JPH06138378A - Camera provided with focus detecting means and line-of-sight detecting means - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a camera provided with a focus detecting means and a line-of-sight detecting means in which automatic focus detection is performed by effectively using the line-of-sight detecting means detecting the gazing point of the eyeball of a photographer and the focus detecting means detecting the focusing position of a photographing system at plural points. CONSTITUTION:This camera is provided with the line-of-sight detecting means detecting the gazing direction of the photographer who looks in the finder visual field of the camera, the focus detecting means repetitively detecting the focusing state in plural range-finding areas in the finder visual field of the photographing system, a line-of-sight decision means 102 deciding the state of a line-of-sight signal obtained by the line-of-sight detecting means, a focus decision means 103 deciding the state of a focus signal obtained by the focus detecting means, and a selection means 104 selecting at least one range-finding area out of plural range-finding areas based on the signal from the means 102 and the signal from the means 103.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera having focus detecting means and line-of-sight detecting means, and more particularly, the line-of-sight detecting means detects the line-of-sight direction of a photographer looking into the field of view of the finder and gaze direction within the field of view of the finder. And a photographic camera or video for which focus detection is performed by the focus detection means having a function of obtaining the point of gaze and repeatedly detecting the in-focus state of the subject in a plurality of distance measurement areas based on the signal obtained by the line-of-sight detection means. It is suitable for cameras, SV cameras and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a line of sight of a photographer is detected by detecting the direction of the line of sight of the photographer, which region (position) the photographer is observing, the so-called gaze direction of the photographer being provided in a part of the camera. Various cameras have been proposed which are detected by a means and control various photographing functions such as automatic focus adjustment and automatic exposure based on a signal from the line-of-sight detecting means.

For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-61135, there is disclosed a camera which mechanically controls the distance measuring direction of a focus detecting device on the basis of an output signal from the line-of-sight detecting means to adjust the focus state of a photographing system. Proposed.

The applicant of the present invention, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-241511, has a line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a gaze direction of a photographer, a focus detecting means having a plurality of distance measuring fields, and a plurality of photometric sensitivity distributions. A camera is proposed which has an automatic exposure control means, and at this time controls the drive of the focus detection means and the automatic exposure control means based on the output signal from the line-of-sight detection means.

[0005]

The conventional autofocus (automatic focus detection) operation provided in a camera is roughly divided into a focus state by repeatedly performing focus detection until the taking lens is in focus. After that, one-shot operation that does not perform focus detection and servo operation that continues to perform focus detection regardless of the focus state of the taking lens
There is one.

Of these, the one-shot operation is a mode mainly used when the subject is stopped. The operation in the one-shot mode of the camera for autofocusing using the signal from the line-of-sight detecting means is performed as follows.

First, when the switch is turned on, the gaze point in the viewfinder field of the photographer is obtained by the line-of-sight detecting means prior to the focus detecting operation. In this procedure, a light receiving means (sensor) for detecting an eyeball image is accumulated and an eyeball image signal is read out. Then, the line-of-sight direction of the photographer is obtained from the eyeball image signal.

Next, which part (area) in the viewfinder field the photographer (observer) is paying attention to from the direction of the line of sight,
That is, the point of interest is sought. The gazing point at this time is represented by coordinates in the viewfinder field. Then, the distance measuring point (distance measuring area) corresponding to this is determined from the coordinates of the gazing point in the field of view of the finder.

As described above, the focus state is detected by the focus detecting means with respect to the distance measuring point obtained by the line-of-sight detecting means, and the photographing lens is driven and controlled to the in-focus state based on the focus information. At this time, once the focus detection point is determined by the line-of-sight detection means, the focusing operation is repeated by focusing only on the focus state of the focus detection point until the focus is achieved.

On the other hand, the servo operation is a mode mainly used when a subject is moving. The operation in the servo mode of the camera for autofocus without the line-of-sight detecting means is performed as follows.

First, when the switch is turned on, focus detection calculation is performed using signals from all the light receiving means corresponding to a plurality of distance measuring points. As a result of the focus detection calculation, if the distance measuring point at the center of the screen can be measured, the focusing lens is driven based on the information of the focus detecting calculation of the center distance measuring point. If the distance measurement point in the center of the screen cannot be measured, the focusing lens is driven based on the focus detection calculation information of the closest distance measurement point among the distance measurement points that can be measured, and the focus operation is performed. Are doing. This is because in the servo mode, the main subject is often located in the center of the viewfinder field.

Next, the operation in the servo mode of the autofocus camera having the line-of-sight detecting means is performed as follows. Just like the one-shot operation, immediately after the switch is turned on, the distance measuring point within the viewfinder field is determined using the signal from the line-of-sight detecting means. After that, the focusing lens is continuously driven based on the information of the focus detection calculation of the focus detection point.

However, since the subject is often moving in the servo mode, the subject may deviate from the distance measuring point depending on the movement of the subject. Also in the servo mode, there are cases where it is desired to change the composition while focusing. For this purpose, it is necessary to continue to extract the gazing point of the photographer at certain intervals, detect the focus state of the distance area corresponding to the gazing point each time, and drive the focusing lens based on the focusing information. is there.

However, when photographing a moving object, it may be difficult to detect the line of sight depending on how the line of sight moves.
If there is strong external light noise in the line-of-sight detection system, the line-of-sight detection accuracy may decrease and it may be difficult to obtain stable line-of-sight information. Moreover, the gazing point may go to the background due to the careless movement of the photographer's eyes.

For this reason, if the focusing lens is driven based on the focus signal of the focus detection point selected by the line-of-sight information for each line-of-sight detection, an incorrect object other than the main subject will be driven to the in-focus state, and There is a problem that the lens is prepared and focus detection operation with poor response is performed.

The present invention utilizes the signal from the line-of-sight determining means for determining the state of the line-of-sight signal obtained by the line-of-sight detecting means and the signal from the focus determining means for determining the state of the focus signal obtained by the focus detecting means. Providing a camera having a focus detection unit and a line-of-sight detection unit capable of performing stable and good focus detection even in a state where focus detection is repeatedly performed, such as a servo operation, by appropriately selecting one focus detection point. With the goal.

[0017]

A camera having a focus detecting means and a line-of-sight detecting means of the present invention is a line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a gaze direction of a photographer looking into a viewfinder field of the camera, and a viewfinder of a photographing system. A focus detection unit that repeatedly detects a focus state in a plurality of distance measurement areas in the field of view, a line-of-sight determination unit that determines the state of the line-of-sight signal obtained by the line-of-sight detection unit, and a focus signal obtained by the focus detection unit. A focus determining means for determining a state and a selecting means for selecting at least one distance measuring area from a plurality of distance measuring areas based on a signal from the line-of-sight determining means and a signal from the focus determining means. It is characterized by

In particular, the focus determination means determines the reliability of the state of the focus signal, the line-of-sight determination means determines the reliability of the state of the line-of-sight signal, and the selection means determines the reliability. It is characterized in that a hysteresis is provided in the selection of the signal of the line-of-sight detection means and the signal of the focus detection means.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a main part of a first embodiment when the present invention is applied to a single-lens reflex camera, and FIG. 2 is a partial explanatory view of FIG.

In the figure, 10 is an eyepiece lens, and 94 is an optical block, in which a dichroic mirror 95 that transmits visible light and is semi-transmissive to infrared light is obliquely provided, and also serves as an optical path splitter. There is. Reference numeral 11 is a light receiving lens, 93 is a mirror, and 14 is a light receiving element array. The light receiving lens 11 and the photoelectric element array 14 form one element of the light receiving means. The photoelectric element array 14 normally uses a device in which a plurality of photoelectric elements are arranged one-dimensionally in the vertical direction of the drawing, but a device in which photoelectric elements are arranged two-dimensionally is used as necessary.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a light source, which is composed of, for example, an infrared light emitting diode. A light projecting lens 91 and a focusing plate 7 are provided with a light dividing surface 92 obliquely provided therein. The light splitting surface 92 is composed of a half mirror or a dichroic mirror.

In the figure, the infrared light from the light source 13 is condensed by the light projecting lens 91, introduced into the focusing plate 7, reflected by the light dividing surface 92, and passed through the pentaprism 8 to the eyepiece 10. Incident. The infrared light that has entered the eyepiece lens 10 and exited passes through the dichroic mirror 95 and illuminates the eyeball 15 of the observer located near the eyepoint E.

Further, the infrared light reflected by the eyeball 15 is reflected by the dichroic mirror 95 and is converged by the light receiving lens 11 while being reflected by the mirror 93, and a Purkinje image or the like based on the reflection from the eyeball is formed on the photoelectric element array 14. Form.

The calculating means 101 uses the signal from the photoelectric element array 14 to obtain the line-of-sight direction of the eyeball 15 of the photographer and the gaze direction and gaze point within the viewfinder field.

The visual axis detection method in this embodiment is described in detail in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-241511 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-274736 proposed by the present applicant. I will omit the details because it is not available.

In the present embodiment, each of the above-mentioned elements 10, 1
Reference numerals 1, 13, 14, 91, 94 and 101 constitute one element of the line-of-sight detecting means. Reference numeral 1 is a photographing system (also called a photographing lens), 2 is a quick return mirror, and 3 is a sub-mirror fixed to the quick return mirror 2. Reference numeral 4 is a photosensitive surface (image surface), and 5 is a shutter. Reference numeral 6a denotes a focus detecting means, which has a so-called multi-point focus detecting function for detecting the in-focus state at a plurality of positions (regions) in the finder field.

Reference numeral 102 is a line-of-sight determining means, which is a computing means 1
The state of the line-of-sight signal from 01 is determined. Reference numeral 103 denotes a focus determination means, which determines the state of the focus signal from the focus detection means 6a. Reference numeral 104 denotes a selection unit, which selects at least one of the plurality of distance measurement areas based on the signal from the line-of-sight determination unit 102 and the signal from the focus determination unit 103.
Two distance measuring areas are selected.

Reference numeral 105 is an adjusting means, and a selecting means 104.
The focusing lens of the photographing system 1 is driven on the optical axis based on the focusing signal from the focus detection means 6a for the distance measuring area selected in step 1 to adjust the focusing state.

Since a known technique is applied to the focus detecting method of the focus detecting means 6a in the present embodiment, its outline will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a main part when the optical path of the focus detecting means 6a is developed. In the figure, MSK is a visual field mask, which is arranged at a position substantially equivalent to the photosensitive surface 4a, and has a cross-shaped opening MSK-1 in the center and vertically long openings MSK-2, MSK-3 in the peripheral portions on both sides. have. FLDL is a field lens, which corresponds to the three openings MSK-1, MSK-2, and MSK-3 of the visual field mask MSK.
It consists of two parts FLDL-1, FLDL-2, FLDL-3.

DP is a diaphragm, and a pair of apertures DP-1a, DP-1b, DP are provided at the center, one pair vertically and horizontally.
-1c, DP-1d, and two on the left and right peripheral parts
Openings DP-2a, DP-2b and openings DP-3a,
DP-3b is provided respectively. Each region FLDL-1, FLDL-2 of the field lens FLDL,
FLDL-3 is a pair of apertures DP-1 and DP, respectively.
It has a function of forming an image of -2, DP-3 in the vicinity of the exit pupil of an objective lens (not shown).

The AFL is composed of four pairs of eight lens AFL-.
1a, AFL-1b, AFL-4a, AFL-4b, A
FL-2a, AFL-2b, AFL-3a, AFL-3
It is a secondary image forming lens composed of b, and is arranged behind the aperture DP corresponding to each aperture.

The SNS consists of four pairs of eight sensor arrays SNS in total.
-1a, SNS-1b, SNS-4a, SNS-4b,
SNS-2a, SNS-2b, SNS-3a, SNS-
3b, which is arranged so as to receive the object image corresponding to each secondary imaging lens AFL.

In the focus detection system shown in FIG. 2, when the focus of the taking lens is in front of the film surface, the subject images formed on each sensor array pair SNS are in a state of being close to each other and the focus is in the rear. In this case, the subject images are separated from each other. The relative position displacement of the subject image has a specific functional relationship with the defocus amount of the photographing lens. Therefore, if an appropriate calculation is performed for each sensor output in each sensor row pair, the defocus amount of the photographing lens The so-called defocus amount can be detected.

By adopting the configuration described above, for an object in which the light amount distribution changes only in one direction up and down or left and right near the center of the range photographed or observed by the objective lens (not shown). Even if it is possible to measure the distance, it is possible to measure the distance to an object at a position corresponding to the openings MSK-2 and MSK-3 around the field mask MSK other than the center.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a specific configuration of a camera including the focus detecting means as shown in FIG. 2, and the configuration of each part will be described first. In FIG. 3, PRS is a camera controller, which is, for example, a one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) having a CPU (central processing unit), ROM, RAM, and an A / D conversion function inside.

The microcomputer PRS performs a series of camera operations such as an automatic exposure control function, an automatic focus adjustment function, and film winding / rewinding in accordance with the camera sequence program stored in the ROM. for that reason,
The microcomputer PRS uses the communication signals SO, SI, SCLK and the communication selection signals CLCM, CSSDR, CDDR to communicate with the peripheral circuits in the camera body and the lens controller to control the operation of each circuit and lens. To do.

SO is a data signal output from the microcomputer PRS, SI is a data signal input to the microcomputer PRS, and SLCK is a synchronous clock of the signals SO and SI.
LCM is a lens communication buffer circuit, which supplies power to the lens power supply terminal VL when the camera is in operation, and the selection signal CLCM from the microcomputer PRS is at a high potential level (hereinafter referred to as “H”, a low potential level). Is "L"
, The communication buffer between the camera and the lens.

When the microcomputer PRS sets the selection signal CLCM to "H" and sends out predetermined data as the signal SO in synchronization with the synchronization clock SCLK, the buffer circuit LC
M is a buffer signal LCK, DC of each of a synchronous clock SCLK and a signal SO via a contact between the camera and the lens.
Output L to the lens LNS. At the same time the lens LN
The buffer signal of the signal DCL from S is output as the signal SI, and the microcomputer PRS inputs the signal SI as lens data in synchronization with the synchronization clock SCLK.

DDR is a switch detection and display circuit, which is selected when the signal CDDR is "H", and the signal S
It is controlled by the microcomputer PRS using O, the signal SI and the synchronous clock SCLK. That is, the display of the display member DSP of the camera is switched based on the data sent from the microcomputer PRS, and the microcomputer PRS is informed of the on / off state of various operation members of the camera by communication.

SW1 and SW2 are switches interlocked with a release button (not shown). When the release button is pressed in the first step, SW1 is turned on, and when the release button is pressed in the second step, SW2 is turned on. The microcomputer PRS performs photometry and automatic focus adjustment when SW1 is on, and performs exposure control and subsequent film winding by using SW2 as a trigger.

The switch SW2 is a microcomputer PR.
It is connected to the "interruption input terminal" of S, and even when the program is running when SW1 is on, an interrupt is generated by turning on SW2, and control can be immediately transferred to a predetermined interrupt program.

MTR1 is a film feeding motor, MTR2 is a motor for mirror up / down and shutter spring charging, and forward / reverse control is performed by respective drive circuits MDR1 and MDR2. The signals M1F, M1R, M2F and M2R input from the microcomputer PRS to the drive circuit MDR1 and the drive circuit MDR2 are signals for motor control.

MG1 and MG2 are magnets for starting the leading and trailing shutter shutters, respectively. Signals SMG1, SMG2 and
The amplification transistors TR1 and TR2 are energized, and the shutter control is performed by the microcomputer PRS.

The switch detection and display circuit DDR,
Since the motor drive circuits MDR1, MDR2, and shutter control are not directly related to the present invention, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

LPRS is an in-lens control circuit, and a signal DCL input to the control circuit LPRS in synchronization with the buffer signal LCK is command data from the camera to the taking lens LNS, and the lens operation in response to the command is predetermined. Has been.

The control circuit LPRS diffracts the command in accordance with a predetermined procedure and performs operations of focus adjustment and diaphragm control, operation status of each part of the lens from the output DCL (drive status of focus adjustment optical system, drive status of diaphragm, etc.). ) And various parameters (open F-number, focal length, defocus amount vs. coefficient of movement amount of focus adjustment optical system, etc.) are output.

In this embodiment, an example of a zoom lens is shown, and when a focus adjustment command is sent from the camera,
The focus adjustment motor LTMR is driven by the signals LMF and LMR according to the driving amount and direction sent at the same time,
Focus adjustment is performed by moving the focus adjustment optical system in the optical axis direction.

The movement amount of the optical system is an encoder circuit EN which detects the pattern of the pulse plate which rotates in conjunction with the optical system by the photocoupler and outputs the number of pulses corresponding to the movement amount.
Monitor with the pulse signal SENCF of CF, circuit LPRS
When the count value is counted by a counter inside the circuit and the count value matches the movement amount sent to the circuit LPRS, the LPRS itself outputs the signal L.
The motor LMTR is controlled by setting MF and LMR to "L".

Therefore, once the focus adjustment command is sent from the camera, the microcomputer PRS, which is the camera controller, does not need to be involved in the lens driving at all until the lens driving is completed. Also, the contents of the counter can be sent to the camera when requested by the camera.

When a diaphragm control command is sent from the camera, a stepping motor DMTR known for driving the diaphragm is driven in accordance with the number of diaphragm stages sent at the same time. Since the stepping motor DMTR can be open-controlled, it does not need an encoder for monitoring the operation.

ENCZ is an encoder circuit attached to the zoom optical system, and control circuit LPRS is an encoder circuit E.
The signal SENCZ from NCZ is input to detect the zoom position. Lens parameters at each zoom position are stored in the control circuit LPRS, and when a request is made from the microcomputer PRS on the camera side, the parameter corresponding to the current zoom position is sent to the camera.

The SPC receives the light from the subject through the taking lens LNS. It is a photometric sensor for exposure control, and its output SSPC is input to an analog input terminal of a microcomputer PRS, and after A / D conversion, used for automatic exposure control according to a predetermined program.

SDR is a focus detecting line sensor device S
NS drive circuit, which is selected when the signal CSDR is "H", and is the signal SO, the signal SI, and the synchronous clock SCL.
It is controlled from the microcomputer PRS using K.

The signals φSEL0 and φSEL1 supplied from the drive circuit SDR to the sensor device SNS are the signals SEL0 and SEL1 from the microcomputer PRS. When φSEL0 = “L” and φSEL1 = “L”, the sensor column pair SNS-1 (SNS- 1a, SNS-1b)
When φSEL0 = “H” and φSEL1 = “L” Sensor column pair SNS-4 (SNS-4a, SNS-4b)
When φSEL0 = “L” and φSEL1 = “H” Sensor column pair SNS-2 (SNS-2a, SNS-2b)
When φSEL0 = “H” and φSEL1 = “H” Sensor column pair SNS-3 (SNS-3a, SNS-3b)
Are signals to be selected.

After the accumulation, the signals SEL0 and SEL
1 is set appropriately, and then the clocks φSH and φHR are set.
By sending S, signals SEL0 and SEL1 (φSE
The image signal of the sensor array selected by L0, φSEL1) is sequentially output from the output VOUT in serial.

VP1, VP2, VP3 and VP4 are each sensor column pair SNS-1 (SNS-1a, SNS-1).
b), SNS-2 (SNS-2a, SNS-2b), S
NS-3 (SNS-3a, SNS-3b), SNS-4
A monitor signal from a subject brightness monitor sensor arranged in the vicinity of (SNS-4a, SNS-4b) causes the voltage to increase with the start of accumulation, whereby the accumulation control of each sensor array is performed.

The signals φRES and φVRS are sensor reset clocks, φHRS and φSH are image signal read clocks, and φT1, φT2, φT3 and φT4 are clocks for ending the accumulation of each sensor row pair.

Output VIDEO of the sensor drive circuit SDR
Is an image signal obtained by taking the difference between the image signal VOUT from the sensor device SNS and the dark current output and then image-widthing it with a gain determined by the brightness of the subject. What is the dark current output?
This is the output value of the shaded pixel in the sensor array, and SDR holds the output in the capacitor by the signal DSH from the microcomputer PRS, and performs the differential image width between this and the image signal. The output VIDEO is input to the analog input terminal of the microcomputer PRS, and the microcomputer PRS outputs the same signal to A /
After D conversion, the digital value is sequentially stored in a predetermined address on the RAM.

Signals / TINTE1, / TINTE2, /
TINTE3 and / TINTE4 are sensor row pairs S, respectively.
NS-1 (SNS-1a, SNS-1b), SNS-2
(SNS-2a, SNS-2b), SNS-3 (SNS
-3a, SNS-3b), SNS-4 (SNS-4a,
The electric charge accumulated in SNS-4b) becomes appropriate, and the signal indicating that the accumulation is completed is received by the microcomputer PRS, and the image signal is read out.

The signal BTIME is the sensor drive circuit SDR.
The image signal inside is a signal for giving a timing for determining the read gain of the image width amplifier. Normally, the sensor drive circuit SDE normally outputs the monitor signal VPO ...
The read gain of the corresponding sensor row pair is determined from the voltage of VP3.

CK1 and CK2 are the above clock φRES,
It is a reference clock given from the microcomputer PRS to the sensor drive circuit SDR in order to generate φVRS, φHRS, and φSH. The microcomputer PRS uses the communication selection signal CSDR
Is sent to the sensor drive circuit SDR by sending a predetermined "accumulation start command" to "S".
The accumulation operation of is started.

As a result, photoelectric conversion of the subject image formed on each sensor is performed by the four sensor row pairs, and charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element portion of the sensor. At the same time, the signals VP1 to VP4 from the brightness monitoring sensors of the respective sensors rise, and when this voltage reaches a predetermined level, the sensor drive circuit SDR causes the signals / TINTE1 to / TINTE4.
Are independently "L".

In response to this, the microcomputer PRS receives the clock C
A predetermined waveform is output to K2. The sensor drive circuit SDR generates clocks φSH and φHRS based on the clock CK2 and supplies the clocks φSH and φHRS to the sensor device SNS.
Outputs an image signal by the clock, and the microcomputer PR
S is A / D converted from the output VIDEO input to the analog input terminal by the internal A / D conversion function in synchronization with the clock CK2 output by itself, and then R is converted to a digital signal.
The data is sequentially stored in a predetermined address of AM.

The sensor drive circuit SDR and the sensor device S
The operation of the NS is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-216905 as a focus detection device having two pairs of sensor arrays, and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted here.

As described above, the microcomputer PRS receives the image information of the subject image formed on each sensor array pair, and then performs a predetermined focus detection calculation to know the defocus amount of the taking lens. .

The CCD is an image sensor for detecting the line-of-sight position of the photographer gazing at the viewfinder field. YLED is a light source used for visual axis detection, and is composed of a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light emitting diode LED is irradiated toward the eyeball of an observer looking into the viewfinder field of the camera, and the reflected light is imaged on the image sensor CCD for visual axis detection, and the visual axis position of the observer is based on the information such as the imaged position. I am trying to detect.

YDR is a line-of-sight position detecting interface circuit for performing control such as accumulating / reading out of the line-of-sight detecting image sensor CCD and driving YLED which is a line-of-sight detecting LED in accordance with a command from the microcomputer PRS.

Next, an automatic focus adjusting device for a camera according to this embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 4 is a rough flowchart showing the sequence of the entire camera in this embodiment. When power supply to the circuit shown in FIG. 3 is started, the microcomputer PRS executes the step (00
The execution starts from 0).

At step (001), the state of the switch SW1 which is turned on by pressing the release button in the first step is detected. If it is off, the process proceeds to step (002) to initialize all flags and variables. Switch S
If W1 is on, the process proceeds to step (003) to start the camera operation.

In step (003), an "AE control" subroutine for photometry, state detection of various switches and display is executed. Since the AE control is not directly related to the present invention, detailed description will be omitted. When the subroutine "AE control" is completed, the process proceeds to step (004).

At step (004), the "AF control" subroutine is executed. Here, the sensor accumulation, focus detection calculation, and lens-driven automatic focus adjustment operation are performed. When the subroutine "AF control" is completed, the step (00
Return to 1), and step (003) until the power is turned off.
(004) is repeatedly executed.

Although the release operation is not described in the flow chart of this embodiment, the release operation is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the "AF control" subroutine executed in step (004) of FIG. When the "AF control" subroutine is called,
After step (010) shown in FIG. 5, step (01
AF control after 1) is executed.

First, in step (011), the switch SW
When 1 is turned on, it is determined whether or not it is the first AF control,
If it is the first time, move to step (012),
Initialize flags and variables for AF control. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step (013) to initialize the line-of-sight detection flag / variable.

Then, the process proceeds to step (014) and the FP
Clear the flag called LOCK. This FPLOCK
Is a flag used for the sight line detection described later, and is a flag indicating that the focus detection point is once set by the sight line detecting means.

Then, the process proceeds to step (015).
In step (011), the switch SW1 is turned on to
If it is determined that it is not the AF for the second time, step (01
Go to 5).

At step (015), a "line-of-sight detection" subroutine is executed. Here, the gazing point is extracted from the accumulation / readout to the sensor (sensor 14 in FIG. 1) for performing the visual axis detection operation, and the distance measuring point is determined by the visual axis detection.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for detecting the line of sight.

Returning to FIG. 5, in the step (016), the "focus detection" subroutine is executed. Here, from the accumulation / readout of the image signal to each sensor for the focus detection operation to the focus detection calculation and the determination of the distance measuring point where the main subject is assumed to be present.

7 and 8 are flowcharts of focus detection.

Returning to FIG. 5, in step (017), a "distance measuring area selection" subroutine is executed. Here, the distance measuring point information obtained from the "focus detection" subroutine executed in step (016) and the distance measuring point information based on the gazing point obtained from the "eye detection" subroutine executed in step (015), etc. Then, the operation for selecting the actually used distance measuring point (distance measuring area) is performed.

FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are flow charts for selecting the distance measuring area at this time.

Returning to FIG. 5, in step (018), the defocus amount is calculated from the focus detection information of the focus detection point obtained in step (017).

In the following step (019), a "lens drive" subroutine is executed. Here, the actual lens driving amount is obtained from the defocus amount, and the lens driving is performed if necessary. After the lens driving is completed, the "AF control" subroutine is returned from step (020).

Next, regarding the focus detection in step (016) of FIG. 5, the subroutine "focus detection" shown in FIGS.
A description will be given based on the flowchart. When the subroutine "focus detection" is called, the focus detection operation from step (111) onward is executed through step (110).

First, in step (111), the switch S
It is determined whether or not W1 is turned on and the first AF control is performed. If it is the first AF control, the process proceeds to step (112) to initialize the selection sensor.

Then, the subroutine "start accumulation" is executed in step (113). The subroutine is a routine for starting the accumulation operation of the sensor. Specifically, the accumulation start command is sent to the sensor drive circuit SDR to start the accumulation operation of the sensor device SNS, and at the same time, the sensor drive circuit SDR outputs the accumulation operation. Sensor accumulation end signal / TINT
This is a subroutine for enabling the interrupt function so that the microcomputer PRS can execute the “accumulation completion interrupt” by E1 to / TINTE3.

As a result, the four sensors SNS-1 to SN
When the storage of S-3 is completed, each storage interrupt is executed.

Completion of accumulation of each sensor is signal / TINTE1
It can be detected by the fall of ~ / TINTE3, and these signals are connected to the "input terminal with interrupt function" of the microcomputer PRS.

In the diagram of FIG. 7, (a) indicated by a broken line is
It represents interrupt control, and signals / TINTE1 to //
When an interrupt by TINTE3 occurs, the control shifts to each interrupt routine shown in FIG. 8 through (a) in the figure.

Therefore, for example, the charge accumulation of the sensor SNS-1 becomes appropriate, and the signal from the sensor drive circuit SDR /
When TINTE1 falls, in response to this, it is possible to shift to the interrupt routine after step (150) in FIG.

The interrupt routine after step (150) in FIG. 8 is a routine for inputting the image signal of the sensor SNS-1.

At step (151), the sensor SNS-
After inputting the image signal of 1, the interrupt routine is returned in step (152). The image signal is input by the microcomputer P
The output VIDEO input to the analog input terminal of RS is serially A / D converted and the digital data is converted into a predetermined R
This is achieved by sequentially storing in the AM area.

Sensors SNS-2, SNS-3, SNS-
Similarly, when the storage of 4 is completed, the interrupt control is similarly performed, and steps (153), (156), and (15) of FIG.
The process moves to 9), and the image signal of each sensor is input.

A concrete method of the subroutine "accumulation start" and image signal input is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-216905, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Returning to FIG. 7, the description will be continued. Since the image signal input processing of each sensor is interrupt controlled, it is given priority at any time when the accumulation is completed during execution of the focus detection calculation of steps (114) to (126) in the figure.

Now, when the accumulation operation of the sensor is started in step (113), the process proceeds to step (114).
In step (114), it is determined whether or not the focus detection calculation of the sensor SNS-1 is completed, and if it is not completed, the process proceeds to step (115).

At step (115), the sensor SNS-
It is judged whether or not the image signal input of No. 1 has already been interrupted, and if completed, the process proceeds to step (116) to execute the focus detection calculation based on the image signal of the sensor SNS-1.

Since a specific calculation method for detecting the defocus amount is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-160824, etc., detailed description will be omitted.

If the focus detection calculation of the sensor SNS-1 is not completed in step (114), or if the input of the image signal of the sensor SNS-1 is not completed in step (115), or step (116). With sensor S
After the focus detection calculation of NS-1 is completed, the step (1
Go to 17).

Steps (117), (118), (11)
In 9), the above-described processing is performed on the sensor SNS-2. Further steps (120), (121), (122)
Then, for sensor SNS-3, step (12
In 3), (124), and (125), the above-described processing is performed on the sensor SNS-4.

In step (126), it is judged whether or not the focus detection calculation corresponding to all the sensors is completed. If not completed, the process proceeds to step (114), and if completed, the step is completed. Move to (127).

The steps (1
After the accumulation operation is started in 13), steps (114) to (126) are repeatedly executed while waiting for the image signal of each sensor to be read by interrupt processing, and the image signal read sensor is read. This means that the focus detection calculation is sequentially performed.

Subsequently, in step (127), an operation for selecting a focus detection point where the main subject is likely to exist is performed from the calculation result of the focus detection calculation of each sensor. In the present invention, the criterion for determining that the subject is the main subject is the distance measuring point closest to the distance measuring sensor. When the determination of the focus detection points is completed, the "focus detection" subroutine is returned in step (128).

Next, the visual axis detection in step (015) of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of the subroutine "visual axis detection" shown in FIG. When the subroutine "line-of-sight detection" is called, the line-of-sight detection operation from step (202) is executed through step (201).

First, at step (202), it is judged if the flag FPLOCK is 1 or not. That is, it is determined whether or not the distance measuring point setting based on the line of sight has already been completed by the one-shot AF.

If the flag FPLOCK is 1, that is, if the one-shot AF has already set the distance measuring point by sight line detection, a series of sight line detection is skipped, and the process proceeds to step (212). When the flag FPLOCK is φ, that is, when the distance measuring point is not set by the sight line in the one-shot AF, or when the servo AF is performed, the process proceeds to step (203) to perform a series of sight line detection operations.

In steps (203) to (204), the line-of-sight detection sensor is accumulated and read to read line-of-sight data.

Then, in step (205), the line-of-sight direction of the photographer is obtained based on the line-of-sight data read in step (204). In the following step (206),
In the process / result of the calculation of the line-of-sight direction performed in step (205), if it is determined that detection is impossible, that is, NG, the process proceeds to step (210). Detectable,
That is, if it is OK, the process proceeds to step (207).

In step (207), step (20
From the line-of-sight direction obtained in 5), the gazing point that the observer is looking into in the viewfinder field is obtained. Following Step (208)
Then, it is determined whether or not the result of the calculation extracted in the step (207) has the reliability used for controlling the camera. If the result of the determination is OK, the step (20
Go to 9).

In the step (209), the step (20
The distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point obtained in 7) is determined. Then, the flag EYEOK indicating the success of the sight line detection is set to 1.
Then, the process proceeds to step (212). Step (20
When it is determined as NG in 8), the process proceeds to step (210).

At step (210), the result of the judgment is NG.
Check the number of times. If it is within three times, the process returns to step (203) and the accumulation / readout of the sensor is executed again. When it is determined that it is the fourth time in step (210), it is determined that the detection is impossible for some reason, and the process proceeds to step (211).

At step (211), the process of the visual axis detection failure as a result of the current detection is performed. The flag EYEOK indicating the success of the sight line detection is cleared (for example, flag processing). Then, the process proceeds to step (212), and the "visual axis detection" subroutine is returned.

Next, the distance measurement area selection in step (017) of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the flow chart of the subroutine "area selection" shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. When the subroutine "area selection" is called, the area selection operation from step (302) is executed through step (301).

First, in step (302), it is determined whether or not the AF mode of the camera is servo AF. If it is not servo AF, the process proceeds to step (350) in FIG. The control at this time will be described later. If the servo AF is determined in step (302), the process proceeds to step (303).

In step (303), the subroutine "focus detection" executed in step (016) of FIG. 5 is executed.
As a result of the focus detection calculation of each sensor obtained as described above, it is determined whether or not all the sensors cannot measure the distance. If all the sensors cannot measure the distance, step (306-
Go to 1). At step (306-1), since all the sensors cannot measure the distance, the central distance measuring point is selected for the time being.

In the following step (306-2), the condition for selecting the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point is not satisfied, so that the condition for selecting the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point occurs consecutively. The variable N that counts whether or not is cleared. Then, in the region selecting operation this time, a flag SELE indicating that the condition for selecting the focus detection point corresponding to the gazing point is satisfied
Clear CTEYE. Then, the process proceeds to step (314).

If it is determined in step (303) that any of the sensors is in the distance measuring enabled state, step (30)
Go to 4).

In step (304), it is determined whether or not the visual axis detection is successful as a result of the visual axis detection operation executed in step (015) of FIG. If the flag EYEOK indicating that the visual axis detection is successful is φ, that is, if the visual axis detection fails, the process proceeds to step (307-1), and EYEO
If K = 1, that is, if the line-of-sight detection is successful, step (3
Move to 05).

In step (305), it is determined whether or not the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point in the viewfinder of the photographer obtained in step (207) can be measured.
If this distance measuring point is in a state where distance measurement is impossible, step (307-
Go to 1).

In step (307-1), since the condition for selecting the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point is not satisfied, the condition for selecting the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point is satisfied in this region selecting operation. Flag indicating that
Clear YE. Then, the variable N that counts how many times the condition for selecting the focus detection point corresponding to the gazing point occurs consecutively is cleared.

In the following step (307-2), an operation for selecting the closest distance measuring point among the distance measuring points obtained in the step (127), that is, the distance measuring points which can be measured is performed, Shift to (314).

In step (305), if the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point in the viewfinder field of the photographer obtained in step (207) is measurable, the process proceeds to step (308).

At step (308), the switch SW1
Is turned on and it is determined whether or not the AF control is the first time.
If it is the AF control for the second time, the process proceeds to step (307-1). As a result, in the first AF control, the closest distance measuring point is selected among the distance measuring points capable of distance measurement. Step (3
If it is determined that the first AF control is not performed in 08), the process proceeds to step (309).

In step (309), it is determined whether or not the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point in the field of view of the photographer and the closest distance measuring point are the same distance measuring point. If it is determined that they are the same, the process proceeds to step (307-1). If the distance measuring points are not the same, the process proceeds to step (310).

In step (310), it is judged whether or not the reliability is sufficiently high in the visual axis detection operation executed in step (015) of FIG. 5, and if it is sufficiently high, the process proceeds to step (311). If not, the process proceeds to step (316).

Here, the reliability of line-of-sight detection will be described. The reliability is determined based on the eyeball image data obtained in steps (203) and (204) of FIG. 6, the number of pupil edges detected by the line-of-sight calculation, the diameter, the horizontal rotation angle, and the like.

For example, is there a predetermined number or more of pupil edges, or is the pupil diameter too large than a predetermined value?
Alternatively, the rotation angle in the horizontal direction is determined by making some judgments such as whether it is too large to look into the viewfinder field.

In the following step (311), the distance measuring point obtained in the step (127), that is, the distance measuring point closest to the distance measuring point capable of distance measurement, and the distance measuring point obtained in the step (207) are detected. The reliability values of the points, that is, the distance measuring points corresponding to the gazing point in the field of view of the photographer are compared.

The reliability value is a value showing the degree of coincidence of two images of the corresponding sensor array pair of the sensor device SNS. In the present invention, the smaller the value, the higher the reliability, and the larger the value, the lower the reliability. Indicates that. If the reliability of the distance measuring point obtained in step (127) is higher than the reliability of the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point of the photographer, step (316)
Otherwise, to step (312-1).

At the step (312-1), it is judged whether or not the variable N for counting how many times the condition for selecting the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point occurs continuously is 2.
If N is 2, the process proceeds to step (312-3). This is because the variable N is not counted up to a value of 3 or more.

When N = 2 is not satisfied in step (312-1), that is, when the condition for selecting the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point is the first time or the second time this time, step (312-).
Going to 2), 1 is added to the variable N that counts how many times the condition for selecting the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point occurs consecutively.

In the following step (312-3), the variable N
Is 2, that is, whether or not the condition for selecting the focus detection point corresponding to the gazing point has occurred twice or more consecutively. If this time is the first time, go to step (316). Transition.

In this embodiment, the determination as to whether or not the occurrence has occurred twice or more is focused on the selection of the distance measuring point obtained in the step (127). This is because, in order to realize the object, if the condition is not satisfied twice consecutively, the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point is not selected.

In step (312-3), when N = 2, that is, when the condition for selecting the distance measurement corresponding to the gazing point is regarded twice consecutively, the process proceeds to step (312-4).

In step (312-4), the flag SELECTEYE indicating that the condition for selecting the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point is satisfied in this region selecting operation is set to 1. In the following step (313), the step (20
The operation of selecting the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point obtained in 7) is performed.

In the following step (314), when the focusing lens is actually driven, the defocus amount of the focus detection point selected by the series of control executed after step (301) is set as the selected defocus amount. Used for.

In the step (310), the line-of-sight detection operation cannot be said to be sufficiently reliable, and in the step (311), the reliability of the focus detection point obtained in the step (127) is more important. When it is higher than the reliability corresponding to the viewpoint, the process proceeds to step (316).

In step (316), it is determined whether or not the flag SELECTEYE, which indicates that the condition for selecting the focus detection point corresponding to the gazing point in the previous area selection operation is satisfied, is 1 and if SELECTEYE = 1. In other words, if the focus detection point corresponding to the gazing point was selected last time, step (3
17), and if SELECTEYE = φ, proceed to step (307-1).

At step (317), the flag SELE is set.
Clear CTEYE and proceed to step (313).

Step (316) and Step (317)
As a result, the distance measuring point corresponding to the previous gazing point is selected, and the reliability of the current line-of-sight detecting operation is not sufficiently high, or the reliability of the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point is determined in the step (12).
In some cases, the reliability becomes lower than the closest distance measuring point obtained in 7), and the condition for selecting the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point may not be satisfied.

Even in this case, the first time step (31
According to the determination of 6), the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point is selected, but when the condition for selecting the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point is not satisfied twice in succession, the step (127) is performed.
Select the nearest AF point obtained by
Has hysteresis.

When the execution of step (314) is completed,
At step (315), the "area selection" subroutine is returned.

In step (302), the AF of the camera
The control after step (350) executed when it is determined that the mode is the one-shot operation will be described.

At step (350), the flag FPLO is set.
It is determined whether CK is 1. Flag FPLOCK is 1,
That is, when the distance measuring point has already been selected by the area selecting operation in the one-shot operation, the process proceeds to step (355).

At the step (355), the operation for reselecting the distance measuring point obtained by the sight line detecting operation executed at the first time of the AF control with the switch SW1 turned on is carried out, and the step (314) Move to.

In step (350), the flag FPLOCK is set.
Is φ, that is, the one-shot operation is the first area selection operation, the process proceeds to step (351).

In step (351), it is determined whether or not the visual axis detection is successful in the visual axis detection operation executed in step (015) of FIG. 5, and if unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step (354).

In step (354), the operation is performed to select the distance measuring point obtained in step (127), that is, the distance measuring point determined to have the main subject selected from the focus detection calculation results of the respective sensors. Go to step (353).

If the line-of-sight detection is successful in step (351), the process proceeds to step (352). In step (352), the operation for selecting the distance measuring point obtained in step (209), that is, the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point in the field of view of the photographer is performed.

Subsequently, at step (353), the flag FPLOCK indicating that the distance measuring point has already been selected is set to 1 in the one-shot operation in the area selecting operation. Then, the process proceeds to step (314).

In the operation of the selecting means in the above-described embodiment, the focus detection point based on the focus detection calculation result of each sensor is selected with priority.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are flowcharts of the "area selection" subroutine for distance measurement area selection according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the operation of the selecting means selects the distance measuring point based on the gazing point obtained by the line-of-sight detection, with the other configuration being the same. is there. Therefore, only the subroutine "area selection" in FIGS. 12 and 13 will be described here.

12 and 13 show the steps (0
15 is a flowchart of a subroutine "area selection" of the second embodiment implemented in 15). When the subroutine "area selection" is called, the area selection operation after step (401) is executed.

First, in step (402), it is determined whether or not the AF mode of the camera is servo operation. If it is not servo operation, the process proceeds to step (450) in FIG. The control at this time will be described later.

If it is determined in step (402) that the operation is a servo operation, the process proceeds to step (403).

At step (403), it is judged whether or not the visual axis detection is successful as a result of the visual axis detection operation executed at step (015). If gaze detection fails,
Go to step (404).

At step (404), there is no distance measuring point which is judged from the result of focus detection calculation to each sensor obtained at step (127), that is, whether or not there is a main subject, that is, all the sensors measure distance. It is determined whether or not the state is impossible. If it is determined that the main subject does not exist, the process proceeds to step (405).

In step (405), since the main subject does not exist, the operation for selecting the central focus detection point is performed for the time being.

If it is determined in step (404) that there is a main subject, the process proceeds to step (411). The description after step (411) will be given later. Step (40
In 3), if the visual axis detection is successful, the process proceeds to step (406).

At step (406), the switch SW1
Is turned on and it is determined whether or not it is the first AF control.
If it is the first AF control, the process proceeds to step (412).

In step (412), the operation for selecting the distance measuring point obtained in step (209) of FIG. 6, that is, the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point in the field of view of the photographer is performed, and the following step ( 413). When it is determined in step (406) that the AF control is not the first time, the process proceeds to step (407).

In step (407), the distance measuring point obtained in step (209) of FIG. 6 and the distance measuring point obtained in step (127) of FIG. 7 are the same.

That is, whether the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point in the viewfinder field of the photographer is the same as the distance measuring point determined to have the main subject selected from the focus detection calculation results of the respective sensors. Determine whether. If it is determined that they are the same, the process proceeds to step (412). If it is determined that they are not the same, the process proceeds to step (408).

In step (408), it is determined whether or not the reliability of the image signal is sufficiently high as a result of the focus detection calculation of the focus detection point corresponding to the gazing point in the viewfinder field of the photographer.
The reliability value is a value indicating the degree of coincidence between the two images of the corresponding sensor array pair of the sensor device SNS. In the present invention, the smaller the value, the higher the reliability, and the larger the value, the lower the reliability. Is.

If it is determined in step (408) that the reliability is sufficiently high, the process proceeds to step (412). If it is determined in step (408) that the reliability is not sufficiently high (including a state in which distance measurement is impossible), the process proceeds to step (409).

In step (409), focus detection calculation of the focus detection points determined in step (127) of FIG. 7, that is, the main subject selected from the results of focus detection calculation of each sensor is present. As a result, it is determined whether or not the reliability of the image signal is sufficiently high. If it is determined that it is not sufficiently high, the process proceeds to step (412). If it is determined to be sufficiently high, the process proceeds to step (410).

At step (410), it is determined whether or not this state has occurred twice or more consecutively. If it has not occurred twice or more consecutively, the process proceeds to step (412). If it occurs twice or more, step (411)
Move to.

In step (411), an operation is performed to select the distance measuring point obtained in step (127), that is, the distance measuring point which is determined to be the main subject selected from the focus detection calculation results of the respective sensors.

Subsequently, in step (413), the defocus of the focus detection point selected in the series of control executed after step (401) is set as the selected defocus amount, and the focusing lens is actually driven. Sometimes used. When the execution of step (413) is completed, the "area selection" subroutine is returned in step (414).

Next, the control after step (450) executed when it is determined in step (402) that the AF mode of the camera is the one-shot operation will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

At step (450), the flag FPLO is set.
It is determined whether CK is 1. Flag FPLOCK is 1,
That is, when the distance measuring point has already been selected by the area selecting operation in the one-shot operation, the process proceeds to step (455).

At step (455), the operation for reselecting the focus detection point obtained by the sight line detecting operation executed at the first AF control with the switch SW1 turned on is carried out, and the process proceeds to step (413). Transition. Step (45
If the flag FPLOCK is φ, that is, the one-shot operation is the first area selection operation in step 0), the step (45)
Go to 1).

At step (451), it is judged whether or not the visual axis detection is successful in the visual axis detection operation executed at step (015) of FIG. 5, and if it fails, the routine proceeds to step (454).

In step (454), the operation of selecting the distance measuring point obtained in step (127) of FIG. 7, that is, the distance measuring point determined to have the main subject selected from the focus detection calculation results of the respective sensors. Step (45
Go to 3). If the line-of-sight detection is successful in step (451), the process proceeds to step (452).

In step (452), the operation is performed to select the distance measuring point obtained in step (209), that is, the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point in the field of view of the photographer.

Subsequently, at step (453), the flag FPLOCK indicating that the focus detection points have already been selected is set to 1 in the area selection operation in the one-shot operation. Then, the process proceeds to step (413).

FIG. 14, FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 are flow charts of the subroutine "area selection" of the distance measurement area selection according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, as compared with the first and second embodiments, the operation of the selecting means selects the distance measuring point based on the focus detection calculation result and the distance measuring point based on the gazing point obtained by the line-of-sight detection equally. The other configurations are the same.

Therefore, here, FIG. 14, FIG. 15 and FIG.
Only the "area selection" subroutine of will be described.

FIG. 14, FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 are flowcharts of the subroutine "area selection" of the third embodiment carried out in step (015) of FIG. When the subroutine "area selection" is called, step (50
1) Subsequent area selection operations are executed.

First, in step (502), it is determined whether or not the AF mode of the camera is servo operation, and if it is not servo operation, the process proceeds to step (550) in FIG. The control at this time will be described later.

In step (503), it is determined whether or not the visual axis detection is successful as a result of the visual axis detection operation executed in step (015) of FIG. If the sight line detection fails, the process proceeds to step (504).

At step (504), there is no distance measuring point for which it is judged that the main subject selected from the focus detection calculation result of each sensor obtained at step (127) of FIG. It is determined whether or not distance measurement is impossible. If it is determined that there is no main subject,
Go to step (505).

In step (505), since the main subject does not exist, the operation for selecting the central focus detection point is performed for the time being. If it is determined in step (504) that there is a main subject, the process proceeds to step (511). The description after step (511) will be given later.

If it is determined in step (503) that the sight line detection has succeeded, the process proceeds to step (507).

At step (507), the switch SW1
Is turned on and it is determined whether or not it is the first AF control.
If it is the first AF control, the process proceeds to step (506).

In step (506), an operation of selecting the distance measuring point obtained in step (209) of FIG. 6, that is, the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point in the viewfinder field of the photographer is performed. When it is determined in step (507) that it is not the first AF control, the process proceeds to step (508).

In step (508), it is determined whether the focus detection point selected in the previously executed subroutine "area selection" is the focus detection point obtained by the line-of-sight detection or the focus detection calculation result. If it is the focus detection point obtained by the sight line detection, the process proceeds to step (509).

In step (509), it is determined whether or not the reliability of the image signal is sufficiently high as a result of the focus detection calculation of the focus detection points obtained by the visual axis detection. The reliability value of the image signal is 2 for the corresponding sensor array pair of the sensor device SNS.
It is a value indicating the degree of coincidence of images.

In the present invention, the smaller the value, the higher the reliability,
The larger the value, the lower the reliability.

If it is determined in step (509) that the reliability is sufficiently high, the process proceeds to step (506). If it is determined in step (509) that the reliability is not sufficiently high, the process proceeds to step (510).

At step (510), it is determined whether or not this state occurs twice or more continuously. If it has not occurred twice or more consecutively, the process proceeds to step (506). If it occurs twice or more continuously, the process proceeds to step (511).

In step (511), the operation of selecting the distance measuring point obtained in step (127) of FIG. 7, that is, the distance measuring point determined to have the main subject selected from the focus detection calculation results of the respective sensors is performed. To do. Then, the process proceeds to step (515).

In step (515), step (50
The defocus of the focus detection point selected by the series of controls executed after 1) is used as the selected defocus when actually driving the focusing lens. Step (51
When the execution of 5) is completed, the "area selection" subroutine is returned in step (516).

If it is determined in step (508) that the focus detection point selected in the subroutine "area selection" executed last time is the focus detection point obtained from the focus detection result, step (5)
Go to 12).

At step (512), it is determined whether or not the reliability of the image signal at the focus detection point obtained from the focus detection calculation result is sufficiently high.

When it is determined that the reliability of the image signal is sufficiently high, the process proceeds to step (511). If it is determined that the reliability of the image signal is not sufficiently high, step (51
Go to 3).

At step (513), it is determined whether or not this state occurs twice or more continuously. If it has not occurred twice or more consecutively, the process proceeds to step (511). If it occurs twice or more continuously, the process proceeds to step (514).

In step (514), an operation for selecting the distance measuring point obtained in step (209) of FIG. 6, that is, the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point in the viewfinder field of the photographer is performed, and step ( 515).

At the step (502), the AF of the camera is performed.
The control after step (550) in FIG. 16 executed when it is determined that the mode is the one-shot operation will be described.

At step (550), the flag FPLO is set.
It is determined whether CK is 1. Flag FPLOCK is 1,
That is, when the distance measuring point has already been selected by the area selecting operation in the one-shot operation, the process proceeds to step (555).

At the step (555), the operation for reselecting the focus detection point obtained by the sight line detecting operation executed at the first AF control with the switch SW1 turned on is performed at the step (555), and the step (515). Move to. Step (5
If the flag FPLOCK is φ in 50), that is, the one-shot operation is the first area selection operation, step (55)
Go to 1).

At the step (551), it is judged whether or not the visual axis detection is successful in the visual axis detecting operation executed at the step (015) of FIG. 5, and if the visual axis detection is unsuccessful, the routine proceeds to the step (554).

In step (554), the operation of selecting the distance measuring point obtained in step (127) of FIG. 7, that is, the distance measuring point determined to have the main subject selected from the focus detection calculation results of the respective sensors. Step (55
Go to 3). If the line-of-sight detection is successful in step (551), the process proceeds to step (552).

In step (552), the operation for selecting the distance measuring point obtained in step (209) of FIG. 6, that is, the distance measuring point corresponding to the gazing point in the field of view of the photographer is performed.

Subsequently, at step (553), the flag FPLOCK indicating that the focus detection point and the focus detection point have already been selected is set to 1 in the area selection operation in the one-shot operation. Then, the process proceeds to step (515).

[0210]

As described above, according to the present invention, the focus determination for determining the state of the signal from the line-of-sight determining means for determining the state of the line-of-sight signal obtained by the line-of-sight detecting means and the state of the focus signal obtained by the focus detecting means By appropriately selecting one distance measuring point using the signal from the means, the focus detecting means and the line of sight capable of stable and good focus detection even in the state where the focus detection is repeatedly performed like the servo operation. A camera with detection means can be achieved.

In particular, when performing the focusing operation of the photographing system by using the signal from the line-of-sight detecting means and the signal from the focus detecting means,
As described above, for example, even when the line of sight is directed to the subject other than the main subject to be photographed for a moment or the line-of-sight detection accuracy is not so good, either the signal of the line-of-sight detection unit or the signal of the focus detection unit is selected. By providing the selecting means that acts on the focus detecting means, it is possible to prevent the careless lens driving or the poor focus response detecting operation by inadvertently performing a focusing operation on an object other than the main subject. A camera having a line-of-sight detection means can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a main part of a first embodiment when the present invention is applied to a single-lens reflex camera.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a main part of the focus detection unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the operation of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a sequence of the entire camera of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the AF control subroutine of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a gaze detection subroutine of FIG.

7 is a flowchart of a focus detection subroutine of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the focus detection subroutine of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a subroutine for selecting a distance measurement area in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a subroutine for selecting a distance measurement area in FIG.

11 is a flowchart of a subroutine for selecting a distance measurement area in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a region selection subroutine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a region selection subroutine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a region selection subroutine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a region selection subroutine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a region selection subroutine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photographing lens 6a Focus detection means 10 Eyepiece lens 11 Light receiving lens 13 Light source 14 Light receiving element array 15 Eyeball 101 Calculation means 102 Line-of-sight detection means 103 Focus determination means 104 Selection means 105 Adjustment means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location G03B 13/02 7139-2K H04N 5/232 A 7316-2K G03B 3/00 A

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a gaze direction of a photographer looking into the finder field of view of a camera, and a focus detecting means for repeatedly detecting an in-focus state in a plurality of distance-measuring areas in the finder field of a photographing system, From the line-of-sight determination unit that determines the state of the line-of-sight signal obtained by the line-of-sight detection unit, the focus determination unit that determines the state of the focus signal obtained by the focus detection unit, and the signal from the line-of-sight determination unit and the focus determination unit. And a line-of-sight detecting means for selecting at least one distance measuring area from a plurality of distance measuring areas based on the signal of (1). 2. The camera having the focus detection means and the line-of-sight detection means according to claim 1, wherein the focus determination means determines the reliability of the state of the focus signal. 3. The camera having the focus detecting means and the visual axis detecting means according to claim 1, wherein the visual axis determining means determines the reliability of the state of the visual axis signal. 4. The focus detection means and the line-of-sight detection means according to claim 1, wherein the selection means is provided with hysteresis for selecting the signal of the line-of-sight detection means and the signal of the focus-detection means. camera.