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  CameraUSPTO Application #: 20060139478Title: Camera Abstract: A camera for recording an image captured using image-capturing element in a recording medium is provided with a focal point detection device for detecting a focal point adjustment state of a photographic lens in each focal point detection region of a plurality of focal point detection regions set inside an photographic field. When electronic zoom shooting is carried out, part of an imaged picture is trimmed and an image for recording in the recording medium is created. For a plurality of focal point detection regions the focal point detection regions are changed according to the trimming range of the imaged picture. Focal point adjustment of the photographic lens is carried out based on focal point detection results for focal point detection regions that have been changed. (end of abstract) Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC - Alexandria, VA, US Inventor: Hirotake Nozaki USPTO Applicaton #: 20060139478 - Class: 348345000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060139478. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 09/767,863 filed Jan. 24, 2001. The entire disclosure of the prior application is incorporated by reference. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE [0002] The disclosures of the following priority applications are herein incorporated by reference: [0003] Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-017642 filed Jan. 26, 2000 [0004] Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-0176647 filed Jan. 26, 2000 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0005] 1. Field of the Invention [0006] The present invention relates to a camera that performs focal point detection in a plurality of focal point detection regions within a photographic field. [0007] 2. Description of the Related Art [0008] A camera (related art 1) being set a plurality of focal point detection regions within a photographic field, that is provided with a focal point detection device for detecting a focal point adjustment state of a photographic lens in each of the focal point detection regions, is known. [0009] A camera (related art 2) provided with an electronic zoom shooting mode, a pseudo wide shooting mode, and a pseudo panorama shooting mode is also known. In the electronic zoom shooting mode, central parts of an imaged picture are cut out and enlarged so that a pseudo zoomed up image that is substantially the same as a zoomed-up image taken using a zoom lens is generated. In the pseudo wide shooting mode and the pseudo panorama shooting mode, an upper part and a lower part of the imaged picture are removed and central wide range sections are enlarged so that a pseudo wide image and a pseudo panorama image that are the same as wide image and panorama image taken using a wide angled lens are generated. [0010] There is also known a miniaturized digital still camera (related art 3) that can take a photograph while viewing a subject image on a liquid crystal monitor screen, and that can take a photograph while looking at a subject image in an optical viewfinder. [0011] However, in the electronic still camera of related art 2, for carrying out focal point detection in a plurality of focal point detection regions within a photographic field, if an electronic zoom photography or a pseudo wide/pseudo panorama photography that trims a part of an imaged picture are carried out, the focal point detection regions may be placed outside the trimming range. In particular, if the trimming range becomes narrow, a lot of the focal point detection regions will be outside the trimming range. For this reason, if the photographer inadvertently selects a focal point detection region that is no longer inside the trimming range, there is a problem that an image focused on the intended subject inside the trimming range is no longer obtained. [0012] It has been considered to mount a focal point detection device having a plurality of focal point detection regions in the comparatively small-sized electronic still camera of the related art 3, to improve focussing performance with respect to the main subject by carrying out focal point detection at a plurality of regions inside the photographic field. [0013] Display of a plurality of focal point detection region marks on a liquid crystal monitor screen can be realized at low cost and without taking up any installation space. However, to display a plurality of focal point detection region marks inside an optical viewfinder requires high cost and a large installation space. This means that the requirements of the miniature electronic still camera of related art 3 with respect to miniaturization and cost reduction are not satisfied. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] A first object of the present invention is to adjust a focal point making effective use of a plurality of focal point detection regions set inside a photographic field, even in a shooting mode for trimming part of an imaged picture to create a recorded image. [0015] A second object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera capable of focal point detection in a plurality of regions inside a photographic field while maintaining a small size and low cost. [0016] In the present invention, the above described first object is achieved by a camera, for recording an imaged picture using image-capturing elements in a recording medium, comprising a focal point detection device for detecting a focal point adjustment state of a photographic lens in each focal point detection region of a plurality of focal point detection regions set inside a photographic field, a picture trimming section for trimming part of an imaged picture to create an image to be recorded in the recording medium, a region changing section for changing focal point detection regions in response to a trimming range of the imaged picture, and a focal point adjustment device for carrying out focal point adjustment for the photographic lens based on focal point detection results for the focal point detection regions that have been changed. [0017] With the region changing section, the focal point detection region corresponding to a trimming range of the imaged picture can be selected. It is also possible to change the position of the focal point detection region corresponding to the trimming range of the imaged picture. Alternatively, it is possible to change the size of the focal point detection region corresponding to the trimming range of the imaged picture. [0018] The image trimming section can trim central portions of the imaged picture to enlarge the image and create an electronically zoomed image. Further, the image trimming section can remove upper and lower parts of the imaged picture and trim central broad portions to create a pseudo wide image or a pseudo panorama image. [0019] When a manual region selection focal point adjustment mode, selecting an arbitrary focal point detection region among the plurality of focal point detection regions, that carries out focal point adjustment is set, it is possible to issue a warning when a focal point detection region that can not be selected, because it is outside the trimming range, has been selected. [0020] The camera of the present invention can also use silver halide film as the recording medium. [0021] The camera of the present invention has a focal point detection device for detecting a focal point adjustment state of a photographic lens in each focal point detection region of a plurality of focal point detection regions set inside a photographic field, an optical viewfinder, and a monitor for displaying the position of each of the focal point detection regions superimposed on a subject imaged using image-capturing elements. Then, the above described second object is achieved by further providing a region selection member for manually selecting an arbitrary focal point selection region among the plurality of focal point detection regions, a focal point adjustment device for operating in a manual region selection focal point adjustment mode for performing focal point adjustment of a photographic lens, based on focal point detection results for a focal point selection region manually selected by the region selection member, a sensing section for sensing a non-used state of the monitor, and a prohibiting member for prohibiting manual selection of a focal point detection region by the region selection member when a non-used state of the monitor is sensed. It is also possible to achieve the above described second object by providing a sensing section for sensing that photography has been performed using an optical viewfinder, and a prohibiting member for prohibiting manual selection of a focal point detection region using the region selection member if photography using the optical viewfinder is sensed. Continue reading... Full patent description for Camera Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Camera patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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