JP3375493B2 - Distance sensor - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distance measuring sensor which can be mounted on a single-lens reflex camera, a lens shutter type camera and a compact camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a single-lens reflex camera, an automatic focus adjusting device for a camera equipped with a passive type focus detecting device collects a subject light flux incident from a photographing lens with a condenser lens and divides it into two with a separator lens. And project (image) on a pair of different areas on the light-receiving element array
Then, the distance between the pair of subject images formed in each region is detected based on the integrated output of the light receiving element array, and the defocus amount is obtained from the distance. Then, the automatic focus adjustment device uses the focus adjustment lens group of the photographing lens so that the defocus amount becomes zero, that is, the interval between the pair of subject images formed in each region on the light receiving element array becomes zero. Are moving. On the other hand, a passive type focus detection device of a lens shutter type camera or a compact camera projects (images) a subject light flux onto a pair of light receiving element rows by a pair of image forming lenses without passing through a photographing lens, and forms a pair of light receiving elements. The distance between the subject images formed on each light receiving element array is detected based on the integrated output of each light receiving element array, and triangulation is performed from the f value of the imaging lens and the baseline length of the pair of imaging lenses. Distance to subject (subject distance or shooting distance)
Are seeking. Then, the automatic focus adjustment device moves the focus adjustment lens group of the photographing lens based on the distance. As the light receiving element array, a CCD line sensor or a MOS type line sensor is used.

In particular, since the focus detection device of the lens shutter camera obtains the distance to the subject by the triangulation method, the accuracy of distance measurement becomes higher when the base line length, that is, the distance between the pair of imaging lenses is wider. Moreover, since the normal imaging lens has a fixed focus, the subject image on the light receiving element array may be blurred depending on the subject distance. When the subject image is blurred in this way, the position detection error of the subject image increases, so
In order to reduce the error, it is desirable that the distance between the pair of light receiving element rows is wide. On the other hand, in a single-lens reflex camera, distance measurement is performed while repeatedly performing integration operation of the CCD line sensor in order to reduce the defocus amount, and the position of the focus lens is adjusted. It is easy to obtain high precision without widening. Further, in a single-lens reflex camera, since the AF unit such as the condenser lens, the separator lens, and the CCD line sensor is housed on the lower surface of the mirror box, not only the AF optical system but also the pitch and size of each light receiving element of the CCD are reduced. I had to.

Further, in a focus detection device using a CCD line sensor, the output of a monitor sensor provided adjacent to the light receiving element row is provided so that the light receiving element receiving the subject light does not integrate, that is, the accumulated charge does not overflow. Based on this, the integration time of the light receiving element array is controlled. When detecting the defocus amount, a pair of subject images are formed on one light receiving element array, and the defocus amount is detected by detecting the image interval. It is sufficient if the area of can be monitored. However, when measuring the distance to a subject as in a lens shutter camera, the monitor sensor detects the distance between subject images formed on each of a pair of separated light receiving element arrays. Almost all areas must be monitored.

Therefore, in the conventional focus detecting device for a camera, the single-lens reflex camera and the lens shutter camera have completely different structures from the focus detecting optical system to the light receiving element array.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a passive distance measuring sensor which can be used for both a single lens reflex camera and a lens shutter type camera. .

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, which achieves this object, a plurality of light receiving element rows each having a plurality of light receiving elements arranged along a straight line are provided, and a plurality of distance measuring devices are provided via a photographing optical system and a focus detection optical system. If the subject image in the area is respectively formed on the same light receiving element on the column corresponding to each ranging area is pupil division in a pair of object images, a pair of object scene in each light receiving element array
The area where one of the body images is formed is the reference area, and the other is
The reference area is the area to be
An SLR mode in which a distance between a pair of subject images is detected based on a pixel signal output from the child to calculate a defocus amount,
Alternatively, when the subject image is formed on different light receiving element rows by the pair of imaging lenses, the pixel signals output from the light receiving elements in the entire light receiving areas of the two light receiving element rows
A distance measuring sensor that operates in any one of an LS mode in which the distance between two subject images is calculated based on the LS mode, and the distance between the subjects is calculated. Of the light receiving element array is provided with a monitor unit capable of monitoring the amount of light received in the entire light receiving area of the light receiving element array, and the above-mentioned one is provided in the vicinity of each other light receiving element array.
Arrangement of monitoring means that can monitor the amount of received light in one area
Is, when operating in said SLR mode controls the integration of the light-receiving element array corresponding monitored by the monitoring means for one region of the light receiving element array for each of the respective light receiving element array, operated by the LS mode In this case, one of the light receiving element arrays is
Is provided with a single integration control means for controlling the integration of the two light receiving element arrays by monitoring the entire light receiving area of According to this configuration, by the same integral control means,
Whether it is used in the SLR mode in which the defocus amount is calculated for each light receiving element array or in the LS mode in which the distance of the object is calculated using a pair of light receiving element arrays, it is appropriate for each light receiving element array. The amount of received light or the integration time can be obtained. Therefore, the distance measuring sensor of the present invention can be mounted on both a single-lens reflex camera and a lens shutter camera, and moreover, the defocus amount calculation or the object distance calculation can be performed under a wide range of subject brightness conditions.

Each of the light receiving element arrays includes a line sensor for converting received light of an object into an electric charge and temporarily integrating the electric charge, and a memory unit for storing the electric charge integrated by the corresponding line sensor. The integral control means is provided for each of the line sensors, and the integration control means is provided for each of the line sensors when operating in the SLR mode .
The charges integrated by the corresponding line sensor based on the output of each monitor means corresponding to the area are transferred to the memory unit to terminate the integration, and when operating in the LS mode, the two line sensors are operated. All of one line sensor
Above two based on the output of the monitor means corresponding to the light receiving region
The electric charges integrated by one line sensor are transferred to each of the above-mentioned memory units to complete the integration.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of a passive focus detection device (AF distance measuring sensor 11) to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 shows a case where the AF distance measuring sensor 11 is mounted on a camera. Is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of FIG.
It is a figure which shows another Example of the line sensor used for an AF ranging sensor.

The AF distance measuring sensor 11 includes three line sensors 13A and 1A arranged along a straight line at predetermined intervals.
3B, 13C and each line sensor 13A, 13B, 13
Memory units 15A, 15B, 1 provided adjacent to C
5C and one continuous transfer CCD shift register 17 provided adjacent to each of the memory units 15A, 15B and 15C. Each line sensor 13A, 13B, 1
Reference numeral 3C is a so-called photodiode array, in which photodiodes (pixels) for receiving and photoelectrically converting a subject light flux are provided at regular intervals along a straight line. Further, the line sensors 13A, 13B, 13C are
Each photodiode has a charge storage unit that stores (integrates) the charges converted.

Each line sensor 13A, 13B, 13C
The electric charges accumulated in the (charge accumulating unit) are transferred to the memory units 15A, 15B and 15C corresponding to the respective sensors.
The memory units 15A, 15B, and 15C have a role of temporarily storing (storing) the charges transferred in each line sensor unit. And each memory section 15A, 15B,
The pixel signals transferred to 15C are simultaneously transferred to the CCD shift register 17, serially transferred in stages in the CCD shift register 17, the charges are converted into voltage in the output conversion unit 19, and the output circuit 21 performs amplification processing, etc. Is applied and the video signal (Video
) Is output.

The video signal output from the output circuit 21 and input to the CPU 41 is converted into digital pixel data by the built-in A / D circuit 43 of the CPU 41, and the internal R signal is sequentially read.
It is stored in a predetermined address of the AM 42. CPU41
Reads out pixel data of a necessary area from the RAM 42 and uses it for distance measurement calculation. For example, in the case of a single-lens reflex camera, pixel data groups of the line sensors 13A, 13B, and 13C are divided into pixels of two regions 13A1, 13A2, regions 13B1, 13B2, and regions 13C1, 13C2 (see (A) of FIG. 7). Dividing into data groups, using one area as a reference area and the other area as a reference area, a pair of subject image intervals formed in the reference area and the reference area is obtained using pixel data groups included in each area. , The defocus amount is obtained from this image interval.

On the other hand, in the case of a lens shutter camera, the central line sensor 13B is not used, but a pair of line sensors 13A and 13C at both ends are used (see FIG. 7B), and each line sensor 13A, The pixel data group of 13C is used. That is, the pair of line sensors 13
Based on the pixel data of A and 13C, the positions and intervals of the pair of subject images formed on the line sensors 13A and 13C are detected, and the distance to the subject is obtained by triangulation.

Although the line sensors shown in FIG. 1 were spaced apart from each other, the present invention can also use a continuous line sensor, as shown in FIG.

