Patent ID: 6275658
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
A multi-zone autofocus system for a still camera comprising:a distance threshold setting circuit sequentially changeable to set first and second threshold values corresponding to a first distance from the camera and to a second, closer, distance from the camera;a two zone autoranging circuit connected to said threshold setting circuit and operable to locate an object in one of two distance zones separated by a distance determined by a value of said threshold setting circuit;autofocus apparatus responsive to said autoranging circuit for setting a camera focus to one of at least two distance zones determined by said autoranging circuit; anda camera controller programmed to activate said autoranging circuit to perform a first autoranging operation with said distance threshold setting circuit set to said first threshold value to determine if said object is located in a zone nearer or farther than said first distance amount and, if farther, to activate said autofocus apparatus to set camera focus for a first distance zone farther than said first distance and, if nearer, to activate said autoranging circuit to perform a second autoranging operation with said distance threshold setting circuit set to said second threshold value to determine if said object is located in a distance zone nearer or farther than said second distance and, if farther, to activate said autofocus apparatus to set camera focus for a second distance zone between said first and second distances and, if nearer, to set said autofocus apparatus for a third distance zone closer than said second distance.