection areas on the basis of said plurality of defocus amounts, said weight producing means being capable of producing at least three different weights;
• first light metering means for light-metering a plurality of light metering areas at least partly overlapping with said plurality of focus detection areas and producing a plurality of first light metering outputs;
• second light metering means for light-metering at least one other area than said plurality of light metering areas and producing at least one second light metering output;
• and
• exposure amount calculating means for calculating a proper exposure amount on the basis of at least said plurality of weights and said first light metering outputs when at least one of said plurality of defocus amounts is within a predetermined range, and calculating a proper exposure amount on the basis of said at least one second light metering output without the use of said plurality of first light metering outputs when said plurality of defocus amounts exceed said predetermined range;
• wherein for two defocus amounts having the same absolute value, and indicative, respectively, of the fact that an object image is on the object side relative to a film surface and of the fact that an object image is on the camera side relative to the film surface, said weight producing means produces two different weights, respectively.

A camera comprising:

• focus detecting means provided with a plurality of light receiving elements for determining a focus condition in a focus detecting area in an object field which is extended along a predetermined direction;
• light metering means provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements for light-metering a plurality of light metering areas in the object field which correspond, respectively, to said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, said focus detection area extending in said predetermined direction substantially continuously over a group of said light metering areas and having a length in said predetermined direction that is substantially equal to the sum of a dimension of the light metering areas of said group in said predetermined direction, the remainder of said light metering areas being arranged around said group of light metering areas;
• and
• exposure amount calculating means for calculating a proper exposure amount on the basis of the outputs of said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements.

An exposure control method in a camera comprising:

• detecting a focus state with respect to each of a plurality of focus detection areas and producing a corresponding plurality of defocus amounts;
• producing, from at least three different weights, a plurality of weights corresponding to said plurality of focus detection areas on the basis of said plurality of defocus amounts;
• light-metering a plurality of light metering areas at least partly overlapping with said plurality of focus detection areas and producing a plurality of light metering outputs;
• and
• calculating a proper exposure amount on the basis of said plurality of weights and said plurality of light metering outputs;
• wherein for two defocus amounts having the same absolute value, and indicative, respectively, of the fact that an object image is on the object side relative to a film surface and of the fact that an object image is on the camera side relative to the film surface, two different weights, respectively, are produced.

An exposure control method in a camera comprising:

• detecting a focus state with respect to each of a plurality of focus detection areas and producing a corresponding plurality of defocus amounts;
• producing, from at least three different weights, a plurality of weights corresponding to said plurality of focus detection areas on the basis of said plurality of defocus amounts;
• light-metering a plurality of light metering areas at least partly overlapping with said plurality of focus detection areas and producing a plurality of first light metering outputs;
• light-metering at least one other area than said plurality of light metering areas and producing at least one second light metering output;
• and
• calculating a proper exposure amount on the basis of at least said plurality of weights and said first light metering outputs when at least one of said plurality of defocus amounts is within a predetermined range, and calculating a proper exposure amount on the basis of said at least one second light metering output without the use of said plurality of first light metering outputs when said plurality of defocus amounts exceed said predetermined range;
• wherein for two defocus amounts having the same absolute value, and indicative, respectively, of the fact that an object image is on the object side relative to a film surface and of the fact that an object image is on the camera side relative to the film surface, two different weights, respectively, are produced.

An exposure control method in a camera comprising:

• providing a plurality of light receiving elements for determining a focus condition in a focus detecting area in an object field which is extended along a predetermined direction;
• providing a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements for light-metering a plurality of light metering areas in the object field which correspond, respectively, to said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, said focus detection area extending in said predetermined direction substantially continuously over a group of said light metering areas and having a length in said predetermined direction that is substantially equal to the sum of a dimension of the light metering areas of said group in said predetermined direction, the remainder of said light metering areas being arranged around said group of light metering areas;
• and
• calculating a proper exposure amount on the basis of the outputs of said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements.