JPH0943494A - Optical instrument provided with line-of-sight detection means - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To estimate the moving characteristic of the line-of-sight of a user based on the action mode of a focus detection means and to select a precise focus detection area based on the detected result of the line-of-sight by providing an equipment with a means selecting at least one focus detection area out of the plural focus detection areas. SOLUTION: A line-of-sight detection circuit 101, a photometry circuit 102 and the like are connected to the central processing unit(CPU) 100 of a microcomputer being a camera control means built in the camera body. Besides, a signal is transmitted between a focusing circuit 110 and a diaphragm driving circuit 111 arranged in a projection lens through a mount contact point 37. In an EEPROM 100a being as a storage means accompanied with the CPU 100, a film counter and the other photographing information can be stored. The camera control means is constituted of the CPU 100 and the EEPROM 100a. By the CPU 100, the signal is transmitted to the respective function members of the camera so as to control the camera and a signal processing action is executed by receiving the signals from the various kinds of detection circuits.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical device having a line-of-sight detecting means, and more particularly to a relationship between a focus detecting operation and a line-of-sight detecting operation during continuous shooting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various devices (for example, eye cameras) for detecting what position a photographer is observing on an observation surface, that is, for detecting a so-called line of sight (visual axis) have been provided. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-274736,
Project the parallel light flux from the light source to the anterior segment of the photographer's eyeball,
The gazing point is obtained using the corneal reflection image formed by the light reflected from the cornea and the image formation position of the pupil. Further, this publication discloses an example in which a gazing point detection device is provided in a single-lens reflex camera and automatic focus adjustment of a photographing lens is performed using gazing point information of a photographer.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a line-of-sight detection optical system provided in a single-lens reflex camera. In the figure, 1 is a taking lens, 2 is a main mirror, 7 is a focusing plate, and 8 is a pentaprism. Reference numeral 11 is an eyepiece lens, and 15 is a photographer's eyeball. The photographer brings his eye close to the eyepiece lens 11 to observe a subject in the viewfinder. Reference numerals 13a and 13b denote light sources such as light emitting diodes that emit infrared light that is insensitive to the photographer. A part of the illumination light reflected by the eyeball of the photographer is focused on the image sensor 14 by the light receiving lens 12.

FIG. 14A is a schematic view of an eyeball image projected on the image sensor 14. In the figure, 52a and 52b are corneal reflection images of the infrared light emitting diodes 13a and 13b.
Reference numeral 0 is the white part of the eyeball, 51 is the pupil, and 53 is the skin part around the eyes. FIG. 14B shows the intensity of the output signal from a certain line (cross section (E)-(E ′)) of the image sensor 14 of FIG. The feature of the eyeball image is that the brightness of the corneal reflection of the infrared light emitting diode is the highest, but it is not so large in area. (52a ', 52b') Furthermore, since the pupil portion has a very low reflectance, the luminance level is the lowest and occupies a certain area. (51 ') The white part (50') is in the middle of the corneal reflection and the brightness level of the pupil part, and the skin part has high or low brightness depending on external light and lighting conditions.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view of the principle of line-of-sight detection. In the figure, 15 is the photographer's eyeball, 16 is the cornea, and 17 is the iris.

A method of detecting the line of sight will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The infrared light emitted from the light source 13b illuminates the cornea 16 of the eyeball 15 of the observer. At this time, the corneal reflection image d (virtual image) formed by a part of the infrared light reflected on the surface of the cornea 16 is condensed by the light receiving lens 12 and imaged at the position d ′ on the image sensor 14. Similarly light source 1
The infrared light emitted by 3a illuminates the cornea 16 of the eyeball 15. At this time, the corneal reflection image e formed by a part of the infrared light reflected on the surface of the cornea 16 is the light receiving lens 12
The light is condensed by the image sensor and forms an image at a position e ′ on the image sensor 14.

Light fluxes from the ends a and b of the iris 17 form images of the ends a and b at the positions a ′ and b ′ on the image sensor 14 via the light receiving lens 12. When the rotation angle θ of the optical axis of the eyeball 15 with respect to the optical axis of the light receiving lens 12 is small, the x coordinates of the ends a and b of the iris 17 are xa and xb.
Then, the coordinate xc of the center position c of the pupil 19 is expressed as xc≈ (xa + xb) / 2.

