JPH03220534A - Camera with automatic focus detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of two depth modes by making re-operation easy in automatic depth mode and making the result of once depth processing hard to cancel in normal depth mode. CONSTITUTION:In the automatic depth mode, an arithmetic result obtained by past automatic depth processing is canceled through the re-operation of an operation control operation member PRS after the automatic depth processing and new automatic depth processing is performed. In the normal depth mode, on the other hand, the result obtained by the previous normal depth processing is maintained even when the operation control operation members PRS is re-operated after the normal depth processing. Consequently, the operability can be improved by displaying the characteristics of the two depth modes sufficiently.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an autofocus camera that focuses on a plurality of different subjects while taking depth of field into consideration.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a camera of this kind, patent application No. 61-236841
As stated in the publication, the camera has a distance measurement position in the center of the screen, measures distance by swinging the camera toward different subjects, calculates the amount of defocus for each subject, and determines whether each subject is in focus. A camera has been proposed in which the camera is operated by controlling the aperture value and lens position to achieve the desired state.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-76964 discloses an autofocus camera capable of distance measurement at multiple positions, which simultaneously detects the amount of defocus at multiple points to bring multiple subjects into focus. A camera has been proposed in which the depth of field is taken into account and the camera is operated by controlling the aperture value and lens position.

[Problem that the invention is trying to solve]

Shake the camera to detect defocus multiple times for different subjects in the one subject area (focusing point) above, calculate the amount of defocus for each, and control the aperture and lens position to bring each subject into focus. In the photographing mode (normal depth mode) to be performed, by pressing the defocus detection switch multiple times, defocus detection of a plurality of subjects is performed, and the operation is completed after a predetermined number of switch operations. Separately, in a shooting mode (auto depth mode) that performs defocus detection at multiple distance measuring points simultaneously and controls the aperture and lens position to keep multiple subjects in focus, set the defocus detection switch to 1. Press once to complete the operation. These two shooting modes both control the lens position and aperture with consideration to the depth of field for multiple subjects, but since the operation methods are different, the method for re-operating after the operation is completed is the same. This may lead to confusion. In other words, if the operating state is canceled when the switch is turned OFF after the control operation is completed in a control mode in which the switch is operated multiple times (normal depth mode), the operating state may be canceled by mistake as the defocus detection operation is repeated. It's easy to get lost. Conversely, in a control mode (auto depth mode) that detects the defocus of multiple subjects with a single defocus detection operation, if the operating state is maintained when the switch is turned OFF, focus detection will be performed again. It becomes very difficult to do.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned matters, and in the auto depth mode, by re-operating the motion control operation member after the auto depth processing is completed, the calculation results obtained in the previous auto depth processing can be canceled. In addition to executing a new auto depth process, on the other hand, in the normal depth mode, even if the above-mentioned motion control operation member is operated again after the normal depth process is completed, the results obtained in the previous normal depth process are retained. The object of the present invention is to provide a camera with operability that fully takes advantage of the characteristics of two depth modes.

The present invention further measures distances in a plurality of different areas independently, and performs an autofocus operation (manual selection autofocus mode) based on the distance measurement result at a focus point in one area arbitrarily specified manually. , automatically selects a distance measurement point in at least one area from among the distance measurement results of each area according to a predetermined algorithm, and performs an autofocus operation (autofocus operation) based on the distance measurement result at the selected distance measurement point. A camera that performs the autofocus mode (selective autofocus mode) is equipped with the normal depth mode and autodepth mode functions described above, and is configured so that the autodepth mode is automatically selected when the autoselective autofocus mode is manually selected. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera that allows easy correspondence between the selection of normal and auto depth modes and the selection of a distance measurement point.

〔Example〕

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of a camera equipped with an automatic focusing device of the present invention, and first, the configuration of each part will be explained.

