JPH0961701A - Optical apparatus having line of sight detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the inadvertent selection of the focus detection region not desired by a user by forming a region where the focus detection region is not selected when a second decision range is set at the time of the second and subsequent focus detection operations. SOLUTION: Only the x-axis coordinates in the horizontal direction of the line of sight is used for the first selection of the line of sight detection. A central distance measurement point 7C is elected if the coordinates (x, y) on the finder of the detected line of sight are -x1<=x<=x1. The left side distance measurement point 7L is selected if -x2<=x<=-x1. The right side distance measurement point 7R is selected if x1<=x<=x2. The central distance measurement point 7C is selected if -x1<=x<=x1 and -y1<=y<=y1. The left side distance measurement point 7L is selected if -x2<=x<=-x1 and -y1<=y<=y1. The right side distance measurement point 7R is selected if x1<=x<=x2 and -y<=y<=y1. The selection of the distance measurement point by the line of sight is not executed by considering that the user does not gaze steadily at the distance measurement point if the absolute value of the coordinate y in the perpendicular direction exceeds y1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical device such as a camera equipped with a visual axis detecting device for detecting the visual axis of an observer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called "multi-point AF camera" has been well known, which detects the focus state of a plurality of areas in a screen and adjusts the focus of a taking lens based on the result. A plurality of areas in the screen where focus detection is possible are also called "distance measuring points". Further, various cameras equipped with a so-called line-of-sight detection device that detects which position on the finder surface of the camera the user is gazing at have been proposed.

For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-241511 by the present applicant, an area sensor is used for the anterior segment of the eyeball of a user illuminated by an infrared light emitting diode (hereinafter abbreviated as "IRED"). Image is picked up, and the image signal is processed to detect the line-of-sight coordinates of the user on the viewfinder, and based on the result, one of a plurality of focus detection points or a photometric area of the multipoint AF camera is selected. A camera is disclosed.

An automatic focusing camera that selects or switches focus detection points based on such a line of sight is called a "line-of-sight AF camera". By the way, in the focus detection system disclosed in the known example or the like, it is not possible to detect the focus at all places in the finder, and a predetermined focus detection area is arranged in the finder at a distance,
The focus can be detected at that position. The user divides the viewfinder into a predetermined range based on the focus detection area in order to select which distance measuring point the user is gazing from among a plurality of discretely arranged distance measuring points. The focus detection area is selected by discriminating into which range the line-of-sight coordinates of is included.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned conventional example, the larger the range for selecting the focus detection area is, the more effective it is because the error of the line-of-sight detection can be absorbed. However, when the line-of-sight detection operation and the operation mode in which the focus detection operation is continued even after the focus detection means is in focus are combined and the line-of-sight detection operation and the focus detection operation are repeated, focus detection is performed in the first line-of-sight detection operation. It is desirable to set a large range for selecting the area so that the focus detection area can be easily selected, but the situation is different in the second and subsequent line-of-sight detection operations from the first.

That is, if the range of the same size as the first time is in the second and subsequent visual axis detection operations, even when the user looks at a portion unrelated to the focus detection operation such as display in the viewfinder, Since the camera determines that the line-of-sight position is the position of the main subject, the camera again selects a focus detection area to be focused on the basis of the line-of-sight position. Therefore, it is desirable to make it difficult to select the focus detection area after the second time.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a visual axis detecting means for detecting the visual axis position in a finder of a user looking into the finder, and focus detecting for each of a plurality of focus detecting areas. Which of the focus detection means that can be used, the determination range setting means that sets a determination range for selecting the focus detection area based on the position of the line of sight of the user, and the position of the line of sight detected by the line of sight detection means In the optical device having the line-of-sight detection means having a selection means for determining at least one focus detection area from among the plurality of focus detection areas, the focus detection means is in focus. There is also an operation mode in which the focus detection operation is continued after that, and the range setting means sets the first determination range in the first operation of the operation mode, and sets the first determination range in the second and subsequent operations. When the range setting means selects the first judgment range, the focus detection area is always selected based on the line-of-sight position of the user. When the second determination range is set, an area in which the focus detection area is not selected is formed based on the position of the line of sight of the user.