Further, the x-coordinate of the midpoint of the corneal reflection images d and e and the x-coordinate xo of the center of curvature o of the cornea 16 substantially coincide with each other.
Therefore, the x-coordinates of the generation positions d and e of the corneal reflection image are xd,
xe, where OC is the standard distance between the center of curvature o of the cornea 16 and the center c of the pupil 19, the rotation angle θx of the optical axis 15a of the eyeball 15 is OC × SINθx≈ (xd + xe) / 2−xc (1 ) Is approximately satisfied. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14a, the rotation angle θ of the optical axis 15a of the eyeball 15 is detected by detecting the position of each characteristic point of the eyeball 15 (corneal reflection image and the center of the pupil) projected on the image sensor 14. You can ask.

From the equation (1), the rotation angle of the optical axis 15a of the eyeball 15 is β × OC × SINθx≈ {(xpo-δx) -xic} × pitch (2) β × OC × SINθy≈ {(ypo-δy ) −yic} × pitch (3) Here, θx is the rotation angle of the eyeball optical axis in the zx plane, and θy is the eyeball optical axis rotation angle in the yz plane. (Xpo, ypo) is the coordinates of the midpoint of the two corneal reflection images on the image sensor 14, (xic, yic)
Are coordinates of the center of the pupil on the image sensor 14. p
pitch is the pixel pitch of the image sensor 14.
Further, β is an imaging magnification determined by the position of the eyeball 15 with respect to the light receiving lens 12, and is substantially obtained as a function of the interval between two corneal reflection images.

Δx and δy are correction terms for correcting the coordinates of the midpoint of the corneal reflection image, and a correction term for correcting an error caused by illuminating the eyeball of the photographer with divergent light instead of parallel light and , Δy also includes a correction term for correcting an offset component generated by illuminating the eyeball of the photographer with divergent light from the lower eyelid.

Rotation angle (θx, θy) of the optical axis of the eyeball of the photographer
Is calculated, the gazing point (x, y) on the observation surface (focus plate) of the photographer is x = m * (θx + Δ) (4a) y = m * θy when the camera is in the horizontal position. (5a) is required. Here, the x direction indicates the horizontal direction with respect to the photographer when the camera is in the horizontal position, and the y direction indicates the vertical direction with respect to the photographer when the camera is in the horizontal position. m is a conversion coefficient for converting the rotation angle of the eyeball into coordinates on the focus plate, and Δ is the angle between the optical axis 15a of the eyeball and the visual axis (gaze point). In general, it is known that the rotation angle of the eyeball and the visual axis actually observed by the observer are deviated from the observer by about 5 ° in the horizontal direction and are almost not deviated in the vertical direction.

The operation of the focus detecting means conventionally provided in the camera will be described below. This focus detection means has a plurality of focus detection operation modes, and generally, a focus detection operation mode for a stationary subject and a focus detection operation mode for a dynamic subject are set.

The focus detection operation mode for a stationary subject is
Once the in-focus state is detected, the focus detection operation is not performed thereafter.

On the other hand, the focus detection operation mode for a dynamic subject is an operation mode in which the focus detection operation continues after the focus state is detected.

The operation of the part relating to the line-of-sight detection and the focus detection of the camera having the line-of-sight detection means will be described below for each mode of the focus detection operation.

1) Focus detection operation mode for static subject orientation First, when the release button is pressed halfway (pressing the first stroke), the line-of-sight detection means operates prior to focus detection, and within the viewfinder field of the photographer. Seek the point of gaze of. This point is represented by coordinates within the viewfinder field.

From the coordinates in the field of view of the finder, the focus detection area corresponding thereto is determined. With respect to the focus detection area thus obtained, the focus state is detected by the focus detection means, and the photographing lens is driven to the in-focus state based on the information.

As described above, after the focus detection area is determined by the line-of-sight detection means, the focusing operation is performed only once based on the focus state of the focus detection area.

2) Focus detection operation mode for dynamic subject When the release button is half pressed (first stroke is pressed), the line-of-sight detection means is operated to determine the focus detection area. After that, the lens drive is continued so as to maintain the in-focus state based only on the focus information of the focus detection area.

As another mode of the focus detection operation mode for the dynamic subject, the focus detection is always performed before the focus detection in order to link the focus detection with the movement of the subject and the movement of the line of sight of the photographer. It is also possible to perform the focus detection after determining the focus detection area by performing the line-of-sight detection.

[0022]

However, for example, when photographing a stationary subject and when photographing a moving subject, the line-of-sight position and the situation of the photographer differ during framing. That is, when photographing a stationary subject, the photographer may have time to move his or her line of sight to every corner of the photographing screen. Therefore, the line-of-sight position may be separated from the focus detection area to some extent. In such a case, if the line-of-sight position is far from the focus detection region and the focus detection region is determined by ignoring the result of the line-of-sight detection, the focus cannot be adjusted on the subject intended by the photographer.