The outline of the present embodiment has been described above, but it will be described in more detail. Each line sensor 13A, 13B, 1
The monitor sensors 23A, 23B, and 23C for controlling the integration time of 3C (at the end of integration) are the line sensors 13.
It is juxtaposed adjacent to A, 13B, and 13C. The monitor sensors 23A, 23B, and 23C are the line sensors 13
A, 13B, and 13C receive the light in the vicinity of the subject image received. Each of the monitor sensors 23A, 23B, and 23C includes a plurality of light receiving elements, and further, in order to correct the dark current component of the monitor sensors 23A, 23B, and 23C, the monitor sensors 23B and 23C are shielded adjacent to each other in the extending direction. The monitor dark sensors MD1 and MD2 are provided.

The monitor sensor 23A is a line sensor 13.
It has a width capable of almost monitoring the entire light receiving area of A, and is divided into 10 monitor elements M1 to M10. Then, the outputs of the monitor elements M1 to M5 that monitor one half of the light receiving area from the center of the line sensor 13A are input to the integration control circuit 25A, and the outputs of the monitor elements M6 to M10 that monitor the other half of the light receiving area. Output is integral control circuit 2
It is input to 5B.

The monitor sensor 23B is a line sensor 13.
The monitor light receiving element M11 is formed to have a width capable of monitoring one half of the light receiving area from the center of the B light receiving area.
It is divided into 5 from M15 to M15. Each monitor light receiving element M
The outputs of 11 to M15 are input to the integration control circuit 25B.

The monitor sensor 23C is a line sensor 13.
The monitor light-receiving elements M16 to M18 are formed to have a width capable of monitoring a part of the area from the center of the light-receiving area of C to the left.
It is divided. The outputs of the monitor light receiving elements M16 to M18 are input to the integration control circuit 25C, respectively.

As described above, the integration control circuit 25A inputs the outputs from the monitor sensor 23A to the monitor light receiving elements M1 to M5. The integration control circuit 25B is used by the monitor sensor 2
The outputs from the monitor light receiving elements M6 to M10 are input from 3A, and the monitor light receiving element M11 from the monitor sensor 23B.
~ M15 All outputs are input to monitor light receiving elements M6 to M
10 and the monitor light receiving elements M11 to M15 are selectively used. Further, the integrating circuit 25C inputs the outputs of all the monitor light receiving elements M16 to M18 of the monitor sensor 23C. The outputs of the monitor dark sensors MD1 and MD2 are input to the AGC control circuit 27.

A reference voltage VAGC output from the CPU 41 and converted into an analog signal by the D / A conversion circuit 45 is input to the AGC control circuit 27. The reference voltage VAGC is
This voltage regulates the video signal output level. The AGC control circuit 27 corrects the reference voltage VAGC based on the outputs of the monitor dark sensors MD1 and MD2 and outputs the corrected reference voltage to the integration control circuit 25.
When the correction reference voltage input from the C control circuit 27 is compared with the output voltage of each monitor sensor 23A, 23B, 23C, and it is detected that the output voltage has reached the correction reference voltage,
The charges accumulated by the corresponding line sensors 13A, 13B, 13C are transferred to the memory units 15A, 15B, 15C, and the charge accumulation (integration) of the line sensors 13A, 13B, 13C is completed. When the output voltage does not reach the correction reference voltage within the predetermined time, the corresponding line sensor 13
The integration of A, 13B and 13C is forcibly ended.

The above monitor sensors 23A, 23B, 23
C, the integration control circuits 25A, 25B, 25C, the AGC control circuit 27, and the CPU 41 are the main constituent elements of the integration control means.

The AF distance measuring sensor 11 is operated by the CPU 41 to 8
Bit data is received by serial communication, and integration processing is executed according to the data content. AF distance measuring sensor 1
The integration operation of No. 1 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. The integration operation of the AF distance measuring sensor 11 is CP
It is controlled by the communication content (see FIG. 5) received by the serial communication (see FIG. 4) performed with U41. In the present embodiment, the CPU 41 transfers 8-bit data to the AF distance measuring sensor 11 via serial communication. The AF distance measuring sensor 11 latches the data in the register of the timing generator control circuit 31, and executes the integration process based on the content of the data.

The contents of the data are shown in FIG. Data is,
The least significant D0 bit is a bit for identifying whether it is a lens shutter camera (LS) or a single-lens reflex camera (SLR), the D3 bit is a flag for selecting the line sensor 13C, and the D4 bit is for selecting the C line sensor 13B. Flag, D5 bit is a flag for selecting the line sensor 13A, D6 bit is a flag for forcibly ending the integration, D
7 bits are a flag for starting the integration.

