Photometric control device for camera

A photometric control device for a camera including:

• a group of charge accumulation type of photoelectric-conversion segments which are arranged in a matrix form within a subject field to output respective photometric signals corresponding to brightness of the subject field;
• accumulation time control means for controlling an accumulation time of said charge accumulation type of photoelectric-conversion segment group;
• judgment means for judging whether the accumulation time is shorter than a first predetermined time and longer than a second predetermined time (<first predetermined time);
• selection means for selecting a first brightness value calculation mode when the accumulation time is judged to be shorter than the first predetermined time and longer than the second predetermined time by said judgment means, and a second brightness value calculation mode when the accumulation time is judged to be above the first predetermined time or below the second predetermined time by said judgment means;
• and
• brightness value calculation means for calculating the brightness value in accordance with the selected brightness value calculation mode on the basis of said photometric signals from said photoelectric-conversion segment group.

A photometric control device for a camera, comprising:

• a charge accumulation type photoelectric conversion device including a plurality of charge accumulation elements that perform photometry on a subject field divided into plural sections and output plural photometric signals corresponding to a brightness of the plural sections of the subject field;
• a photometry controller that controls an accumulation time of said photoelectric conversion device;
• said photometry controller selecting any one of a first brightness value calculation mode that suppresses affection of flicker and a second brightness value calculation mode that takes no consideration bf flicker, on the basis of the accumulation time;
• said photometry controller calculating brightness values for the plural sections of the subject field in accordance with the selected brightness value calculation mode and the photometric signals output from said photoelectric conversion device.

A photometric control device for a camera including:

• a photoelectric conversion device including plural charge accumulation type photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix, said photoelectric conversion device outputting photometric signals corresponding to a brightness of plural sections of a subject field;
• a photometry controller for controlling an accumulation time of said photoelectric conversion device;
• said photometry controller judging whether the accumulation time is shorter than a first predetermined time and longer than a second predetermined time;
• said photometry controller selecting a first brightness value calculation mode when the accumulation time is shorter than said first predetermined time and longer than said second predetermined time, and selecting a second brightness value calculation mode when the accumulation time is longer than said first predetermined time or shorter than said second predetermined time;
• and
• wherein said photometry controller calculates brightness values in accordance with the selected brightness value calculation mode and the photometric signals output by said photoelectric conversion device.

A method of controlling a charge accumulation type photoelectric conversion device of a camera, said photoelectric conversion device including a plurality of charge accumulation elements that perform photometry on a subject field divided into plural sections and output plural photometric signals corresponding to a brightness of the plural sections of the subject field, said method comprising:

• selecting an accumulation time of said photoelectric conversion device;
• based on the selected accumulation time, selecting one of a first brightness value calculation mode that suppresses affection of flicker and a second brightness value calculation mode that takes no consideration of flicker;
• and
• calculating brightness values for the plural sections of the subject field in accordance with the selected brightness value calculation mode and the photometric signals output from said photoelectric conversion device.

A method of controlling a photoelectric conversion device of a camera, said photoelectric conversion device including plural charge accumulation type photoelectric-conversion elements arranged in a matrix, said photoelectric conversion device outputting photometric signals corresponding to a brightness of plural sections of a subject field, said method comprising:

• selecting an accumulation time of said photoelectric conversion device;
• judging whether the selected accumulation time is shorter than a first predetermined time and longer than a second predetermined time;
• selecting a first brightness value calculation mode when the selected accumulation time is shorter than said first predetermined time and longer than said second predetermined time, and selecting a second brightness value calculation mode when the selected accumulation time is longer than said first predetermined time or shorter than said second predetermined time;
• and
• calculating brightness values in accordance with the selected brightness value calculation mode and the photometric signals output by said photoelectric conversion device.

A method of calculating an exposure value for a subject field using a charge accumulation type photoelectric device having plural charge accumulation elements arranged in a matrix, comprising the steps of:

• operating the photoelectric device for a first accumulation time to determine brightness values for plural regions of the subject field during the first accumulation time;
• determining if the first accumulation time is shorter than a first predetermined time,
• determining if the first accumulation time is longer than a second predetermined time,
• operating the photoelectric device for a second accumulation time to determine brightness values for plural regions of the subject field during the second accumulation time when the first accumulation time is shorter than the first predetermined time and longer than the second predetermined time, wherein the second accumulation time begins after a predetermined delay period has elapsed after the beginning of the first accumulation time;
• calculating an exposure value based on the brightness values of the first accumulation when the first accumulation time is longer than the first predetermined time or shorter than the second predetermined time;
• and
• calculating an exposure value based on an average of the brightness values of the first and second accumulations when the first accumulation time is shorter than the first predetermined time and longer than the second predetermined time.

A method of calculating an exposure value for a subject field using a charge accumulation type photoelectric device having plural charge accumulation elements arranged in a matrix, comprising the steps of:

• operating the photoelectric device for a first accumulation time to determine brightness values for plural regions of the subject field during the first accumulation time;
• determining if the first accumulation time is shorter than a first predetermined time,
• operating the photoelectric device for a second accumulation time to determine brightness values for plural regions of the subject field during the second accumulation time when the first accumulation time is shorter than the first predetermined time, wherein the second accumulation time begins after a predetermined delay period has elapsed after the beginning of the first accumulation time;
• calculating an exposure value based on the brightness values of the first accumulation when the first accumulation time is longer than the first predetermined time;
• and
• calculating an exposure value based on an average of the brightness values of the first and second accumulations when the first accumulation time is shorter than the first predetermined time.