[0008]

[Embodiment]

(First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a main part of an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a single lens reflex camera. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a taking lens, which is shown as two lenses for convenience, but in reality it is composed of a larger number of lenses.
Reference numeral 2 is a main mirror, which switches between the observation state and the photographing state of the subject image by the finder system by obliquely advancing or leaving the photographing optical path. A sub-mirror 3 is a focus detection unit below the camera body for a part of the light flux transmitted through the main mirror 2.
Reflect toward 6. 4 is a shutter, 5 is a photosensitive member, and a CCD or MOS type solid-state image sensor or an image pickup tube such as a vidicon may be used in addition to the silver salt film. A focus detection unit 6 includes a field lens 6a, reflection mirrors 6b and 6c, a secondary optical system 6d, and a diaphragm 6 arranged near the image plane.
e, line sensor 6f, etc. The focus detection device in this embodiment uses a well-known phase difference detection method, and can detect the focus state of three different areas in the screen.

The structure of the focus detection unit 6 is shown in FIG.
The light flux from the subject reflected by the sub-mirror 3 forms an image near the field mask in FIG.

The field mask is a light-shielding member for selecting a focus detection area on the screen, and has a cross-shaped opening in the center and two vertically elongated openings on both sides. The three lenses forming the field lens 6a respectively correspond to the three openings of the field mask.

A diaphragm 6e is arranged behind the field lens 6a, and a pair of upper and lower openings is provided at the center, and two openings are provided at the left and right peripheral portions. The field lens 6a has a function of forming an image of each opening of the diaphragm 6e near the exit pupil of the taking lens 1.

There is a secondary optical system 6d behind the diaphragm 6e,
It consists of a total of 8 lenses, and each lens is an aperture
It corresponds to each opening of 6e. Each light beam that has passed through the field mask, the field lens 6a, the diaphragm 6e, and the secondary optical system 6d forms an image on a 4-to-8 sensor array on the focus detection sensor 6f. By photoelectrically converting the image on each sensor row pair and detecting the relative positional displacement of the four pairs of image signals, the central portion on the screen can be vertically and horizontally 2
It is possible to detect the focus state of a total of three areas, one in the direction and two in the periphery.

In the present invention, the central area will be referred to as a "central distance measuring point", the peripheral areas will be referred to as "right distance measuring point" and "left distance measuring point", respectively, and the surrounding areas will be referred to as "peripheral distance measuring points". It may be called. The central distance measuring point is represented by one of the two vertical and horizontal directions having the higher reliability of the detection result. The details of such a focus detection system are described in detail, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-211538 by the applicant of the present application, and therefore, further description will be omitted. Returning to FIG. 2, 7 and 8 are a well-known focusing plate and a pentaprism, and 9 and 10 are an image forming lens and a photometric sensor for measuring the subject brightness in the observation screen. Imaging lens 9
Connects the focusing plate 7 and the photometric sensor 10 in a conjugate manner via the reflection optical path in the pentaprism 8.

Next, behind the exit surface of the pentaprism 8, an eyepiece lens 11 provided with a light splitter 11a is arranged, and the eye 15 of the photographer is placed.
It is used to observe the focusing plate 7 by. The light splitter 11a is
For example, it is composed of a dichroic mirror that transmits visible light and reflects infrared light. Reference numeral 12 is a light receiving lens, and 14 is an area sensor in which photoelectric elements such as CCDs are two-dimensionally arranged. The area sensor is arranged so as to be conjugate with the vicinity of the pupil of the user's eye 15 at a predetermined position with respect to the light receiving lens 12. Reference numerals 13a to 13f are six IREDs which are illumination light sources. Eyepiece 11,
The light receiving lens 12, the IREDs 13a to 13f, and the area sensor 14 are components of the line-of-sight detecting means in this embodiment.

21 is a LE for finder and superimpose
The light emitted at D is reflected by the main mirror 2 via the projection prism 22 and is vertically bent by the minute prism group 7a provided in the display portion of the focusing plate 7, and the penta prism 8 and the eyepiece lens 11 are provided. To reach the user's eye 15. Then focus plate 7
The minute prism group 7a is formed in a frame shape at positions corresponding to the plurality of focus detection areas above, and is illuminated by three superimposing LEDs 21 corresponding to each.

As a result, three distance measuring point marks, which will be described later, illuminate in the finder field, and the focus detection area (distance measuring point) can be displayed. Reference numeral 23 is a mask that forms the viewfinder viewing area. 24 is a finder lower LCD for displaying shooting information outside the field of view of the finder.
Illuminated from behind. The light transmitted through the LCD 24 is guided into the viewfinder by the triangular prism 26,
As shown at 24 in FIG. 4, the image is displayed in the lower part of the finder field so that the user can know the photographing information.

