JP2003195156A - Range-finding device for camera, and camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a range-finding device for camera capable of realizing accurate focusing regardless of the position of a subject in an image plane. <P>SOLUTION: This range-finding device for camera is characterized in that image signals at a plurality of range-finding points in the image plane including the center of the image plane are detected, a focusing distance is measured by using output on image detection (5), and one part of the range-finding points is made ineffective according to the continuity of the distances of the respective range-finding points. Such a range-finding device is used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to AF technology, and more particularly to a range finder and a camera having a multi-AF selection method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique, for example, Patent Document 1 is proposed.

Although an autofocus technique for automatically focusing a camera has been known for a long time, most of them have a structure in which only a subject in the center of the screen can be focused, so that the periphery of the screen is focused. The so-called focus lock technology has been known in which the subject is first aimed at the center of the screen, focused, and then the composition is changed. However, since this lacks quick-shooting capability, as proposed in Patent Document 1, the distance between a plurality of points on the screen is measured, and the position of the subject is determined in a scene where the subject is not in the center of the screen. Regardless of this, a technique (multi-AF) for accurately focusing has been sought.

However, in many photographs, the main subject is located in the center of the screen, and if many points are unnecessarily measured in the screen, the probability and risk of shooting at a wrong focus position increase. Therefore, in Patent Document 1 as well, the technique of ignoring the result of deviation from the predetermined distance is used.

[0005]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-172008

[0006]

However, in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to determine whether or not to focus on the periphery of the screen because all of the determination is simply made based on the distance result. When trying to focus on the center of the screen, the person is out of focus, and when trying to focus on the person, it becomes impossible to focus on the main subject in the center.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera distance measuring device and a camera capable of accurately focusing regardless of the position of a subject in a screen.

[0008]

A camera distance measuring device according to the present invention uses image detecting means for detecting image signals at a plurality of distance measuring points in a screen including the center of the screen, and output of the image detecting means. , Distance measuring means for performing distance measurement for focusing, and invalidating means for invalidating a part of the distance measuring points according to continuity of distances of the distance measuring points.

Further, it is characterized in that it further comprises a light projecting means, and the continuity of the distance between the distance measuring points is judged by a pattern of reflected signal light when the light projecting means projects light.

Further, an image detecting means for detecting image signals of a plurality of distance measuring points in the screen including the center of the screen, a distance measuring means for measuring a distance for focusing by using an output of the image detecting means, A distance measuring device for a camera, wherein when a distance measuring result at a distance measuring point other than the center of the screen is selected as the focus distance, a distance measuring result near the outside of the screen of the selected point is detected.

Further, the camera of the present invention uses the image detection means for detecting the image signals at a plurality of distance measurement points in the photographic screen by the external light method and the output of the image detection means to measure the distance for focusing. An image pickup device for detecting image signals at a plurality of distance measuring points in the photographic screen obtained through a photographing lens arranged on an optical path different from that of the image detecting means; Focusing means for focusing the photographing lens on the basis of contrast information of the image signal detected by an element, and focusing by the focusing means according to continuity of distances at a plurality of distance measuring points in the photographic screen. And a selecting means for selecting the image signal position.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an arithmetic control unit (CPU) composed of a one-chip microcomputer or the like for controlling the sequence of the entire camera. The arithmetic control unit (CPU) detects that the photographer has operated the switch 7 The distance L to the subject 10 is calculated based on the signal of, and the position of the taking lens 4 is controlled via the focusing means 5 according to the distance L. The taking lens 4 is a zoom lens, and the number of cameras equipped with the zoom lens has been increasing in recent years. Also, the shooting screen and the depth of focus differ depending on the zoom position.

Further, there are known techniques for changing the position of a distance measuring point in response to a screen change, but in the present embodiment, these techniques may or may not be used. Good. Further, the depth of focus and the depth of field are considered in some embodiments. Furthermore, depending on the brightness of the subject, the strobe light emitting circuit 8a is controlled to
By supplementing the light projected from the light emitting unit 8 at the time of exposure, it is possible to shoot in a dark scene, and in addition, it may be used at the time of distance measurement so as to emphasize the image data.

Then, the distance measuring unit includes two light receiving lenses 3a,
It is assumed that the distance calculation is performed on the principle of triangulation by obtaining the relative shift amount X between the two image signals obtained by monitoring the light from 3b with the sensor arrays 2a and 2b. The sensor array is connected with the stationary light removing means 2c, and when the CPU 1 operates it, the signal due to the stationary light is removed, and only the reflected light component at the time of strobe light projection is A / D. To be converted. Further, the image of the subject 10 is incident on the sensor array through the two lenses, and each pixel outputs an analog signal according to its strength. Therefore, this is digitalized by the A / D conversion means 1a incorporated in the CPU 1. The value is converted into a value and the CPU 1 determines where the same image as the image at the predetermined position P of the sensor 2a is on the sensor on the 2b side. This is performed by comparing the image data converted into digital data, and when the relative position where the image is found is X, the lens focal length (baseline length) is B and the lens focal length is f. , The distance L is calculated by the following relationship.

L = (B · f) / X Next, FIG. 2 is a view showing the inside of the finder 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the monitor range of the sensor array 2a is indicated by 12. Further, in FIG. 1, the image at the position of P is used to measure the distance to the center of the screen, but if the image of the portion of P ₁ is used, the object at the position shifted by θ from the optical axis as shown in FIG. 3 is used. Distance is required. With such a principle, the subject distance in a wide area on the screen is obtained, and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, even if the person 10 is not in the center of the finder 11, the autofocus camera can focus on the person. Can be provided.

If the image of the main subject is not correctly obtained due to backlighting, for example, the stationary light removing means 2c described above is actuated and stroboscopic light is radiated, so that the reflected light image of the main subject becomes correct. Can measure distance. However, in the scene as shown in FIG. 5, the main subject 10 is correctly displayed in the center of the screen.
Even if is included, the miscellaneous subject 10a is in the range 1 monitor range.
When I was in No. 2, there was a case where this part was measured and the focus was incorrect. Therefore, in the present invention, the CPU
1 is provided with a continuity determination function 1b (by digital calculation) so that the miscellaneous subject in FIG. 5 can be eliminated and distance measurement can be performed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the person who wants to focus on the screen at the edge of the screen is often the one with the entire head in the screen. Considering the feature that the doors of 10 and 10b, etc. are clearly protruding from the screen.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when the screen of the photographing zoom lens 4 changes from T to W at the telephoto and the wide angle, the monitor range of the distance measuring device (including the light receiving lens 3 and the sensor array 2). In either of the cases T and W, the range of 12c can be measured so that a predetermined wide range can be covered, the wider range, 12L, 12R can also be measured, and switching is possible. ing. FIG. 9 shows this state as a shooting screen seen in the viewfinder. As shown in FIG. 7, when the person 10 is, for example, at a position where the screen is almost at the time of telephoto, it can be assumed as the scene as shown in FIG. At this time, in many cases, there is an object to be measured in the center of the screen. Therefore, focusing is performed by excluding (invalidating) the subject that is almost present on the screen and increasing the priority of other points.

Further, whether or not the subject in the peripheral portion of the screen continues to the very end of the screen is as shown in FIG.
This can be understood by drawing the distance distribution by taking the sensor number of the distance measuring sensor array on the horizontal axis as shown by 11. That is, the outermost distance measuring point 11a of the distance measuring range 12c at the time of telephoto
If the distance measurement result of the point of 11a and the distance measurement result of the points 11c and 11c outside thereof are almost the same, it is considered that they are the same subject, and it is determined that there is continuity, and the distance measurement result of the point of 11a is invalidated and A method of adopting the distance measurement result of the partial point 10a can be considered.

FIG. 4 shows a selection program for multi-point distance measurement while making such continuity determination. First, in step S1, in the step of detecting an image signal in the center of the screen, two image data I _CL and I _CR are input from a pair of sensor arrays, and S
At 2, the degree of deviation of the image position (X in FIG. 1) is detected from these data, and the distance L _C is calculated. Similarly, S3, S
In 4, the image data on the left and right of the screen are input and the distance is calculated.