In the figure, PRS is a camera control device, and is, for example, a 1-chip microcomputer having an internal CPU (central processing unit), ROM, RAM, and A/D conversion function. PRS is an automatic exposure control function that follows the camera's sequence program stored in ROM.

Automatic focus adjustment function 1 Display function Performs a series of camera operations such as film winding and rewinding. To this end, the PRS uses communication signals So, SI, 5CLK, and communication selection signals CLCM, C3DR, and CDDR to communicate with the peripheral circuits of the camera body and the control device inside the lens, and controls the operation of each circuit and lens. do.

SO is the data signal output from PRS, SL is PRS
The data signal input to 5CLK is the signal So, Sl
This is a synchronous clock.

LCM is a lens communication buffer circuit, and when the camera is in operation, it supplies power to the lens power supply terminal VL, and the selection signal CLCM from PRS is at a high potential level (hereinafter abbreviated as H°, and the low potential level is (abbreviated as L), it serves as a communication buffer between the camera and the lens.

When PRS sets CLCM to high and sends predetermined data from SO in synchronization with 5CLK, LCM
5CLK, S via the inter-lens communication contact.

The respective buffer signals LCK and DCL are output to the lens. At the same time, the buffer signal of the signal DLC from the lens is output to SI, and PRS is synchronized with 5CLK to SI.
Enter the lens data from .

DDR is a switch detection and display circuit, and the signal C
Selected when DDR is H', So, SI.

Controlled from PRS using 5CLK. That is, PRS
Display member D of the camera based on the data sent from
It switches the display of the SP, selectively operates the superimpose display LEDs, .

SWI and SW2 are switches that are linked to a release button (not shown), and when the release button is pressed in the first step, SW is activated.
I is turned on, and then SW2 is turned on by pressing in the second stage. PRS performs photometry and automatic focus adjustment when SWI is on, and uses SW2 on as a trigger to control exposure and then advance the film.

In addition, SW2 is a microcomputer called PRS.
It is connected to the "interrupt input terminal", and an interrupt is generated when SW2 is turned on even when the program is running when SWl is on.
Control can be immediately transferred to a predetermined interrupt program.

MTRI is for film feeding, MTR2 is for mirror up/
It is a motor for down and shutter spring charging,
Forward rotation and reverse rotation are controlled by the respective drive circuits MDRI- and MDR2. PRS to MDRI.

Signals MIF, MIR, M2F input to MDR2
.

M2R is a signal for motor control.

MCI and MG2 are magnets for starting the running of the front and rear shutter curtains, respectively, and are energized by signals SMGI, 5MG2, and amplification transistors TRI and T'R2, and shutter control is performed by PRS.

A signal DCL input to the intra-lens control circuit LPR3 in synchronization with LCK is data of a command from the camera to the photographing lens LNS, and the operation of the lens in response to the command is determined in advance. The LPR5 analyzes the command according to a predetermined procedure and performs focus adjustment, aperture control operations, and output DL.
The operation status of each part of the lens from C (driving status of the focusing optical system, driving status of the aperture, etc.) and various parameters (open F
number, focal length, coefficient of defocus amount versus amount of movement of the focusing optical system, etc.).

In the embodiment, an example of a zoom lens is shown, and when a command for the focus unit is sent from the camera, the focus adjustment motor LTMR is driven by signals LMF and LMR according to the driving amount and direction sent at the same time. Then, the focus adjustment optical system is moved in the optical axis direction to perform focus adjustment. The amount of movement of the optical system is monitored by the pulse signal 5ENCF of the encoder circuit ENCF and counted by a counter in the LPR3, and when the predetermined movement is completed, the LPR3 itself outputs the signals LMF, L
Motor LMTR is controlled by setting MR to L'.

Therefore, once the focus adjustment command is sent from the camera, the camera control device PR3 does not need to be involved in lens driving at all until the lens driving is completed. Furthermore, the configuration is such that it is possible to send the contents of the counter to the camera if there is a request from the camera.