FIG. 4 shows the viewfinder field. There are focus detection area (distance measuring point) marks 7C, 7R, and 7L as indexes indicating three focus detection areas in the imaging field 7 on the focus plate limited by the finder field mask 23. These distance measuring point marks are minute prisms formed on the focusing plate as described above, and are illuminated by the superimposing LED. There is a liquid crystal display (LCD) 24 at the bottom of the viewfinder, which shows the focus of the focus detection device of the camera, the charge completion display of the strobe,
Shutter (Tv) value and aperture (Av) consisting of segment display
Values, line of sight marks, etc. are arranged.

Returning to FIG. 2 again, 31 is an aperture provided in the taking lens, 32 is an aperture drive device, 33 is a lens drive motor, 34 is a lens drive member including a drive gear, and 35 is a photointerrupter which is a lens. Pulse plate that is interlocked by the driving member 34
The rotation of 36 is detected and transmitted to the focus optical system drive circuit 40. The focus optical system drive circuit 40 drives the lens drive motor by a predetermined amount based on this information and the information on the lens drive amount sent from the camera side, and moves the taking lens 1 to the in-focus position. A mount contact 37 serves as an interface between a known camera and a lens. FIG. 1 shows an electric circuit diagram of an embodiment of the camera of the present invention. The same elements as those in FIG. 2 have the same reference numerals.

A microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as "CPU") 100 includes a line-of-sight detecting area sensor 14, a photometric sensor 10, a focus detecting sensor 6f, a signal input circuit 104, an LCD.
The drive circuit 105, the LED drive circuit 106, the IRED drive circuit 104, the shutter control circuit 108, and the motor drive circuit 109 are connected.

The visual axis detecting means comprises the CPU 100, the visual axis detecting area sensor 14 and the IRED drive circuit 104, and the focus detecting means comprises the CPU 100 and the focus detecting sensor 6f. Also,
Signals such as focus adjustment information and aperture control information are transmitted via the lens communication circuit 102 and the mount contact 37 shown in FIG. The details of the photometric sensor 10, the shutter control circuit 108, the motor drive circuit 109, and the lens communication circuit 102 are not directly related to the present invention, so further description will be omitted.

The CPU 100 has a built-in ROM for storing a program for controlling the camera operation, RAM for storing variables, and EEPROM (electrically erasable / writable memory) for storing various parameters. It functions as a judgment range setting means and a selection means. The line-of-sight detection area sensor 14 includes a line-of-sight detection optical system (the eyepiece lens 11 of FIG.
The light receiving lens (12) photoelectrically converts the eyeball image of the user formed on the sensor surface and transmits the electric signal to the CPU (100). The CPU 100 A / D converts the transmitted electric signal and stores the image data in the RAM. Further, the CPU 100 performs signal processing on the image data according to a predetermined algorithm stored in the ROM to calculate the line of sight of the user.

The signal input circuit 104 is various switches 1 of the camera.
The switch 114 is a circuit for transmitting the state to the camera, and the switch 114 includes a switch (not shown) that is turned on by the first and second strokes and a switch for setting various states of the camera. The LED drive circuit 106 controls the above-described superimposing LED 21 and finder illumination LED 25. IRED
The drive circuit 107 controls the IREDs 13a to 13f for line-of-sight detection. According to an instruction from the CPU 100, the liquid crystal drive circuit 105 displays an aperture value, a shutter speed, a set shooting mode, etc. on an external LCD 42 (not shown) arranged outside the camera and a finder lower LCD 24 arranged below the finder. Can be displayed.

The operation of the camera of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIG. 9 and subsequent figures.

By turning on the release button, the camera starts a series of operations. After step (S10) in FIG. 9, the camera first executes a photometric operation in step (S11).

Next, in step (S11), a visual line detection operation is executed to detect the visual line of the user. The specific gaze detection operation is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-88936 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-125 by the present applicant.
The detailed description is omitted because it is disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent No. 874, etc., but the general operation is as follows. The IRED drive circuit 107 turns on an appropriate one of the IREDs 13a to 13f to illuminate the eyeball of the user. In this state, the line-of-sight detection area sensor 14 is accumulated for a predetermined time. After storing, IRED is turned off and CP
The U100 sequentially inputs the eyeball image signals from the sensor 14 and performs A / D conversion and RAM storage. Thereafter, the eyeball image signal stored in the RAM is processed by a known method to detect the eyeball rotation angle of the user. Detected eye rotation angle and storage means EEPR
Individual difference correction is performed using the individual difference correction data stored in the OM, and the line of sight of the user, that is, the line of sight coordinates on the finder, is calculated.

When the line-of-sight information is obtained, or even if the line-of-sight detection fails, in the next step (S13), one of a plurality of AF points of the multipoint AF is selected to control the servo AF. Subroutine "Servo AF control" is executed. The subroutine "servo AF control" will be described in detail later, but when the drive amount of the photographing lens is selected in the same subroutine, the lens drive is executed in the next step (S14).

In the next step (S15), the state of the release button of the camera is detected, and if it is still on, the process branches to step (S11) to repeat the operations of step (S11) and subsequent steps. If it is already off, the servo AF operation is ended in step (S17).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the subroutine "servo AF operation" for controlling the servo AF operation.
When this subroutine is called in step (S13) of FIG. 9, focus detection of three focus detection points of the present invention is executed in step (S21) through step (S20). A specific method of focus detection is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-211538, more specifically Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-216905, etc., by the applicant of the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the next step (S22), it is determined whether or not the line-of-sight detection in step (S12) is successful, and if the line-of-sight detection is unsuccessful, it is determined in step (S23) whether the predictive servo control is possible.

The predictive servo AF of the present invention is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-107224.
As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-242242, this is a method of driving a lens by predicting a future image plane movement amount of a subject based on a plurality of continuous focus states in the past. For example, the image plane movement amount of an approaching subject is represented as a curve d shown in FIG. Therefore, if the first focus detection after the release button is turned on or the focus detection cannot be performed in the past, information for predicting a future change in the image plane movement amount becomes insufficient, and the predictive servo cannot be executed. Such a determination is made in step (S23). Now, if it is determined that the predictive servo is impossible in the determination in step (S23), step (S24)
Go to and select the subroutine "Focusing point selection with normal servo"
To execute. When it is determined that the predictive servo is possible, the process proceeds to step (S25), and the subroutine "distance measuring point selection by predictive servo" is executed.

When the line-of-sight detection is successful and the user's line-of-sight can be obtained in step (S22), the subroutine "focus detection point selection in line-of-sight prediction servo is selected" to execute servo AF using the line-of-sight information. Execute. Each subroutine for selecting a focus detection point in Servo AF "selection of focus detection point in normal servo", "selection of focus detection point in predictive servo", "selection of focus detection point in gaze prediction servo" will be described later However, when the distance measuring point is selected in each subroutine, the driving amount of the photographing lens is calculated based on the focus information of the distance measuring point selected in step (S27) or (S28). Especially step
In the case of the prediction servo of (S28), it is necessary to calculate the lens drive amount by predicting future movement of the subject based on the focus information of the past multiple times. The specific contents of this calculation are described in JP-A-1-
This is described in detail in Japanese Patent No. 107224 and the like.

When the calculation of the lens drive amount in step (S27) or (S28) is completed, "Servo AF" is executed in step (S29).
The "control" subroutine ends. FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of a "selecting a distance measuring point by normal servo" subroutine. After step (S30), in step (S31) it is determined whether or not the AF is the first time, and if it is not the first time, step (S32)
Then, it is determined whether the previously selected focus detection point X is OK (focus detection is possible) in this focus detection. This judgment is generally made based on the contrast of the image signal, the correlation amount obtained in the correlation calculation process in the phase difference detection method, and the like. If the focus detection of the focus detection point X is OK this time, the focus detection point X selected this time is selected as the focus detection point X in step (S35).

If it is determined in step (S31) that the AF is the first time, or in step (S32) that the previous focus detection point X is not OK in this focus detection, there is no basis for selecting the focus detection point this time. In the flow after (S33), the most appropriate AF point for Servo AF is selected. That is, if the focus detection of the central focus detection point is OK in step (S33), the process proceeds to step (S37) to select the central focus detection point. If the focus cannot be detected at the central focus detection point, it is determined in step (S34) whether the focus detection is OK for the two peripheral focus detection points except the center. Since there is no selection method in, the central focus detection point is selected in step (S37). If focus detection is OK for the peripheral focus points, move to step (S36) and focus detection O
Selects the AF point that is capturing the subject on the near side of the K AF points as the selected AF point. For that purpose, it suffices to select the distance measuring point having the most rearward pin among the detected defocus amounts of each distance measuring point.