After that, in S6 and thereafter, the perspective relationship of the obtained distances is examined. If the center of the screen is the closest distance, the photographer is often aiming at the center of the screen, so this is detected in S6 and S21, and S23
At, the focus is adjusted by the central distance L _C. However, if you branched S21 to Y, R (right) side data _{(L R)} is, as the closer the center data _{(L C),} FIG. 5
S to check the possibility that it is a scene like
At 22, the continuity of the right distance measuring point is determined, and only when it is discontinuous outside, the distance L _R is used for focusing (S24). Otherwise, the process branches to S23, Focus on the center, which is close to. Also, set S6 to Y
When branching to R, since the relationship between L and R and the relationship between R and C are still unknown, it is determined in S7 and S8 that R
Or if L is closer than C, be sure to use S10, S1
After the continuity was judged in each step of 1 (R pattern judgment) or S9, S12 (L pattern judgment), this result was adopted only in the case of discontinuity on the outside to focus. Therefore, in a scene such as that shown in FIG. 5, the distance measurement results for L and R (left and right) are closer than for C, so S1
Although the steps 1 and S12 are performed, the point 11b on the outer side is further detected by the flow of continuity determination as shown in FIG.
11c Distance measurement results L _R1 and L _R2 are obtained (S31, S3
2) As a result of the distance measurement at the point 11a, the absolute value of the difference between L _R and L _R1 is less than or equal to a predetermined amount (Y in S33).
_When the absolute value of the difference between _R1 and L _R2 is less than or equal to a predetermined amount (Y in S34), it is determined that the subject exists near the outside of the screen, and it is determined that there is continuity (S35), and focus is set. _LR was removed from the candidate.

When it is determined that the continuity is N-branched in S33 and S34 (S36), it is considered that the scene is as shown in FIG. 7 in which the subject does not continue to the outside of the screen. In the invention, the distance is focused as a candidate for distance measurement.

Further, in FIG. 12, only the judgment on the right side (R side) of the screen has been described, but a similar flow is prepared for the left side (L side), and the point is judged by the similar judgment of continuity. It was decided whether or not to adopt the distance measurement result.

As described above, it is determined whether or not a peripheral subject is appropriate as a focusing distance after determining whether or not the subject continues outside the screen (judgment of continuity). Since the focusing is performed in consideration of the above, it is possible to correctly focus on the subject in the center in the scene of FIG. 5 and the surrounding persons in the scene of FIG. 7.

With respect to the increase of the distance measuring points, it takes time to compare two images by the two sensor arrays as described above, and the release time lag is slightly affected.

Therefore, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the reflected light pattern at the time of stroboscopic light projection is determined, and higher-speed continuity determination is performed.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As described with reference to FIG. 1, the sensor array of the present embodiment has a function of removing stationary light, so this function is activated. When strobe light is radiated, the distribution of reflected light varies depending on the brightness of the background and the whole area. However, in general, a large amount of light is returned from a short-distance subject and a small amount of reflected light is returned from a distant subject. The light quantity distribution is obtained. The abscissa represents the number (pixel number) of each pixel constituting the distance measuring sensor array, and the central portion 12
In the range of c, the sensor number on the rightmost side is referred to as n _R, and the sensor number at the detection limit is referred to as n _E. When the person 11 stands up outside the screen, large reflected light is returned from n _R to n _E.

From this, it is understood that the distance measurement result at the point n _R (point 11a in FIG. 10) should not be adopted. This is because the subject is projected outside the screen and is not considered to be the main subject. Rather, the probability of being the main subject is higher at the point in the central portion 10a. (Scene like Figure 5). In order to determine such a situation, the flowchart shown in FIG. 13 may be used. Here, as in FIG. 12, the continuity determination on the R side only will be described, but the description of the determination on the L side by the same flow is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 13, in S41, the stationary light removing means is actuated to emit strobe light as described above, and in S42, the CPU obtains the reflected light quantity distribution (image signal) obtained at that time. / D convert and input.

After that, in S43, n _R representing the sensor number around the predetermined distance measuring range is input to the variable indicating the sensor number, and in S44 and S45, the reflected light amount P _n incident on the sensor is input. , The reflected light amount P _{n + 1} on the outer side is compared, and if the difference is a predetermined range ΔP or more, it is determined that there is no continuity (S49).