On the other hand, when photographing a moving subject, the line of sight of the photographer may not be able to follow the subject, and the line of sight position and the focus detection area may be temporarily separated. It is possible that the photographer looks at something other than the subject, such as when he or she looks at the background temporarily, but in this case, if the focus detection area is determined from the line-of-sight information, the focus will be in the background and The result will be contrary.

Also, when photographing a moving subject, the visual axis position of the photographer is different between the first visual axis detection and the second visual axis detection when the visual axis detection and the focus detection are repeated. In the first line-of-sight detection, the photographer has time to move the line of sight to various places on the photographing screen, but in the second line-of-sight detection, there is not much room to see anything other than the subject. Therefore, when the line-of-sight position obtained by the line-of-sight detection is significantly apart from the focus detection area, it is considered that the line-of-sight has erroneously entered the background.

Similarly, the change of the photographer's line-of-sight position is different between the case of performing the single-shot photography and the case of the consecutive-shot photography.

Further, it is different when the distance of the subject is long and when it is short. When the distance to the subject is long, the subject image on the screen is small, so the gazing point concentrates on a small range,
When the subject is close, the subject image becomes large on the screen, so that the range of change of the line-of-sight position becomes wide. In this way, if the photographing situation is different, the correct focus area cannot be determined by always selecting the distance measuring point under the same condition, although the change of the photographer's line-of-sight position during photographing is different.

[0027]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an optical device having a line-of-sight detecting means of the invention described in claim 1 of the present application is a line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a line-of-sight position in a viewfinder of a user. And has multiple operating modes,
A focus detection unit capable of detecting focus for each of a plurality of focus detection regions provided in the viewfinder, and a plurality of determination ranges including the focus detection region are set, and the operation of the focus detection unit. Range setting means for changing the size of the judgment range to be set depending on the mode,
By having a selection unit that determines which of the determination ranges of the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detection unit and selects at least one focus detection region from the plurality of focus detection regions, The movement characteristic of the line of sight of the user can be estimated from the operation mode of the detection means, and the focus detection area can be accurately selected based on the result of the line of sight detection.

The optical device having the line-of-sight detection means of the invention described in claim 3 of the present application is a line-of-sight detection means for detecting the position of the line-of-sight in the finder of the user, and a plurality of focus detection areas provided in the finder. A plurality of focus detection means capable of detecting focus and a plurality of determination ranges including the focus detection area are set, and the size of the determination range to be set depends on the operating state of the focus detection means. A range setting means for changing and a selection means for determining which of the determination ranges the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detection means is included and selecting at least one focus detection area from the plurality of focus detection areas. By having the, it is possible to estimate the movement characteristics of the line of sight of the user from the operating state of the focus detection means, and to accurately determine the focus detection area based on the line-of-sight detection result. It can be-option.

An optical device having the visual axis detecting means of the invention described in claim 5 of the present application is a visual axis detecting means for detecting a visual axis detecting position in a finder of a user and a plurality of focus detecting points provided in the finder. A focus detection unit capable of performing focus detection for each area and a plurality of determination ranges including the focus detection area are set, and the determination range is set based on the focus detection result of the focus detection unit. Of the range setting means for changing the size of the focus detection area and the determination range of the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detection means to determine at least one focus detection area of the plurality of focus detection areas. By including the selecting means for selecting, the state of the subject can be estimated from the focus detection result of the focus detecting means, and the focus detecting area can be accurately determined based on the line-of-sight detecting result. It can be selected.

An optical device having a line-of-sight detecting means of the invention described in claim 7 of the present application is a line-of-sight detecting means for detecting the position of the line-of-sight of the user in the finder and a plurality of focus detection areas provided in the finder. With respect to each focus detection means capable of focus detection, optical device control means for controlling the operation of the optical device in a plurality of operation modes, a plurality of determination ranges including the focus detection region, Based on the operation mode of the optical device, the range setting means for changing the size of the determination range to be set, and determining which of the determination ranges the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detecting means is included in, By estimating at least one focus detection area of the plurality of focus detection areas, the use state of the optical equipment is inferred from the operation mode of the optical equipment. Rukoto can, can be selected accurately focus detection area on the basis of the visual line detection result.

[0031]

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a main part of an electric circuit built in a camera of the present invention. A central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 100 of a microcomputer, which is a camera control unit built in the camera body,
Eye-gaze detection circuit 101, photometric circuit 102, automatic focus detection circuit 103, signal input circuit 104, LCD drive circuit 10
5, LED drive circuit 106, IRED drive circuit 107,
A shutter control circuit 108 and a motor control circuit 109 are connected. Further, the focus adjustment circuit 110 and the diaphragm drive circuit 111 arranged in the photographing lens are the mount contacts 3
Signals are transmitted via 7.

The EEPROM 100a as a storage means attached to the CPU 100 can store film information such as a film counter.

The visual axis detection circuit 101 outputs the eyeball image output from the image sensor 14 (CCD-EYE) to the CPU 1
Send to 00. The CPU 100 converts the eyeball image signal from the image sensor 14 to A by the A / D conversion means inside the CPU.
The D / D conversion is performed, the image information is used to extract each feature point of the eyeball image necessary for detecting the line of sight according to a predetermined algorithm, and the rotation angle of the photographer's eyeball is calculated from the position of each feature point. The photometric circuit 102 amplifies the output from the photometric sensor 10, logarithmically compresses it, and sends it to the CPU 100 as luminance information of each sensor. The photometric sensor 10 divides the screen into a plurality of parts, each of which is composed of a plurality of photodiodes that output photoelectric conversion outputs.

The line sensor 6f is composed of five sets of line sensors CC corresponding to the five distance measuring points 200 to 204 on the screen.
D-L2, CCD0L1, CCD-C, CCD-R1,
It is a known CCD line sensor composed of CCD-R2. The automatic focus detection circuit 103 sends the voltage obtained from these line sensors 6f to the CPU 100, and in the CPU, the line sensor signals are sequentially A / D converted by the built-in A / D converter.

SW-1 is a photometric switch that is turned on by the first stroke of the release button to start photometry, AF, and line-of-sight detection operations. SW-2 is a release switch that is turned on by the second stroke of the release button, SW-DIAL1. SW-DIA
L2 is a dial switch provided in the electronic dial 45 and is input to the up / down counter of the signal input circuit to count the rotational click amount of the electronic dial 45.

The camera control means, which is a constituent element of the camera of the present invention, comprises a CPU 100 and an EEPROM 100a. The CPU 100 sends a signal to each functional member of the camera to perform control, and also a signal from various detection circuits. Then, the signal processing is performed.

The line-of-sight detection means includes a CPU 100, a line-of-sight detection circuit 101, an IRED drive circuit 107, a CCD-
It is composed of an EYE 14 and an eyeball rotation angle detecting means.

Next, operation flowcharts of the camera having this line-of-sight detecting means are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and will be described below based on the operation flowcharts.

First, the operation of the entire sequence of the camera is shown in FIG.
A description will be given using the flowchart of (a).

Note that this flow describes the ordinary sequence of the camera, and does not describe any special operation or trouble handling for an unexpected accident.

# 601 When the mode dial (not shown) is rotated to set the camera from the inoperative state to the predetermined photographing mode, the power of the camera is turned on.

In # 602, variables and flags are initialized.

The "gaze detection prohibition flag" is cleared.

The "AF prohibition flag" is cleared.

[Release & Feed Interrupt] is prohibited.

The "release flag" is cleared.

At # 604, the first release button is pressed.
The state of the switch SW1 which is turned on by the stroke is detected. If it is off, the process proceeds to # 605, and if it is on, # 61.
Proceed to 2.

# 605 Variables and flags are initialized.
Here, initialization is performed when SW1 is pushed once to perform a predetermined operation and then SW1 is released again. The prediction counter AICNT, which will be described later, is also cleared here. (SW1
Clear the flag AFING that indicates that was not pressed.)

The "line-of-sight detection prohibition flag" is cleared, the line-of-sight detection is performed, and the "AF prohibition flag" is cleared.
Perform AF. In addition, "Release & Feed Interrupt" is prohibited. Also clear the "flag after release".

# 606 It is checked whether the current camera state is the feeding mode setting state. If the feeding mode is set, go to step # 608, otherwise, go to # 61
Go to 4.

In # 608, it is checked whether or not the dial has changed. If the dial is not changed, the feeding mode is not switched and the process proceeds to # 620. If the dial is changed, the process proceeds to # 610.

At step # 610, the feeding mode is changed every time the dial is changed. The feeding modes include a "single-shot mode" in which only one image is shot when the release switch SW2 is pressed, and a "continuous-shot mode" in which continuous shooting is performed while the SW2 is held, and each time there is a change in the dial. The "single shot mode" and "continuous shot mode" are switched. When the feeding mode is set, the process proceeds to step # 620.

# 614, here it is determined whether or not the camera is in the AF mode switching state. If the AF mode is switched, the process proceeds to step # 616. If not, the process proceeds to step # 618.

In # 616, the AF mode is switched. A
As mentioned above, F mode is the "static subject mode"
And "dynamic subject orientation mode". If "static subject orientation mode", switch to "dynamic subject orientation mode", and if "dynamic subject orientation mode", switch to "static subject orientation mode". When the AF mode setting is completed, the process proceeds to # 620.

