Control for variable magnification in an imaging apparatus
US5589908A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03B2213/025
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In an imaging system having a variable magnification element, a controller for controlling magnification so as to achieve desirable image composition. An object image is projected onto a visual field of a camera view finder and divided into a number of small blocks. The distance to the image portion in each small block is detected by a multipoint range finder. Small blocks having the same detected distance, or small blocks whose distances differ by less than a predetermined threshold value, are grouped together into one or more medium block(s). An sight line detection sensor detects where, in the visual field of the view finder, a photographer's line of sight is directed. At least one medium block is selected as the final desired image to be photographed on the basis of the sight line determination. The focal length of a zoom lens is determined, depending on the size of the selected medium block and the distance to the image portion it contains, and the lens is automatically driven to the desired focal length and focus condition.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.