However, even if n is incremented to n _E−1 , the change is maintained at a constant value (Δ
If it is P) or less, it is determined that there is continuity (S48), and
It can be determined that the situation is 1. In this case, the subject is outside the screen and should be removed from the main subject.

Here, the focus detection point on the right side has been described, but on the left side, S46 is an increment formula and S4 is used.
For 7, the determination is stopped when the number becomes small with n = 1.

Further, ΔP may be switched according to the distance measurement result of the point to be determined. This is because light is returned in inverse proportion to the square of the distance. At a long distance, the difference between the background and the person is small, but at a short distance, even a small distance difference causes a large light amount difference. Because it will be.

Therefore, it is better to make ΔP large for the continuity judgment at a short distance and small ΔP for the continuity judgment at a long distance.

Considering these points, the sequence A
At the point of, a step of “switching ΔP depending on distance” may be included.

In this embodiment, the continuity of the distance distribution can be known only by the image pattern determination (that is, the light amount distribution determination), and the determination can be performed at higher speed.

In the above embodiment, the priority of the distance measurement is lowered only for the subject having the screen protrusion pattern by the determination of the reflected light pattern (in the flow, "excluded" is set,
It is also possible to apply "lower priority". Further, FIG. 14 is a flow at the time of distance measurement when the contrast is low. Even patterns with low contrast cannot be measured correctly. Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 4, distance measurement is first started, and a strobe for removing stationary light is emitted (S51). Next, the reflection pattern is determined (S52), and the protruding pattern is excluded (S5).
3). Alternatively, an embodiment in which a low contrast pattern is excluded (S54) and focus is made at the remaining focus detection points (S55) is naturally applicable, based on the idea that the main subject should have a certain shade. . Needless to say, n _R and n _E in FIGS. 11 and 13 may be changed according to the focal length of the taking lens.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment is mainly intended for application to a digital camera. That is, in the configuration, as shown in FIG. 15, in the configuration of FIG.
The conversion means 21, the image processing circuit 22, the memory 23, and the contrast detection circuit 24 are added. Here, the operation of these additional parts will be described, and description of the same parts as in FIG. 1 will be omitted.

That is, the image of the subject 10 incident through the taking lens 4 is picked up by the image pickup device 20, and the result is A / D converted by the A / D conversion means 21. A
The image signal digitized by the / D conversion means 21 is
After the image is processed in the image processing circuit 22, the memory 2
3 is recorded as electronic data.

Generally, in an AF camera having an image pickup element (also referred to as an imager), a so-called "imager AF" method is used in which the taking lens 4 is focused on a position where the contrast of the image of the subject 10 is maximum. Often. In this imager AF method, since focus adjustment control can be performed by canceling the alignment error of the taking lens system, highly accurate focusing can be performed, but the contrast detection circuit 24 is used every time the taking lens is finely adjusted. It takes a very long time because the object contrast is detected. In particular, in a shooting scene as shown in FIG. 5, since the subject distance is different between the peripheral portion and the central portion within the screen, the shooting lens positions at the time of maximum contrast are different. Therefore, the number of points where the taking lens 4 is stopped increases.

For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the photographing lens position
When the relationship between (LD) and contrast is expressed, the center
If the specifications focus only on some subjects, then focus
Table LD ₀To LD₁Focus on lens scan range up to
The position can be found. However, in addition to the central part, the peripheral part is also considered.
LD if you consider_TwoNeed to scan lens until
is there. Especially in the shooting scene as shown in FIG.
Even if the contrast is detected up to
Focus, and as a result, it takes a lot of time to focus.
Despite the fact that the focus state is not satisfactory
Sometimes true photography is done.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, if the image distribution is as shown in FIG.
Even if the specifications are such that the points can be focused, the R portion has a continuous portion toward the outside of the screen, and the R portion is excluded from the focusing candidates because it is highly likely to be a rough subject.

When there is no continuous image change in the peripheral portion as in 17 (B), the R and L portions are also candidates for focusing. A flow chart of the camera focus control based on such an idea is shown in FIG.

S60 is the sensor array 2 of the distance measuring sensor.
This is a step of detecting the images obtained in a and 2b. S61
Is a step of detecting a contrasted portion among the three points L, C, and R described above.

