US 6,389,230 B1 · Zoom camera with focusing error correcting function and control method for the same

Abstract

A zoom camera with a focusing error correcting function and a method of controlling the zoom camera includes a controller for selectively performing a focusing error correcting operation based on the moving direction of the lens barrel prior to a release one-step switch being operated. The controller does not perform the focusing error correcting operation if the zooming operation has been carried out in the design base zoom direction. On the other hand, the controller causes the lens barrel to move in the design base zoom direction for a predetermined time to perform the focusing error correcting operation if the zooming operation has been performed such that the lens barrel has moved opposite to the design base zoom direction. Thereafer, the controller actuates the shutter to perform a photographing operation upon a release two-step switch being turned on. Furthermore, the lens barrel is moved or stopped based on the operation of the zoom switch so that it is possible for the user to perform the zooming operation more rapidly with high zooming performance and capture a picture of the subject in a more instantaneous manner.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A zoom camera with a focusing error correcting function, comprising:

a zoom switch for selecting a zooming operation to move a lens barrel in one of a telephoto and a wide-angle direction;
a release switch comprising a release one-step switch and a release two-step switch sequentially actuated upon selection of a photographing operation;
a distance measurer for measuring the distance of a subject from the camera;
a light measurer for measuring the brightness of the subject;
a lens barrel mover for moving the lens barrel to a corresponding zoom position during the zooming operation;
a zoom position detector for detecting the zoom position of the lens barrel and for generating a lens barrel position signal based on said detected zoom position;
a controller for, when the zoom switch is on, driving the lens barrel mover to perform the zooming operation, and, when the release one-step switch is on, selectively driving the lens barrel mover based on the moving direction of the lens barrel before the release one-step switch is on, so as to correct a focusing error, determining an exposure based on the measured distance and brightness of the subject, and generating a photographing signal to perform the photographing operation based on the determined exposure when the release two-step switch is on;
and a photographing mechanism for opening a shutter based on the photographing signal to perform the photographing operation.

5 more elements

A method for controlling a zoom camera, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a zooming operation is selected to move a lens barrel in one of a telephoto direction and a wide-angle direction;
performing the zooming operation to move the lens barrel in the one of the wide-angle direction and the telephoto direction based upon the selection of the zooming operation with a zoom switch turned on;
after completion of the zooming operation, determining whether a release switch is actuated to start a photographing operation, the release switch comprising a release one-step switch and a release two-step switch;
with the release one-step switch on, selectively performing a focusing error correction based on a moving direction of the lens barrel prior to the release one-step switch being turned on;
measuring a distance of a subject from the camera and a brightness of the subject to determine an exposure;
and
opening a shutter based on the exposure, when the release two-step switch is on.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Zoom camera with focusing error correcting function and control method for the same

Life of this patent

Zoom camera with focusing error correcting function and control method for the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12