In # 618, settings other than the feeding mode and the AF mode are set.

In step # 612, an "AE control" subroutine such as photometry and camera status display is executed. In the subroutine "AE control", the photometric sensor is operated and the AE control value is calculated by a known algorithm for the photometric value. The calculated AE control value is displayed on the external liquid crystal of the camera. Then, the process proceeds to # 613.

Step # 613 is a subroutine for "visual axis detection and focus detection". This subroutine is repeatedly executed while SW1 is pressed.

In step # 620, when a series of operations is completed, the process returns from here to step # 604, and the camera operation is repeated.

Next, the release operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The release operation is executed by an interrupt routine.

# 686 When the interrupt is permitted, the release button is pushed to the second stroke and SW2 is turned off.
If N, the "release &feeding" subroutine is called by the interrupt processing.

# 688 The interruption of the "release feeding" is prohibited.

# 692 Here, the aperture control value and the shutter speed are calculated. The aperture and shutter speed are calculated by a predetermined algorithm according to the photographing mode of the camera, the photometric value or the set value.

# 693 The main mirror (2) and sub-mirror (3) of the camera are raised, and the diaphragm drive circuit 111
Then, the diaphragm 31 provided in the lens is controlled to the value calculated in # 692.

# 694 Next, the shutter magnet MG
-1 is energized to drive the front curtain of the shutter to start exposure. After the lapse of the predetermined time calculated in # 692, the shutter magnet MG-2 is energized to drive the rear curtain of the shutter to end the exposure.

# 695 The mirror is moved down to a predetermined position, the diaphragm drive circuit 111 is communicated with, and the diaphragm is opened again.

# 696 One frame of film is fed, and the shutter spring is charged. “In the continuous shooting mode, proceed to # 698, and in the“ single shooting mode ”, proceed to # 700.

# 698 When the photographing of one frame is completed, the "line of sight detection prohibition flag" is cleared to detect the line of sight when the "line of sight detection" subroutine is called next.
Then, proceed to # 699.

# 699 A flag "after release" flag indicating that release has been performed is set.

# 700 The interruption subroutine of "release feeding" is ended. The "release feeding" subroutine does not return to the program where the interrupt occurred, but returns to # 604 in FIG. 6 (a).

Next, the operation of the "line-of-sight detection &AF" subroutine of # 613 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When "gaze detection &AF" is called, # 6
The subroutine is executed from 31.

# 631 It is determined here whether line-of-sight detection is permitted. Prohibition of line-of-sight detection can be determined by the “line-of-sight detection prohibition flag”. At first, since it is permitted, the process proceeds to # 632. If the line-of-sight detection is prohibited, the line-of-sight detection operation is not performed and the process proceeds to # 636.

# 632 A line-of-sight input mark is displayed to indicate that the line-of-sight input is being performed prior to the line-of-sight detection. The lighting LED (F-LED) 25 is turned on,
LCD 2 in viewfinder via LCD drive circuit 105
The line-of-sight input mark 4 is turned on. This allows the photographer to confirm that the camera is performing line-of-sight detection.

The line-of-sight detection is performed according to the predetermined algorithm of # 633. First, the IRED drive circuit 107 turns on an IRED that is predetermined according to the position of the camera, and the visual axis detection circuit 101 starts the accumulation operation of the CCD-EYE 14. When the storage is completed
The data is sequentially read to 100, A / D converted, and processed by a predetermined algorithm. All pixels of the CCD-EYE 14 are processed, and the coordinates of the corneal reflection images 52b and 52a and the pupil 51 of the eyeball illumination light source shown in FIGS.
Get the center coordinates of. The coordinates gazed at by the photographer are obtained by calculating these according to the algorithm described above.

# 634 Once the visual axis detection is performed, the visual axis detection is prohibited so that the visual axis detection is not repeated. Prohibition of line-of-sight detection is performed by setting a “line-of-sight detection prohibition flag”.

# 635 Subroutine "distance measuring point selection &display" The focus detection area is selected from the line-of-sight position coordinates obtained by the line-of-sight detection. Here, the line-of-sight position coordinates and the focus detection area will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3A, L2, L
1, C, R1 and R2 are C of the line sensor 6f, respectively.
CD-L2, CCD-L1, CCD-C, CCD-R
1, corresponding to CCD-R2, focus detection at each location is performed. The coordinates of the line of sight on the viewfinder are EYL
If it is within the range of 2, it is determined that L2 is being watched, and the CCD
-L2 is used for focus detection. Similarly, the line-of-sight position is E
Focus detection is performed with L1 if within the range of YL1, C for EYC, R1 for EYR1, and R2 for EYR2. Next in FIG.
(B) EYL2, EYL1, EYC, EYR1, EY
A specific range of R2 will be described.

X and y are coordinate axes for obtaining the line-of-sight position on the finder, and the obtained line-of-sight position coordinates are (xn,
yn).

The range of EYL2 is -x3 <xn≤x2 and y1≤yn≤-y1. The range of EYL1 is -x2 <xn≤-x1 and y1≤yn.
≦ −y1 The range of EYC is −x1 <xn <x1 and y1 ≦ yn ≦ −.
The range of y1 EYR1 is x1 ≦ xn <x2 and y1 ≦ yn ≦ −.
The range of y1 EYR2 is x2 ≦ xn <x3 and y1 ≦ yn ≦ −.
It becomes y1.

When the line of sight is at the (xn, yn) position in FIG. 2B, x1≤xn <x2 and y1≤yn≤-y1.
So the range is EYR1. When the line of sight is in EYR1, the distance measuring point to be selected is R1.

This "distance measuring point selection &display" subroutine will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the subroutine is called, the execution of the program is started from # 101.

In # 101, the focus detection mode of the camera is a static object-oriented mode (one-shot mode) in which the focus detection operation is not performed after focusing, or a dynamic object-oriented mode (servo) in which the focus detection operation is continued after focusing. Mode). If it is the servo mode, proceed to # 103, and if it is the one-shot mode, proceed to # 102.

# 102, the line-of-sight range parameter corresponding to each focus detection area in the one-shot mode is set.
For example, x1 = 2.3 mm, x2 = 6.1 mm, x3 =
18 mm and y1 = 12 mm.

In step # 103, the line-of-sight range parameter corresponding to each focus detection area in the servo mode is set. For example, x1 = 2.3 mm, x2 = 6.1 mm, x3 = 9.
2 mm and y1 = 9 mm. In the case of this embodiment,
The one-shot mode range is wider than the servo mode range. This will be described with reference to FIG. In the case of a moving subject as shown in FIG. 10A, the range of the line of sight corresponding to each focus detection region is narrowed, and even if the line of sight is temporarily deviated from the subject, another focus detection region is detected. By making it difficult to select, it is difficult to change from the focus detection area and follow a moving subject. When photographing a still subject as shown in FIG. 10B, the range of the line of sight corresponding to each focus detection area is widened.

# 104: First, the y direction (vertical direction) is determined. If yn is y1 ≦ yn ≦ −y1, the process proceeds to # 105, and if not, the process proceeds to # 115.

# 105: If the y-direction (longitudinal direction) determination is within the range, the x-direction determination is performed next. xn is -x3 <
If xn ≦ −x2 is satisfied, the process proceeds to # 110. This is the case where the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) is in the range EYL2.
If -x3 <xn≤-x2 is not satisfied, proceed to # 106.

# 106, if xn does not satisfy -x3 <xn≤-x2, then it is determined whether -x2 <xn≤-x1 is satisfied. If satisfied, proceed to # 111. This is range E
This is the case where the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) is in YL2. If not satisfied, proceed to # 107.

# 107, If xn does not satisfy -x2 <xn≤-x1, then it is determined whether -x1 <xn <x1 is satisfied. If satisfied, proceed to # 112. This is the range EY
This is the case where C has the line-of-sight position (xn, yn). If not satisfied, proceed to # 108.

# 108: If xn does not satisfy -x1 <xn <x1, then it is determined whether x1≤xn <x2 is satisfied. If satisfied, proceed to # 113. This is the range EYR1
This is the case where there is a line-of-sight position (xn, yn) at If not satisfied, proceed to # 109.

# 109, if xn does not satisfy x1≤xn <x2, then it is determined whether x2≤xn <x3 is satisfied. If satisfied, proceed to # 114. This is the case where the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) is in the range EYR2. If it does not satisfy the condition, it does not belong to any range, so the process proceeds to # 115.

# 110, the line-of-sight position (x
Since there are n, yn), the distance measuring point L2 is selected.

# 111, the line-of-sight position (x
Since there are n, yn), the distance measuring point L1 is selected.

# 112, the line-of-sight position (x
Since there is n, yn), the distance measuring point C is selected.

# 113, the line-of-sight position (x
Since there are n, yn), the distance measuring point R1 is selected.

# 114, line-of-sight position (x
Since there are n, yn), the distance measuring point R2 is selected.

# 115: If it is not in any area, the distance measuring point is selected regardless of the result of the sight line detection.
In this case, the center distance measuring point may be selected in advance, or the distance measuring point selected as a result of the previous time may be selected again. In this subroutine, the focus detection point may be selected later without depending on the focus detection result.