In S62, it is determined whether or not the R portion has contrast. When it is determined that the R portion has contrast, it is determined in S63 whether the image of the R portion is continuous to the outside. As a result of the determination in S63, when it is determined that it is determined to be continuous outside, the continuous portion is an image of a miscellaneous subject protruding outside the screen,
In S64, the image of the R portion is excluded from the focusing candidates. Then, the process proceeds to S70.

If it is determined in step S62 that the R portion has no contrast, or if it is determined in step S63 that there is no continuous outside, the process directly proceeds to step S70. In S70, it is determined whether or not the L portion has contrast. If it is determined that the L portion has contrast, in S71,
It is determined whether the image of the L portion is continuous to the outside. S7
As a result of the determination of 1, when it is determined that the image is continuous to the outside, the image of the L portion is excluded from the focusing candidates in S72. After this, the process proceeds to S73.

If it is determined in S70 that there is no contrast in the L portion, or if it is determined in S71 that there is no continuous outside, the process proceeds to S73. In S73, the distances of the candidate points that have not been excluded are selected.
With the above control, there is no erroneous distance measurement
The imager AF suitable for the F method can be terminated at high speed.

[0052] Thereafter, the process proceeds to S74, feeding the photographic lens 4 to the focus position LD _S corresponding to a selected distance. Then, the imager AF is started from this position. First, in S75, the contrast of the selected point is detected. Next, in S76, it is determined whether or not the detected contrast is maximum. When it is determined that the contrast is not the maximum, the photographing lens is driven by a small amount in S77, and then the process returns to S75.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S76 that the detected contrast is the maximum, photographing is performed at the focus position at that time. That is, in the control of the imager AF after S74, the contrast is detected only in the necessary focus position area and the focusing is performed, so that the focusing can be completed at high speed.

Next, referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, S63
And determination of continuity in S71 will be described. By taking the output difference for each adjacent sensor of the sensors forming the image data of the R portion, difference data as shown in FIG. 20 is obtained. S80 of FIG. 19 is a step of obtaining such difference data. In S81, the average value A of the difference data
Calculate v. Further, in S82, the variation of each difference data is calculated as the standard deviation σ.

If the image distribution changes in the same direction, the image distribution shown in FIG.
Output of the same rate of change over a predetermined area as shown in 0
Is obtained, and the average value Av is the predetermined value Av₀Or more, or-
Av ₀It becomes the following. In addition, the image distribution that changes monotonically
If so, σ will be small because it changes at the same rate of change.
It In other words, by judging these, it is possible to judge the continuity.
Can be set.

Therefore, in S85, it is determined whether or not the average value Av is equal to or larger than the predetermined value Av ₀ . Average value Av is Av
If it is less than ₀ , it is determined in S86 whether the average value Av is −Av ₀ or less.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S85 that Av is Av ₀ or more, or in S86, Av is −
If it is determined that Av ₀ or less, the process proceeds to S90, and it is determined whether σ is less than a predetermined value σ ₀ .

In S85, it is determined that Av is Av ₀ or more, in S86, Av is -Av ₀ or less, and S9
If it is determined that σ is less than σ ₀ at _0, it is determined as continuous at S92, and the process returns to the flowchart of FIG. On the other hand, if Av is larger than −Av in the determination of S86, or if it is determined in S90 that σ is σ ₀ or more,
In S91, it is determined to be discontinuous, and the process returns to the flowchart of FIG.

By using such a determination method, it is possible to determine whether or not the L or R portion is an image that monotonously changes, that is, whether or not it is continuous.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
A camera capable of performing high-speed and high-precision digital AF can be provided.

As described above, by using the embodiment of the present invention, the position of the subject within the screen is taken into consideration, and the distance, continuity and pattern of the image signal are determined, and it is determined whether the subject is the main subject. It is possible to provide a camera distance measuring device and a camera that do not focus on a subject.

The embodiment of the present invention can be implemented in the following modes.

[Supplementary Note] Appendix 1 Image detecting means for detecting image signals at a plurality of distance measuring points in the screen including the center of the screen, and distance measuring means for performing distance measurement for focusing by using the output of the image detecting means. And a disabling means for disabling a part of the distance measuring points according to the continuity of the distances of the distance measuring points.