As described above, the range-finding point selection by the normal servo is briefly summarized as follows: (1) If the previously selected range-finding point is OK for focus detection this time, that range-finding point is also selected this time. (2) If the previously selected focus detection point cannot be selected this time, the central focus detection point with the highest existence probability of the main subject is selected. (3) If the central focus detection point cannot be selected, select the focus detection point where the subject on the near side exists. (4) If all focus points cannot be detected at this time, select the center focus point. Becomes

Next, the "selection of distance measuring point by predictive servo" subroutine will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. After step (S40), in step (S41), the current focus detection state of the last selected focus detection point X is determined in the same manner as “selection of focus detection point by normal servo”. Focusing point X this time is focus detection O
If K, in the next step (S42), the continuity of the image plane movement amount of the distance measuring point X is determined. Here, the continuity of the image plane movement amount will be described. When the subject is a moving body, the amount of movement of the image plane changes smoothly as shown by the curve d in FIG. The image plane moving speed is the moving amount per unit time, that is, the gradient (slope) of this curve. In the focus detection operation, when one focus detection point captures the same subject, the image plane movement amount observed by the focus detection point becomes smooth as shown by the curve d in FIG.

However, when the same subject moves between a plurality of distance measuring points, the curve of the image plane movement amount becomes discontinuous.
The state is schematically shown in FIG. FIG. 6A shows a state in which the subject Q (for example, a car) is captured at the right focus detection point 7R in the finder 7, and the central focus detection point 7C and the left focus detection point 7L are capturing the background. It is assumed that AF is continued in this state, and at time ta, the position of the subject Q moves from the right distance measuring point 7R to the left distance measuring point 7L as shown in FIG. 6 (B). FIG. 8 shows changes in the amount of movement of the image plane observed by each distance measuring point in such a situation. The curves dR, dC, and dL are the image plane movement amounts observed at the right, center, and left focus points, respectively. Times of Day
Up to ta, only the right AF point captures the subject Q, so only dR increases smoothly and monotonically. Center,
Since the left AF point captures the background such as a road, there is almost no change in the image plane movement amounts dC and dL.

When the subject Q moves from the right focus detection point to the left focus detection point at time ta, the image plane movement amounts dR and dL become as shown in FIG. Is d before time ta
It will be replaced with R and d after time ta. In step (S42), the continuity of the image plane movement amount is determined. Specifically, the image plane movement speed of the selected focus detection points up to the previous time is compared with the image plane movement speed of the focus detection points that are candidates this time, and if there is no significant change, it is considered that there is continuity. to decide. Actually, the focus detection operation is executed at a predetermined time interval, so if the image plane movement amount at discrete time t (i) is d (i), the image plane movement velocity v at time t (i) is (i)
Can be expressed as v (i) = [d (i) -d (i-1)] / [t (i) -t (i-1)].

In determining the change in continuity, paying attention to the difference in speed, when | v (i) -v (i-1) | <vth is satisfied, it is determined that "continuity exists". Alternatively, paying attention to the speed ratio, if vthr1 <v (i) / v (i-1) <vthr2 holds, it may be judged as "continuous". In any case, since it is assumed that the target subject is a moving body, it is not the amount of movement of the image plane itself,
It is desirable to pay attention to the moving speed.

In the case of FIG. 8, before the time ta, the last selected focus detection point is the right focus detection point, and its image plane movement amount is dR.
Since the distance measuring point that is the candidate this time is the right distance measuring point as in the previous time, the change in the image plane moving speed between the previous time and this time is small and it is determined that there is continuity. However, when the continuity is judged across ta at time ta, the image plane movement amount was dR at the right focus point last time, and the candidate this time is the right focus point, so the image plane moving speed is large. Change, and in this case, it is judged that there is no continuity.

Returning to FIG. 11, for example, the time in the case of FIG.
If it is determined that the distance measuring point X (right distance measuring point in the case of FIG. 8) has continuity as before ta, the distance measuring point X is determined in step (S43).
Is selected as the selected focus detection point this time. If focus detection cannot be performed for the focus detection point X in step (S41), or if it is determined that the focus detection point X is not continuous in step (S42), the focus detection point X cannot be selected this time. In step S44, from the viewpoint of the continuity of the amount of movement of the image plane, a distance measuring point in which the previously selected distance measuring point and the current moving speed best match the above-described continuity determination scale is searched for. Specifically, among the AF points other than AF point X, “| vY (i) -vX (i-1) | is the smallest” or “vY (i) / vX (i-1) is the most. Search for AF point Y that is close to 1. However, vX (i-1) is the previous image plane moving speed of the last distance measuring point X, and vY (i) is the current image plane moving speed of the distance measuring point Y.

In the example of FIG. 8, the image plane movement amount dR of the right focus detection point is discontinuous at time ta, but after ta, the image plane movement amount dL of the left focus detection point is continuous with respect to dR. In step (S44), such a distance measuring point can be searched. Now, in step (S45), the range-finding point Y searched in this way is stepped
Similar to (S42), the continuity is judged. The difference from step (S42) is that the distance measuring points to be compared are different distance measuring points. In the expression, if | vY (i) -vX (i-1) | <vth holds, or if vthr1 <vY (i) / vX (i-1) <vthr2 holds, it means that there is continuity. to decide. Step (S4
If it is determined in 5) that the distance measuring point Y has continuity, the distance measuring point Y selected this time is selected as the distance measuring point Y selected in step (S46). When the current selected focus detection point is selected in step (S43) or step (S46), the subroutine "selection of focus detection point by predictive servo" ends in step (S48). Step (S45)
From the viewpoint of the continuity of the amount of movement of the image plane, if a new distance measuring point is not found, the predictive servo is disabled in step (S47), the terminal A is used, and the subroutine "normal servo" in FIG. Steps in the flowchart of "Selecting AF points"
The process branches to (S33) to select a distance measuring point that is not the predictive servo. As mentioned above, the focus point selection by the predictive servo can be summarized simply as follows: (1) If the focus detection point of the previously selected focus point is OK this time, and if the image plane movement amount is continuous, then that focus point is selected this time. Also select. (2) If the previously selected focus detection point cannot be selected this time, select a focus detection point with continuous image plane movement amount. (3) If a distance measuring point with continuous image plane movement is not found this time, the predictive servo is disabled and an appropriate distance measuring point is selected as a normal servo. Becomes

However, in reality, continuity of the amount of movement of the image plane may be observed to some extent at the distance measuring points other than the distance measuring point where the main subject exists. It is not always possible to switch to the optimal focus detection point. In such a case, it is effective to support the selection of distance measuring points by the line-of-sight information.

The "selecting the distance measuring point by the line-of-sight prediction servo" subroutine will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
After step (S50), in step (S51) a "selection of distance measuring point by line of sight" subroutine is executed. In this subroutine, the distance measuring point is selected from the line-of-sight position coordinates, but in the present invention, the selection method differs between the first line-of-sight detection and the subsequent steps. The difference will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 (a) shows the correspondence between the line-of-sight position coordinates on the finder in the first line-of-sight detection and the distance measuring points selected based on the coordinates. Three focus points 7L, 7C, 7R on the viewfinder
Are arranged at predetermined intervals. The distance measuring point is selected as follows. If the coordinates of the detected line of sight on the viewfinder are (x, y), if -x1 ≤ x ≤ x1, the central distance measuring point 7C
Select

If -x2≤x≤-x1, the left distance measuring point 7L is selected.

If x1≤x≤x2, the right distance measuring point 7R is selected. Select the AF point under the condition. Only the horizontal x-axis coordinate of the line of sight is used for selection. The first time, anyway, it is necessary to select the distance measuring point by the line of sight, and since the distance measuring point is arranged in the horizontal direction, it is selected only by the x-axis coordinate of the line of sight position coordinates. The coordinates x1 and x2 are set so that the three distance measuring points are divided at equal intervals. And the x coordinate is x2, -x2
Ranges over the range will be disabled. On the other hand, the x coordinate is x
If 2 is not taken into consideration and a range where the focus detection points cannot be selected is not created, set as follows.

If x1≤x≤x1, the central distance measuring point 7C is selected.

If x≤-x1, the left focus detection point 7L is selected.

If x1≤x, the right distance measuring point 7R is selected.

Next, the selection method after the second visual axis detection will be described. FIG. 5 (b) shows the correspondence between the line-of-sight position coordinates on the finder after the second line-of-sight detection and the distance measuring points selected based on the coordinates. After the second time, the distance measuring point is selected as follows.

If -x1≤x≤x1 and -y1≤y≤y1, the central distance measuring point 7C is selected.

If -x2≤x≤-x1 and -y1≤y≤y1,
Select the left AF point 7L.

If x1≤x≤x2 and -y1≤y≤y1, the right distance measuring point 7R is selected. That is, when the absolute value of the vertical coordinate y exceeds y1, it is considered that the user is not gazing at the focus detection point, and the focus detection point is not selected by the line of sight.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the "selecting a distance measuring point by the line of sight" subroutine for performing the distance measuring point selection described above.
4 shows. After step (S60), it is determined in step (S61) whether or not the line-of-sight detection is the first time, and if it is not the first time, the vertical coordinate y is checked in step (S62). If the absolute value of the y coordinate exceeds the coordinate y1, it is considered that the observer is not gazing at the focus detection point, and a new focus detection point is not changed based on the result of this line of sight, and the step (S69 ),
The previously selected focus detection point is set as the selected focus detection point this time, and this subroutine is returned in the next step (S70).

If the absolute value of the y coordinate of the line of sight is within the coordinate y1 in step (S62), it is considered that the observer is gazing at the focus detection point, and x is determined in step (S63) (S65) (S67). Check the coordinates, and if the x coordinate is within the specified range, step (S6
4) Select the AF points in (S66) and (S68), and then step (S70).
Then this subroutine is returned. If the x coordinate is not within any of the ranges, it is considered that the observer is not gazing at the focus detection point, the new focus detection point is not changed based on the result of the line of sight, and the process proceeds to step (S69). Move to the next step (S70) with the previously selected AF point as the currently selected AF point.
Then this subroutine is returned.

A flow chart in the case where the range in which the focus detection points cannot be selected is not created in the first sight line detection will be described with reference to FIG. The same steps as those in the flowchart of FIG. 14 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Step (S61)
If it is the first time, it is judged whether the line of sight detection is the first time.
Check the x coordinate in steps (S71) (S72) (S73), and
If the coordinates are within the predetermined range, step (S64) (S66) (S68)
Select the AF point with. If it is not the first time, the y-coordinate and the x-coordinate are checked in the same manner as in the flowchart of FIG. 14, and the distance measuring point is selected.

When the distance measuring point is selected based on the line-of-sight result as described above, the flow returns to the flowchart of FIG.
In the next step (S52), the focus detection state of the focus detection point X selected by the line of sight this time is determined. This distance measuring point X is the distance measuring point closest to the coordinates of the line of sight of the user on the finder. If the focus detection at the focus detection point X is OK this time, at the next step (S53), the step (S at the focus detection point selection in the predictive servo) (S
Similar to 42), the continuity of the image plane movement amount of the distance measuring point X is determined.

When it is determined that the distance measuring points X have continuity,
In step (S54), the focus detection point X is selected as the selected focus detection point this time. When it is determined in step (S52) that the focus of the focus detection point X cannot be detected, or in step (S53) that there is no continuity of the focus detection point X, the process proceeds to step (S55). Step (S55)
Now, increase the "gaze count" of the distance measuring point X by 1. At the same time, the "gaze count" of the AF points other than AF point X is cleared. "Gaze count" prepared for each distance measuring point,
This is a count indicating how many times the user is gazing at the focus detection point in succession.

Then, in the next step (S56), it is checked whether or not the gaze count of the distance measuring point X has reached a predetermined value or more. If it is more than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step (S57) and prediction servo is disabled. Then, the focus detection point X is selected in step (S54). The distance measuring point X cannot be selected this time by the judgment based on the focus detection information, but respecting the fact that the user is gazing at the distance measuring point many times, even if the predictive servo is disabled, The point is selected.

In step (S56), if the gazing count of the distance measuring point X is less than the predetermined value, the process branches to the step "S44" of the subroutine "prediction servo distance measuring point selection" via the terminal B, and the line of sight is determined. Performs non-based AF point selection.

The selection of distance measuring points by the line-of-sight predicting servo is briefly summarized as follows. (1) The "distance measuring point by line-of-sight" is selected based on the result of the line-of-sight.

When it is considered that the line of sight is not gazing at the focus detection point, the previously selected focus detection point is set as the selected focus detection point. The determination of the focus on the distance measuring point differs between the first and second visual axis detections, and the second and subsequent visual detections are stricter as a reference. (2) Select focus detection point by line of sight If focus detection is OK this time and there is continuity in the amount of movement of the image plane, that focus detection point is also selected this time. (3) Selection by line-of-sight If the distance measuring point cannot be selected this time, the distance measuring point having continuous image plane movement amount is selected. (4) However, if the user repeatedly looks at the same focus detection point, it is considered that the main subject has switched, and that focus detection point is selected, and the prediction servo is disabled. Becomes

By performing such control, as shown in FIG. 6, even if the main subject Q moves in the screen during servo AF or the user's line of sight moves greatly in the screen, focus adjustment is performed. Servo AF can be continued by appropriately changing the focus detection points. The mark EP in FIG. 6 represents the line-of-sight position coordinates on the screen of the user. In FIG. 6A, the user looks at the subject Q, the right focus detection point is selected accordingly, and the servo AF is executed. As shown in Fig. 6 (b), the line of sight of the user is the subject Q.
Also, even if you look at other than the three focus detection points, the focus detection points do not switch because the vertical coordinates are not appropriate. Subject Q in Fig. 6 (c)
Is moved to the left side of the screen, and if the image plane movement amount is smoothly changing as shown in FIG. 7, only focus information is used as described in the subroutine “distance measuring point selection by predictive servo”. However, it is possible to switch to the left focus point, but the amount of image plane movement actually observed contains a considerable error,
Switching is often incorrect.