FIG. 6 shows a mode of the line sensor used according to the LS / SLR, and FIG. 7 shows the line sensor, the monitor sensor and the integration control circuit used in bold line. In the present embodiment, when the lens shutter camera (LS) is used, the pair of line sensors 13
The integration process is executed by integrating A and 13C. At the time of this integration processing, all the monitor light receiving elements M1 to M10 of the monitor sensor 23A that monitors the line sensor 13A, the monitor dark sensor MD1, the integration control circuit 25A, and 2
5B is used to control the integration.

3 for a single-lens reflex camera (SLR)
The line sensors 13A, 13B, and 13C are independently integrated, or the integration process is performed only for selected ones. At that time, as for the line sensor 13A, a part of the monitor light receiving element M1 of the monitor sensor 23A is used.
~ M3, monitor dark sensor MD1 and integration control circuit 25A are used, and for the central line sensor 13B, the five monitor light receiving elements M11 to M of the monitor sensor 23B are used.
All of the 15 monitor dark sensors MD1 and the integration control circuit 25B are used, and the line sensor 13C has three monitor light receiving elements M16 to M18 of the monitor sensor 23C.
All, monitor dark sensor MD2 and integral control circuit 2
5C each is used to control the integration.

The above line sensors 13A, 13
B, 13C, memory sections 15A, 15B, 15C, integration control circuits 25A, 25B, 25C, AGC control circuit 27.
Integration and integration control operation, CCD shift register 1
7, the charge transfer and output operations of the output converter 19 and the output circuit 21 are driven and controlled by the timing generator control circuit 31 which operates by the external clock φM.
In FIGS. 1 and 4, reference numeral CE is a signal for activating serial communication, SI is a serial data input signal, SCK is a serial communication operation clock, VS is a video output reference voltage, and φM is output from an oscillator (not shown). The external reference clock, φAD, which also serves as the integration end signal
/ D conversion timing signal.

Next, modes of using the AF distance measuring sensor 11 in a single-lens reflex camera and in a lens shutter camera will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a focus detection optical system when the AF distance measuring sensor 11 is applied to a single-lens reflex camera. In a single-lens reflex camera (not shown), the visual field mask 5 is formed on the planned focal plane where the subject image is formed by the taking lens.
1 is placed. The field mask 51 has openings 51A, 51B, and 51C for restricting the distance measuring area. In the present embodiment, the horizontally long rectangular openings 51A, 51B,
Three 51C are formed at regular intervals along a straight line. The planned focal plane is a surface equivalent to the film surface in the case of a so-called silver salt film camera, and a surface equivalent to the light receiving surface of the image pickup element in the case of an electronic still camera.

Each opening 51A, 51B of the field mask 51,
Behind 51C are condenser lenses 53A, 53B, 5
3C is arranged. Condenser lens 53A, 53
B and 53C also function as relay lenses that guide the subject light flux that has passed through the openings 51A, 51B, and 51C to the auxiliary lenses 55A, 55B, and 55C. Condenser lens 5
Between 3A and auxiliary lens 55A and condenser lens 5
An opening 51 is provided between the 3C and the auxiliary lens 55C.
Mirrors 54A1, 54A2, 54C that allow the subject light flux to pass through A and 51C to approach the light flux that has passed through the aperture 51B.
1, 54C2 are arranged.

Behind each of the auxiliary lenses 55A, 55B and 55C, a pair of separator lenses 57A1 and 5A5, respectively.
7A2, 57B1, 57B2, 57C1 and 57C2 are arranged. Each pair of separator lenses 57
A1 and 57A2, 57B1 and 57B2, 57C1 and 57
C2 projects the images obtained by dividing the light flux transmitted through the openings 51A, 51B, 51C into two, respectively, onto different areas of the line sensors 13A, 13B, 13C arranged on the secondary image plane. The secondary image forming surface is a surface on which an image of the planned image forming surface is formed, and the image of the subject by the photographing lens is
It is formed on this secondary image plane.

By decentering the condenser lenses 53A and 53C and arranging the mirrors 54A1, 54A2, 54C1 and 54C2, the subject light flux passing through the openings 51A and 51C is brought closer to the subject light flux passing through the central opening 51B. It is possible to widen the distance between the openings 51A, 51B and 51C without changing the distance between the line sensors 13A, 13B and 13C.