When an aperture control command is sent from the camera, a stepping motor DMTR, which is known for driving an aperture, is driven in accordance with the number of aperture stages sent at the same time.

E-NCZ is an encoder circuit attached to the zoom optical system, and LPR3 inputs the signal 5ENCZ from ENCZ to detect the zoom position. Lens parameters at each zoom position are stored in the LPR3, and when a request is made from the camera-side PH1, parameters corresponding to the current zoom position are sent to the camera.

SPC is a photometric sensor for exposure control that receives light from the subject through the photographic lens, and its output 5SPC is input to the analog input terminal of PH1, and after A/D conversion,
Used for automatic exposure control according to a predetermined program.

ISO is a means of reading the sensitivity of a film.
The x code is electrically read and the read film sensitivity signal 5ISO is input to PH1.

SDR is a drive circuit for the line sensor device SNS for focus detection, and is selected when the signal C3DR is H°.
Controlled by computer PR3 using o, Sl, and 5CLK.

Signal 5 given from computer PR3 to drive circuit SDR
ELI, 5EL2 is sensor row pair 5NSI, 5NS2゜5
This is a signal for selecting one of the image signal outputs of NS3,
After the accumulation is completed, the image signals of the selected pair of sensor rows are output.

The output VIDEO of the drive circuit SDR is the sensor device @SNS
The image signal is obtained by taking the difference between the image signal and the dark current output, and then amplifying it with a gain determined by the brightness of the subject.

The above-mentioned dark current output is the output value of a light-shielded pixel in the sensor array, and the drive circuit SDR retains the dark current output value in a capacitor using the signal DSH from the computer PR8 and transfers it from other pixels in the sensor array. performs differential amplification with the image signal.

VIDEO is connected to the analog input terminal of the computer PR3, and the computer PR3 converts the signal from analog to digital and sequentially stores the digital values at predetermined addresses on the RAM.

TINTEI is a signal indicating that the electric charge accumulated in the sensor array has become appropriate, and upon receiving this signal, the computer PR8 executes reading of the image signal.

CKI and CR2 are clocks for generating a driving clock for the sensor device SNS.

The storage operation of the sensor device SNS is started by the computer PR3 setting the signal C3DR to H'' and sending a predetermined "accumulation start command" to the drive circuit SDR.

As a result, the sensor performs photoelectric conversion of the subject image, and charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element section of the sensor. When this potential reaches a predetermined level, the drive circuit SDR outputs the signal T
Let INTEI be L'.

In response to this, the computer PR8 outputs a predetermined waveform to the clock CK2.

The drive circuit SDR generates a clock based on CR2 and provides it to the sensor device SNS, the sensor device SNS outputs an image signal based on the clock, and the computer PR5 outputs an internal A/D in synchronization with CR2 that it outputs. The conversion function converts the VIDEO input to the analog input terminal into
The D-converted digital signals are sequentially stored at predetermined addresses in the RAM.

2 and 3 are explanatory diagrams of the superimposed distance measurement field of view display, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main part. LEDI-LED3 in the figure is a display LED, and corresponds to display patterns 31-1 to 31-3 on the focusing glass in FIG. 3, respectively. 30 is a finder field frame. When the display LED emits light, the luminous flux thereof is guided to the display pattern section on the focusing glass by the light projecting lens 24 and the movable half mirror 20, as shown in FIG.

At this time, a Fresnel lens is provided on the exit surface 24a of the light projection lens 24, and by the action of this Fresnel lens, one display section is displayed by light emission from one LED.

The positions of the display patterns 31-1 to 31-3 correspond to the respective sensor row pairs of the sensor device sNs shown in FIG. It is possible.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained using FIG.

When the power is turned on to the camera, the RAM in the microcomputer PRS
are all cleared, each input/output port is initialized, and the program starts controlling from 5TART.

Step 70: Determine whether switch SWI is ON.

If SWI is ON, the process branches to step 78 to perform photometry and focus detection control.