In such a case, if the user's line of sight is gazing at the main subject as indicated by the mark EP in FIG. 6C, the distance measuring point can be switched to the left according to the above control. . (Other Embodiments) The focus detection system of the embodiment is a form of a phase difference detection system capable of detecting the focus of three areas in the screen as shown in FIG. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this focus detection method, and it has three or more focus detection areas on the left and right sides, a focus detection area in the vertical direction of the screen, or a contrast detection type focus detection method. Even the method does not change the essence of the present invention.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, the line-of-sight detecting means for detecting the line-of-sight position in the finder of the user looking into the finder, and the focus capable of detecting the focus for each of the plurality of focus detection areas. Detection means, determination range setting means for setting a determination range for selecting the focus detection area based on the user's line-of-sight position, and any of the determination ranges include the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detection means. In the optical device having the line-of-sight detection means having a selection means for selecting at least one focus detection area from the plurality of focus detection areas, the focus detection means performs focus detection operation even after focusing. The range setting means sets the first determination range during the first operation of the operation mode, and sets the second determination range during the second and subsequent operations.
When the range setting means selects the first judgment range, the focus detection area is always selected based on the line-of-sight position of the user. When the second determination range is set, a region that does not select the focus detection region is formed based on the line-of-sight position of the user, so that an appropriate determination is made according to the operating state of the focus detection unit. Since the range is set,
It is possible to select a focus detection area that is more suitable for the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electric circuit of a camera of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a main part of a camera of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a focus detection system.

[Figure 4] Example of camera viewfinder

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between a distance measuring point and line-of-sight coordinates.

[Fig. 6] Example of viewfinder field

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an image plane movement amount of a subject.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an image plane movement amount of a subject.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the camera of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the camera of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the camera of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the camera of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the camera of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the camera of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the camera of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Focus detection unit 7 Focus plate 7L, 7C, 7R Distance measuring point display 11, 12 Eyesight detection optical system 13 Eyeball illumination IRED 14 Eyesight detection area sensor 23 Vision mask 100 CPU

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a line-of-sight position in a finder of a user looking into the finder, a focus detecting means capable of detecting a focus in each of a plurality of focus detection areas, and a line-of-sight position of the user. Determination range setting means for setting a determination range for selecting the focus detection area based on the, and determining which of the determination ranges the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detection means falls within, In an optical device having a line-of-sight detection means having a selection means for selecting at least one focus detection area from the focus detection areas, the focus detection means has an operation mode in which the focus detection operation is continued even after focusing, and the range is The setting means sets the first determination range at the first operation of the operation mode and sets the second determination range at the second and subsequent operations of the operation mode. When the first determination range is selected, any one of the focus detection areas is always selected based on the position of the line of sight of the user, and when the second determination range is set, the usage An optical device having a line-of-sight detection means, wherein a region in which the focus detection region is not selected is formed based on the position of the line-of-sight of the person. 2. When the range setting means sets the second determination range and the user's line-of-sight position is in a region where the focus detection region is not selected based on the line-of-sight position, the previous focus is set. An optical device having a line-of-sight detection means according to claim 1, wherein a detection region is selected. 3. A line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a line-of-sight position in the finder of a user looking into the finder, and focus detection for a plurality of focus detection areas, respectively, so that the user can visually recognize the focus. Focus detection means each provided with an index corresponding to each focus detection area, determination range setting means for setting a determination range for selecting the focus detection area based on the line-of-sight position of the user,
A line-of-sight detection unit having a selection unit that determines which determination range the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detection unit is included in and selects at least one focus detection region from the plurality of focus detection regions. In optical equipment which we have,
The focus detection means has an operation mode in which the focus detection operation is continued even after focusing, the indexes are arranged side by side in the first direction in the viewfinder, and the range setting means is the first operation in the operation mode. Sometimes the first determination range is set, the second determination range is set during the second and subsequent operations, and when the first determination range is set, only the information on the first direction of the line-of-sight position is set. On the basis of the above, at least one focus detection area is selected from the plurality of focus detection areas, and when the second determination range is set, the first direction and the first direction of the line-of-sight position and An optical device having line-of-sight detection means, characterized in that at least one focus detection region is selected from the plurality of focus detection regions based on information about a second direction that is orthogonal to each other.