The timing generator control circuit 31 has
Since the SLR signal (1) is received by serial communication from the CPU 41, the line sensors 13A, 13B,
13C is used to start integration, and monitor light receiving elements M1 to M in the monitor sensor 23A indicated by the thick line in FIG.
3, monitor light receiving elements M11 to M1 of the monitor sensor 23B
5), monitor light receiving elements M16 to M of the monitor sensor 23C
18, and the integration control circuits 25A, 25B, 25C are used to control the integration level. Then, the charges of the photodiodes of the line sensors 13A, 13B, and 13C are output as video signals to the CPU 41 (control means) of the camera.

The CPU 41 uses the line sensors 13A, 1
Based on the pair of video signals from 3B and 13C, the pair of image intervals is obtained for each of the line sensors 13A, 13B and 13C, and the defocus amount is calculated.

In the illustrated embodiment, the openings 51A, 51B, 51C of the mask 51 for restricting the distance measuring zone are arranged along a straight line, but if the line sensors 13A, 13B, 13C are arranged along a straight line, H It may be a type and its arrangement does not matter.

Next, referring to FIG. 9, the AF distance measuring sensor 1
An embodiment in which 1 is applied to a lens shutter camera will be described. A pair of left and right line sensors 13A,
A pair of imaging lenses 61 (61A, 61C) as a focus detection optical system is arranged in front of 13C. The subject light flux that has entered each of the imaging lenses 61A and 61C is reflected by the imaging lenses 61A and 61C.
An image is formed on A, the monitor sensor 23A, and the line sensor 13C or before and after the line sensor 13C.

The timing generator control circuit 31 has
Since the LS signal is received from the CPU 41 by serial communication, the pair of line sensors 1 shown by the thick line in FIG.
Start integration using 3A, 13C, and monitor sensor 2
The monitor light receiving elements M1 to M10 of 3A and the integration control circuits 25A and 25B are used to monitor the amount of light received and control integration.

AGC is simultaneously performed by the monitor sensor 23A.
The charges integrated by the controlled line sensors 13A and 13C are output to the CPU 41 as a video signal. CPU
Reference numeral 41 denotes an image interval on the pair of line sensors 13A and 13C based on the video signals input from the line sensors 13A and 13C, and further, based on the focal lengths and intervals of the imaging lenses 61A and 61C, the subject by triangulation. Calculate the distance.

As described above, the AF distance measuring sensor 11 of this embodiment has a case where the line sensors 13A, 13B, and 13C are independently integrated and controlled, and a case where the pair of line sensors 13A, 13B, and 13C are independently controlled.
When using 13C, monitor sensors 23A, 23
The C and the integration control circuits 25A and 25C can be used in common. Moreover, the AF distance measuring sensor 11 can be used as a line sensor, a monitor sensor, an integration control circuit, and the like depending on whether it is used for a single-lens reflex camera or a lens shutter camera.

Further, the AF distance measuring sensor 11 is capable of measuring distances for subjects in three areas separated in the horizontal direction when used in a single-lens reflex camera, and when used in a lens shutter camera. Triangulation is performed using the pair of line sensors 13A and 13C that are most distant from each other in the direction in which the sensors extend, so that highly accurate distance measurement can be performed. Moreover, since the integration time is controlled by using the monitor sensor arranged close to the line sensor to be used, it is possible to obtain the optimum amount of received light according to the brightness of the object received by the line sensor. In particular, in the present embodiment, the line sensor 13A is monitored by only some of the monitor light receiving elements M1 to M3 of the monitor sensor 25A in the single-lens reflex camera, and all the monitor light receiving elements of the monitor sensor 25A in the lens shutter camera. Since it monitors using M1-M10,
The optimum amount of received light can be obtained for the line sensor regardless of the focus detection method.

Further, although three line sensors 13A, 13B, 13C (light receiving means) are shown in the above-mentioned embodiments, the number may be four or more. Further, although the three light receiving element rows are arranged in a line along the same straight line, the present invention does not matter the position and orientation of the other line sensor as long as at least a pair of line sensors are arranged along the same straight line. .