If SWI is OFF, the process branches to step 70-1.

Assuming that SWI is currently OFF, the operations from step 70-1 onwards will be described below.

Step 70-1 Determine depth mode. Note that a mode in which a plurality of defocus amounts are detected and lens driving and aperture control are performed in consideration of depth is referred to as a depth mode. This mode is manually set by the photographer in step 74, which will be described later.

In the depth mode, the process proceeds to step 70-2, and in other modes, the process proceeds to step 70-5.

Step 70-2 A distance measurement point set in step 72 described later is determined. The distance measuring points to be set are the left side area, central area, right side area, and all areas of the screen.
There is a mode. The left side area is the sensor 5NS-1 in Fig. 4.
, the center area is in the ranging field of view of sensor 5NS-2, and the right side area is in the ranging field of view of sensor 5NS-3.
Further, the entire area corresponds to the distance measurement field of view of the sensors 5NS-1 to 5M5-3.

If one of the left, center, or right areas is selected, the process proceeds to step 70-3, and if all areas are selected, the process proceeds to step 70-4.

Step 70-3: Detect the change from on to off of the switch SW, and change the depth mode flag. That is, if flag depth state 1 is set, the flag is changed to depth state 2, and if depth state 2 is set,
Change to depth state 3. Note that when depth state 3 is set, the flag is not changed.

Further, the change of the switch SW1 from on to off is detected and the flag JF is set to "L".

Step 70-4 Clear parameters, flags, etc. related to depth. (The depth mode itself is not cleared.) Step 7O-5 Parameters related to AF (autofocus) operation are initialized.

Step 71 AF point selection switch (FD-3W) is set to O.
Determine whether it is N.

Step 7 if the AF point selection switch (FD-5W) is ON.
The process branches to 2 to perform distance measurement point switching processing.

If FD-3W is OFF, the process branches to step 73.

Note that the switch FD-3W is a predetermined switch in the switch group sws in FIG. 4.

Step 72 Switching of the distance measuring points is performed. While switching focus points, the currently set focus point is displayed in a superimposed display, and the switch (referred to as dial SW) that turns on and off in conjunction with dial operation switches the focus point. .

For example, every time you turn the dial SW a predetermined amount, the right side area →
The setting area is switched as follows: center area → left side area → all areas (automatic selection mode). In addition, this dial SW
is also a switch in the switch group SWS in FIG. Furthermore, when the entire area is set, a superimposed display of the distance measurement points on the gold side is made.

Step 73: Determine whether the AE mode setting switch is ON. AE mode SW (switch group SWS in Figure 4)
If a predetermined switch (within a predetermined switch) is ON, the process branches to step 74; otherwise, the process branches to step 75.

Step 74: Change the AE mode. Dial S
Manual mode → Shutter speed priority AE mode → Aperture priority AE mode → Program mode →
The modes are switched in the order of the debug mode. If you flip the dial, the modes will change in the opposite order. Also, while in AE mode, an external display shows which mode is set.

Step 75: Determine whether the timer is on.

While the timer is running, the process returns to step 70 and SW sensing is performed.

The timer is FP, SW, AE mode SW, dial S
The timer is set while the switches such as W are being operated, and the timer is turned off after a certain period of time has elapsed without any operation of these SWs.

Step 76: Turn off various displays before entering the software standby state.

Step 77 Put the microcomputer PR3 into software standby mode.

In this software standby state, not only the microcontroller itself but also the clock and built-in peripheral modules stop functioning, so current consumption is significantly reduced, but as long as the specified voltage is applied, The contents of the registers of the microcomputer PR3 and the data of the built-in RAM are retained. Further, the software standby state is canceled by changing each of the switches SW, and when the standby state is canceled, control is executed from 5TART.

With the above operations from Steps 70 to 77, the AF point switching mode is set with the FPSW, the AF point is selected with the dial SW, while the AE mode setting state is entered with the AE mode switch, and the AF point switching mode is set with the dial SW. AE mode is selectively set.