When the distance measuring points are selected in # 110 to # 115, the next display is performed.

# 116 A signal is transmitted to the LED drive circuit 106 and the superimposing LED 21 is used to blink the focus detection area (it may be lit).

The # 117 subroutine is returned.

When the subroutine "select and display focus detection points" is returned, the process proceeds to step # 630.

# 630 Here, AFING = 1 is set. After that, SW1 is pushed by this flag,
It is determined whether it is the "line of sight detection &AF" for the second time.

# 636 Here, it is determined whether or not the lens is being driven by communicating with the lens driving circuit 110. If the "line-of-sight detection &AF" subroutine was executed last time and the lens drive has been performed, and the lens drive has not been completed yet, the process proceeds to step # 680. Before the lens is driven or after the lens is driven, the process proceeds to # 637.

# 637 In this case, if the AF mode is the one-shot mode for determining whether the static subject mode (one-shot mode) or the dynamic subject mode (servo mote), the process proceeds to # 640. If the AF mode is the servo mode, the process proceeds to # 660. .

# 640 Whether or not focus detection is permitted is judged by the "AF prohibition flag". When the focus is once achieved and the SW1 is still held, the "AF prohibition flag" is set. In this case, therefore, the process proceeds to # 680.

# 642 Focus detection is performed. The focus detection of the focus detection area selected by the line-of-sight detection is performed from the plurality of focus detection areas.

# 644 It is determined whether the focus detection in the focus detection area performed in # 642 is impossible. If focus cannot be detected, proceed to # 654. If focus can be detected, #
Proceed to 646.

# 646 It is determined whether or not the focus detection result is in focus. If the defocus amount obtained by focus detection is within a predetermined amount, it is determined to be in focus. If in focus, proceed to # 650,
If it is not in focus, proceed to # 652.

# 648 In-focus display is performed to inform the photographer that the focus detection result is in-focus. LE for lighting
The D (F-LED) 25 is turned on, and the LCD drive circuit 10
The focus mark of the LCD 24 in the finder is turned on via the display 5.

# 650 Since focus has been achieved, "release release"
The interrupt is permitted, and when SW2 is pressed, the release operation is performed by the interrupt. Further, the "AF prohibition flag" is set so that the focus detection is not performed again.

If the lens is out of focus at # 652 and # 646, the lens is driven. The drive amount of the lens is obtained from the defocus amount detected in # 642 and communicated to the lens drive circuit 110. The lens driving circuit 110 is the lens driving motor 3
3 is driven while monitoring the pulse plate 36 to drive the communicated lens drive amount lens. After communicating data to the lens drive circuit 110, the CPU 100 does not need to monitor the lens drive amount and can perform another operation while driving the lens. Therefore, when the communication with the lens driving circuit is completed, the process proceeds to # 680.

# 654 An AF impossible display is performed to inform the photographer that the focus detection result is impossible. The AF disabled display is performed by blinking the focus mark on the LCD 24 in the viewfinder.

# 656 The "line-of-sight detection prohibition flag" is cleared to detect the line-of-sight again. As a result, when the "line-of-sight detection &AF" subroutine is called next, line-of-sight detection and focus detection are performed.

# 660 Focus detection is performed. The focus detection of the focus detection area selected by the line-of-sight detection is performed from the plurality of focus detection areas. At this time, the distance of the subject whose focus is detected is stored. When the focus detection method is a method of detecting the defocus amount, the distance is calculated from the absolute distance information of the lens at the time of detection and the detected defocus amount. In the case of a lens having no absolute distance information, the distance can be obtained by driving the lens to the initial position (for example, infinite position) when the lens is attached to the camera and clearing the counter in the lens.

# 661 It is determined whether the focus detection performed in # 660 is impossible. If focus cannot be detected, the process branches to # 662.

# 662 The "line-of-sight detection prohibition flag" is cleared to detect the line-of-sight again. As a result, when the "line-of-sight detection &AF" subroutine is called next, line-of-sight detection and focus detection are performed.

# 664 Here, the defocus data, the timing at which focus detection is performed, and the like for predicting the movement of the subject are stored and updated. Predicted data counter AI
Count up CNT.

# 668 The movement of the subject is calculated from a plurality of past focus detection data by a predetermined algorithm. Therefore, it is determined here by AICNT whether or not there is sufficient past data. If there is enough data and the motion of the subject can be predicted, the process proceeds to # 670, and if there is not enough data, the process branches to # 678. In order to perform the prediction calculation with a linear function, AICNT is 2 or more, and in the case of a quadratic function, prediction is possible with 3 or more.

