Automatic focus and indirect illumination camera system
US5315342A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 1992 |
| Grant date | May 24, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03B2215/0553
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An automatic focus and indirect illumination control system for focusing a camera imaging lens on a scene and for selectively illuminating the scene with light from a camera associated light source wherein the camera includes active and passive scene range finders for automatic focus control of the imaging lens, an active bounce surface range finder and direct and indirect illumination lamps operable in relation to the detection of a reflective surface. The active range finders are connected to a common drive circuit and auto ranging circuit and are operated selectively by the camera microcontroller in conjunction with a scene illumination photometric sensor. A passive multi-spot scene range finder is operated in conjunction with the active single-spot scene range finder for automatic focus control based on left, central and right subject distance information under normal scene illumination conditions and central subject distance information under low scene illumination, respectively.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.