Supplementary Note 2 Further, there is provided a light projecting means, and the continuity of the distance between the distance measuring points is determined by a pattern of reflected signal light when the light projecting means projects light. Camera distance measuring device.

Appendix 3 The camera distance measuring device according to Appendix 1, wherein the part of the distance measuring points is a point other than the center of the screen.

Additional Note 4 The camera measurement according to Additional Note 1 is characterized in that the continuity of the image signal is determined by detecting whether or not the signal is within a predetermined change rate up to near the outside of the screen. Distance device.

Note 5: Image detecting means for detecting image signals at a plurality of distance measuring points in the screen including the center of the screen; distance measuring means for measuring distance for focusing using the output of the image detecting means; A distance measuring device for a camera, which detects a distance measuring result near the outside of the screen of the selected point when selecting a distance measuring result of a distance measuring point other than the center of the screen as the focusing distance.

Appendix 6 Further, the camera according to Appendix 5, wherein the distance measuring result near the outside of the screen is determined by a reflected light pattern when the light is projected by the light projecting means. Distance device.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a camera that can correctly focus regardless of the position on the photo screen.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the inside of a finder according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram when only θ is displaced from the optical axis according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a selection program for multipoint distance measurement while determining continuity according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a subject and a background in the viewfinder according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a subject and a background in the finder according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between a subject and a background in the viewfinder according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a case where the screen of the zoom lens for photographing according to the embodiment of the present invention changes from T to W at the time of telephoto and at the time of wide angle.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the inside of the viewfinder when the screen of the photographing zoom lens according to the embodiment of the present invention changes from T to W at the time of telephoto and at the time of wide angle.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a distance distribution according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a distance distribution according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing continuity determination according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for distance measurement when the contrast is low according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an electric circuit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a distribution chart showing an example of contrast change with respect to a focus position.

FIG. 17 is a distribution chart of image data.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of focusing control according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing continuity determination in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram exemplifying difference data for each adjacent sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... CPU, 2a. 2b ... Sensor array, 2c ... Stationary light removing means, 3a. 3b ... Receiving lens, 4 ... Photographing lens,
5 ... Focusing means, 8a ... Strobe light emitting circuit, 10 ...
People, 11 ... In viewfinder, 11a ... Distance measuring point, 1
2 ... Monitor range for distance measurement, 20 ... Image sensor, 21 ... A / D
Conversion means, 22 ... image processing circuit, 23 ... memory, 24 ...
Contrast detection circuit

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) // H04N 101: 00 G02B 7/11 DF term (reference) 2H011 AA01 BA14 BA33 BB04 2H051 AA00 AA01 BA45 BA47 BB20 CB20 CB22 CE14 DA02 DA03 DA07 DA18 DA19 DA22 DA23 DA31 5C022 AA13 AB28

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image detecting means for detecting image signals of a plurality of distance measuring points in a screen including a screen center; a distance measuring means for measuring a distance for focusing by using an output of the image detecting means; A distance measuring device for a camera, comprising: invalidating means for invalidating a part of the distance measuring points according to continuity of distances of the distance measuring points. 2. A light emitting means is further provided, and the continuity of the distance between the distance measuring points is determined by a pattern of reflected signal light when the light emitting means projects light.
The distance measuring device for the camera described in. 3. An image detecting means for detecting image signals of a plurality of distance measuring points in a screen including the center of the screen, a distance measuring means for measuring a distance for focusing by using an output of the image detecting means, A distance measuring device for a camera, which detects a distance measuring result near the outside of the screen of the selected point when selecting a distance measuring result of a distance measuring point other than the center of the screen as the focusing distance. 4. An image detecting means for detecting image signals at a plurality of distance measuring points in a photographic screen by an external light method, and a distance measuring means for measuring a distance for focusing by using an output of the image detecting means. An image sensor for detecting image signals at a plurality of distance measuring points in the photographic screen obtained through a taking lens arranged on an optical path different from the image detecting means; and the image detected by the image sensor. Focusing means for focusing the photographing lens based on the contrast information of the signal, and selecting an image signal position at the time of focusing by the focusing means according to continuity of distances at a plurality of distance measuring points in the photographic screen. A camera, comprising: