Camera having a subject tracking function and method therefor
US5418595A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 1994 |
| Grant date | May 23, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B7/28
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A camera having a subject tracking function automatically tracks a subject that moves within a subject field. The camera immediately changes the subject to be tracked without changing a frame. The camera is configured by providing a light measurement unit which measures light by dividing the subject field into multiple regions and outputs multiple light measurement data relating to the brightness of the subject field. A subject tracking unit tracks the subject by detecting the movement of the subject using the output from the light measurement unit, and a focal point detecting unit that includes multiple focal point detection regions within the subject field and detects the status of the focal point adjustment unit if the focal point of a photographic lens is manually adjusted. If the focal point of the photographic lens is adjusted by the subject tracking unit, and at least one of the multiple focal point detection regions is in focus, the subject tracking unit tracks the subject position in the focal point detection region that is in focus as the new subject.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.