Next, the operation when the switch SWI is turned on will be explained.

When the switch SWI is turned on, the process proceeds to step 78.
It is determined whether the depth mode is set as the AE mode. If the depth mode is not set, the process proceeds to step 79, and if the depth mode is set, the process proceeds to step 80.

Step 79 If the depth mode is not selected, a normal focus detection operation is performed. The focus detection operation here refers to lens driving based on the amount of defocus detected at the selected distance measurement point when the distance measurement point is selected in advance by the photographer. On the other hand, in the automatic selection mode, the lens is driven based on the closest defocus amount among the defocus amounts at each distance measurement point.

Step 80: Determine whether a distance measurement point has been specified.

If the distance measurement point is set to the right, center, or left, the process branches to step 81, and if the automatic selection mode is set, the process branches to step 82, where automatic depth control is performed. That is, when the automatic selection mode is set in the depth mode, the depth becomes automatic.

Step 81: A depth operation to be described later is performed to determine the depth by performing distance measurement multiple times at one distance measurement point.

Step 82: Perform auto-depth control, which will be described later.

Step 83 A/D converts the output of the photometric sensor, and calculates the aperture value, shutter speed, etc. according to the set mode.

Step 84 During the above AF routine (NOMALDE
When the camera is in focus (PTH, AVTODEPTH, NOMAL AF), a JF flag is set, and branching is performed based on that flag.

When JF='H' (in focus state), the process branches to step 85.

If JF='L' (out-of-focus state), the process branches to step 70.

Step 85 If the subject is in focus, it is displayed to indicate that it is in focus (NOMAL DEPTH indicates that the processing for the current depth state has been completed).

Furthermore, NOMAL DEPTHSAUTODEPT
Superimposes display of the focus point set in H or NOMAL AF.

In particular, for superimpose display, if the previous focusing state is memorized and the display is performed only once for the first time, power consumption is reduced and the view in the finder is not disturbed.

Step 86 It is determined whether or not the release button has been pressed deeper and SW2 has been turned on. If it is determined that SW2 is ONL, the process proceeds to step 87 and branches to a release sequence (not shown), where the control value determined in step 83 is determined. Accordingly, aperture control and shutter control are performed, followed by film feeding control, etc., and the process returns to 5TART.

NOMALDEPT is then executed in step 81.
The subroutine operation of H will be explained using FIG.

Step 50-I Determine whether NOMAL DEPTH is performed for the first time, and if it is the first time, step 502
Set the flag depth state to 1 and set the flag JF to L°. If it is not the first time, proceed to step 51.

Step 51 There are three depth states, 1 to 3, and as will be described later, when the operation in one state is completed, the JF flag is set to H'. In step 70-3 of the main routine, the status is updated as described above and the JF flag is set to L'. Here, check the JF flag to determine whether the state has been updated. If JF = 'H' (the state has not been updated), branch to step 62 and return to the main routine, and JF = 'L' (the state has not been updated). has been updated), the process branches to step 52 and processes are performed according to each state.

Step 52: Branch depending on each depth state.

When the depth state is 1, the process branches to 53.

When the depth state is 2, the process branches to 54.

When the depth state is 3, the process branches to 58.

If this is the first time the NOMAL DEPTH subroutine is being executed, the process advances to step 53.

Step 53: Perform normal AF operation.

That is, an image signal is accumulated in the sensor of one distance measurement area selected in step 72 in FIG. and then focus on the subject at the selected distance measurement point. Further, when calculating the defocus amount described above, when a defocus amount that is considered to be in focus is obtained, the JF flag is set to H' and the lens is not driven.

When focusing is performed in step 53, step 62
The process returns to Steps 83 to 86 described above.

At this time, if the switch SWI is held in the on state, step 70.78. 80. 81 is executed.