[0041]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention is
It is arranged in the vicinity of each light-receiving element array and at least the above-mentioned LS module is arranged.
Arranged in the vicinity of one of the pair of light receiving elements used in
The monitored means is the received light of the entire light receiving area of the light receiving element array.
The amount of light received by each light-receiving element array can be monitored.
Monitor means to operate, and when operating in SLR mode,
For each light receiving element row,
Monitor each corresponding monitor unit
When controlling integration and operating in LS mode,
The entire light-receiving area is monitored by monitoring means that monitors the optical element array.
A single product that controls the integration of a pair of photodetector arrays.
Since it is equipped with a minute control means, SLR models are used in single-lens reflex cameras.
The lens shutter camera is in LS mode.
SLR camera, lens shutter camera by using
It can be installed regardless of
Data sensor and integration control means
It can also be applied to formulas, so if you make both cameras,
The number of parts is small.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an AF that is an embodiment of a focus detection apparatus of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the main structures of a ranging unit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control system of a camera to which the AF distance measuring sensor is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the line sensor in the AF distance measuring unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a serial communication timing chart between the CPU and the AF distance measuring sensor of the camera.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing contents of data transmitted by the same serial communication and latched in a register of the AF distance measuring sensor.

FIG. 6 is a table showing the relationship between the content of serially communicated data and the line sensor, monitor sensor, and integration control circuit used.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a light receiving element array used in the AF distance measuring sensor, FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a light receiving element array used in the case of a single-lens reflex camera, and FIG. 7B is a lens shutter camera; It is a figure which shows the use light receiving element row of.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an optical configuration of an embodiment in which the AF distance measuring sensor is applied to a single-lens reflex camera.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an optical configuration of an embodiment in which the AF distance measuring sensor is applied to a lens shutter camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 AF distance sensor 13A line sensor 13B line sensor 13C line sensor 23A monitor sensor 23B monitor sensor 23C monitor sensor 25A integral control circuit 25B integral control circuit 25C integral control circuit 27 AGC control circuit 31 Timing generator control circuit 41 CPU M1 to M18 Monitor light receiving element

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --Continued from the front page (56) References JP-A-60-126613 (JP, A) JP-A-62-47612 (JP, A) JP-A-5-27158 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B ^7/ 28-7/40

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of light-receiving element rows each having a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged along a straight line, wherein a pair of subject images in a plurality of distance-measuring areas are provided via a photographing optical system and a focus detection optical system. When the pupil image is divided into subject images and formed on the same light receiving element row corresponding to each distance measuring area , one area of one pair of subject images is formed for each light receiving element row.
Standard area, the area where the other is formed as the reference area
Based on the pixel signals output from the light receiving elements in the area and reference area
Based on the SLR mode in which the distance between a pair of subject images is calculated to calculate the defocus amount, or when the subject images are formed on different light receiving element rows by a pair of imaging lenses, the two light receiving element rows Light receiving element in the entire light receiving area
A distance measuring sensor that operates in either one of an LS mode in which the distance between two subject images is detected based on a pixel signal output from the LS mode, and the distance to the subject is calculated. is arranged a pair of one light receiving element array monitoring means capable monitor received light amount of the entire light receiving area of the light receiving element array in the vicinity of being used, the other of the light receiving
In the vicinity of the element array, there is a monitor of the amount of received light in one of the above areas.
When possible monitor means is arranged and operates in the SLR mode, one area of each light receiving element row is monitored by each monitor means for each light receiving element row to control integration of the corresponding light receiving element row. When operating in the LS mode, a single unit for controlling the integration of the two light receiving element arrays by monitoring the entire light receiving area of the one light receiving element array by the monitoring means for monitoring the one light receiving element array . distance measuring sensor being characterized in that a integral control unit. In distance measuring sensor 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the respective light receiving element array is provided respectively with at least three rows are arranged at predetermined intervals along the same straight line, said LS mode
A pair of light receiving element rows used in a mode is a distance measuring sensor set with one or more light receiving element rows sandwiched therebetween. In the distance measuring sensor 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective light receiving element array is provided respectively with at least three rows are arranged at predetermined intervals along the same straight line, said LS mode
A pair of light receiving elements used in the cord are distance measuring sensors located at both ends. 4. The distance measuring sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, each of the light receiving element array, a line sensor for temporarily integrated by converting the object light into an electric charge, corresponding The line sensor includes a memory unit for storing the integrated charge, the monitor unit is provided for each line sensor, and the integration control unit is provided for each line sensor when operating in the SLR mode. to, above
The charge integrated by the corresponding line sensor on the basis of the output of each monitor means corresponding to one of the areas is transferred to the memory section to terminate the integration, and when the operation is performed in the LS mode, the above two Distance measuring sensor for transferring the electric charges integrated by the two line sensors to each of the memory units based on the output of the monitor means corresponding to the entire light receiving area of one of the line sensors and ending the integration.