When the NOMAL DEPTH subroutine is executed again, the process proceeds to step 51 without executing step 50-2. At this time, if the JF flag is L, steps 52 and 53 are executed again, and for the subject at the distance measurement point,
If the camera is in focus, the flag JF becomes "H'. Even after the NOMAL DEPTH subroutine is performed again in this way, if the switch SWI is kept on, the above operation will be repeated. NOMAL DE is repeated since the JF flag is set to H°.
Step 53 is not executed during the PTH subroutine,
The lens remains in focus.

When the switch SWI is turned off after focusing on the subject in the depth state l processing in this manner, the process proceeds to steps 70.70-1.70-2.70-3.

In step 70-3, as described above, since the change of the switch SWI from on to off is detected, the flag depth state is advanced from 1 to 2 and the JF flag is set to L'. Therefore, when the switch SWI is turned on again and the NOMAL DEPTH subroutine of step 81 is executed again, the process proceeds to step 54.

Step 54 The AF point (
The image accumulation and defocus amount are determined by the sensor at the same distance measurement point as in depth state 1). This defocus amount is stored in a predetermined RAM, and the process proceeds to step 55.

Step 55 The lens drive amount is calculated from the defocus amount detected in step 54, and the lens is driven.

Lens driving is performed by transmitting a lens driving command and a lens driving amount to the lens via a lens communication buffer LCM.

Step 56: Check whether the lens has stopped, and when the lens has finished driving, the process branches to step 57.

Step 57 Since depth state 2 has ended, JF゛H'
Make it.

When the switch SWI is turned off after the processing of depth state 2 is completed in this way, step 70-3 is executed as described above, the flag depth state is advanced to 3, and the JF flag is set to L.
’, turn on the switch SWI again, and then press NO again.
The MAL DEPTH subroutine is executed. In this NOMAL DEPTH subroutine, since the depth state has advanced to 3, step 58 is performed.

Step 58 Calculate the aperture value from the defocus amount detected in step 54.

This aperture value is calculated by dividing the detected defocus amount by the circle of least confusion=35 μm, and the apex value of this value becomes the AV value.

Step 59 An intermediate position is determined from the lens position in depth state 1 and the lens position in depth state 2, and the lens is driven to this intermediate position.

Step 60 Check whether the lens has moved to the intermediate position, and if the lens stops at the intermediate position, step 6
Go to 1.

Step 61 Since depth state 3 has ended, JF=°
Set to H'.

As described above, the NOMAL DEPTH subroutine positions the lens at an intermediate position between the lens positions that focus on subjects at different positions at the selected distance measurement point,
At that time, an aperture value is determined to keep both wave objects within the depth of field, and after the release operation, the photograph is taken at this aperture value.

Next, the operation of the AUTODEPTH subroutine at step 82 in FIG. 1 will be explained using FIG. 6.

As described above, the AUTODEPTH is automatically selected when the depth mode is selected and the distance measurement field of view automatic selection mode is selected.

Step 40: Detect defocus amounts at a plurality of distance measuring points (points on the left, center, and right sides) independently.

The microcomputer PR3 sends an accumulation start command to the drive circuit SDR to start accumulation. When the accumulation end signal is transmitted from the drive circuit SDR, the microcomputer PR3 inputs the image signal of the sensor. When the image signals of all the sensors are read into a predetermined RAM, a known correlation calculation is performed to determine the amount of defocus at each distance measurement point.

Step 41: Perform auto depth calculation. This calculation is performed as follows.

Based on the image signal at each distance measurement point, a flag is set for a distance measurement point among the distance measurement points that can be measured.

The defocus amount of the closest subject (def
P) and the defocus amount of the subject closest to infinity (def
N) is determined by a=def F-def N/.

The value obtained by dividing α by the circle of least confusion - 35 μm is the aperture value /
Find the apex value AV.

An intermediate amount between the defocus amounts def F and def N is determined. (def F+def N)/2 This value is converted into a lens drive amount using lens-specific optical data and data such as the pulse pitch of the lens drive motor.

Step 42 Defocus amount for lens driving calculated in step 41 (d e f F + d e f
N)/2 is smaller than the focus threshold. If it is smaller than the focus threshold, the process branches to step 45. If it is larger than the threshold, the process branches to step 43.

Step 43 The lens is driven by the amount of lens drive calculated in step 41.

Step 44 Wait for the end of lens driving by the amount of drive in step 43. When the lens has stopped, proceed to step 46.

Step 45 If focus is determined in step 42, the process branches to here.

First, JF='H' is set, and a flag is set for performing a superimposed display corresponding to a distance measurement point that has entered the depth.

Step 46: Return to the main routine.

As described above, with AUTODEPTH, the aperture value and lens position control are automatically performed to bring both the farthest and closest objects into focus among the objects measured at each distance measurement point. .

In addition, since the flag corresponding to the ranging point that entered the depth was set in step 45, this AUTODEP
At step 85 in FIG. 1 after the H subroutine ends, a light emitting diode LED indicates the distance measurement point that has entered the above depth.
LED 2. LED 3 lights up to indicate this to the photographer.

Further, when the SWI is turned off after the ATUODEPTH process, all flags related to auto-depth, calculated aperture value, defocus amount, etc. are cleared in step 70-4 of FIG. Therefore, in order to perform the auto-depth processing again after SW1 is turned off, if the switch SWI is turned on, the above-mentioned auto-depth processing will be executed again.

In addition, in normal depth processing, even if the switch SW3 is turned off after the depth state 3 processing, the flag etc. related to the depth processing will not be cleared and will be held in that state.

〔effect〕

As described above, in the present invention, the auto depth mode is configured to facilitate re-operation, while the normal depth mode is configured to make it difficult to cancel the depth processing results once.
The operability of the two depth modes can be improved. Furthermore, since the auto depth mode is automatically selected in conjunction with the automatic selection mode setting for the AF point, the correspondence between the AF point selection and the two depth modes is easy to understand, making it easy to operate and prevent errors. It is possible to provide the following cameras.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a flowchart for explaining the operation of the camera according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the finder optical system used in the camera of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the camera according to the present invention; FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining the subroutine operations in the flowchart of FIG. 1, respectively. It is an explanatory diagram. PH1...Microcomputer SNS...Sensor LNS...Picture lens device Whistle diagram

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A focus detection circuit that independently detects focus states in a plurality of different photographing areas, an operating member for causing the focus detection circuit to perform a focus detection operation, and selecting a predetermined area from among the photographing areas. Then, by operating the operating member multiple times, the focus detection circuit detects focus states at different times in the selected area, and detects focus states based on the detected focus states at different times. a first focus state determining circuit; a second focus state determining circuit that detects the focus state in each of the photographing areas at once by operating the operating member, and determines a focus state based on the detected focus state; , prohibiting the first focus state determining circuit from responding to the operation of the operating member after the focus state is determined by the first focus state determining circuit;
A camera having an automatic focus detection device that is patented as having a control circuit that allows restarting of a second focus state determination circuit in response to an operation of an operating member after the focus state has been determined by the focus state determination circuit of the second focus state determination circuit. . (2) a focus state detection circuit that independently detects focus states in a plurality of different photographic areas;
an area selection means having an arbitrary area selection mode in which one area is manually selected from among the plurality of imaging areas and an all area selection mode in which each area is selected simultaneously; A first focus state determining circuit detects the focus state in a focus state detection circuit and determines a final focus state based on the detected focus states at different points in time; a second focus state determining circuit for determining a final focus state based on the focus state in each detected region detected by the detection circuit; and an all region selection mode being selected by the region selection means. The automatic focus detection device is characterized in that it is provided with a selection control circuit that selects the second focus state determination circuit when the focus state determination circuit is selected, and selects the first focus state determination circuit when the arbitrary area selection mode is selected. camera with.