# 670 Defocus amount detected this time,
Defocus amount, lens drive amount, which was stored in the past,
From the focus detection interval and the release time lag, the defocus position of the subject when the shutter curtain actually travels after the release switch is pressed is determined by a predetermined algorithm.

# 672 It is determined whether the calculated predicted defocus amount is appropriate. If the predicted defocus amount is larger than a certain threshold value or if the direction is reversed, the prediction result is not appropriate, so the process proceeds to # 676.

In addition to this, when the lens drive amount is 0 for a plurality of times, it means that the subject is not moving, and similarly, in # 67.
Go to 6. If the prediction result is appropriate, proceed to # 674.

# 674 The lens is driven by converting the predicted defocus amount into the lens driving amount and communicating the value to the lens driving circuit 110.

# 675 A release permission decision is made. "Release feed interrupt" is enabled when the conditions for permitting the release are satisfied. When the lens is driven by the predicted amount, the lens stop is awaited in this routine, and when the lens driving is completed, the "release feeding interrupt" is permitted. When the lens is driven with the defocus amount, the “release feeding interrupt” is permitted when the lens driving amount is small or 0. In the "dynamic subject orientation mode", the "visual axis detection prohibition flag" is cleared in order to detect the visual axis again. As a result, when the "line-of-sight detection &AF" subroutine is called next, line-of-sight detection and focus detection are performed.

# 676 If the prediction is not appropriate in # 672, the prediction data is erased here, and the prediction is initialized. If the prediction is inappropriate, either the data stored in the past or the defocus amount this time is wrong, so it is necessary to erase these data and store new prediction data. At this time, the prediction counter AICNT is also cleared.

# 678 If the prediction cannot be made, the lens is driven by the detected defocus amount. If the lens drive amount is smaller than a predetermined value, the lens drive is not performed in order to prevent the lens from sticking.

# 680 Subroutine "Line-of-sight detection & A
"F" ends and the process returns.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the visual axis detection.

(# 201) Step (# 63) of FIG. 1 (a)
In 3), the CPU 100 outputs a signal to the visual axis detection circuit to execute visual axis detection.

(# 202) Charge is accumulated in the image sensor 14 for a predetermined accumulation time in order to determine the accumulation time and the readout amplification factor of the image sensor for obtaining the eyeball image of the photographer. This operation is called preliminary accumulation.

(# 203) Next, the CPU 100 sends a signal to the line-of-sight detection circuit 10 to read out the accumulated charges of the preliminary accumulation and sequentially perform A / D conversion to determine the accumulation time, the amplification characteristic and the output gain in the main accumulation. Perform (AGC calculation).

(# 204) Next, main accumulation is performed. First CP
The U100 turns on the infrared light emitting diodes (IRED) 13a and 13b to illuminate the eyes of the photographer, and controls the accumulation and the gain at the accumulation time and the output amplification rate determined by the AGC calculation of (# 203). , Get the sensor output. When the accumulation is completed, the IRED is turned off.

(# 205) The CPU 100 reads out the eyeball image of the photographer from the image sensor 14 whose accumulation has been completed.

(# 206) Next, the process of extracting the P image of the read sensor image and the feature of the pupil portion is performed. This feature extraction may be performed sequentially with the reading of (# 205). Specifically, the present applicant filed Japanese Patent Application No. 3-1219.
Since it is described in detail in Japanese Patent Publication No. 098, detailed description thereof will be omitted here. Since the P image is a corneal reflection image of the IRED for illuminating the eyeball, it appears as a bright spot with a high light intensity in the image signal. Therefore, one feature of the P image is detected and its position (xd ′, yd) is detected. ′), (Xe, ye ′) can be obtained. The reflectance of the pupil is very low, and it can be detected as a portion having low luminance and a certain criterion on the image. In this way, the pupil center (xc'yc ') and the pupil diameter (rc) are detected.

(# 207) If the P image position and the pupil are detected from the photographer's eyeball image, the rotation angle (θx, θy) of the photographer's eyeball optical axis can be calculated.

(# 208) After the rotation angle of the eyeball can be calculated, the coordinates of the gazing point on the finder can be obtained by performing a predetermined calculation using the above-mentioned formulas (4a) and (5a). For the predetermined numbers m and Δ of the calculation of the coordinates of the point of gaze from the eyeball rotation angle, individual difference data of the photographer is obtained in advance. The individual difference data is obtained by the calibration operation performed prior to the eye gaze detection operation, but the description of the calibration operation will be omitted.

(# 209) The sight line detection is ended.

As described above, by changing the range of the line of sight corresponding to each focus detection area in the dynamic subject orientation mode and the static subject orientation mode, when a still subject is photographed and when a moving subject is moving. In the case of photographing, it is possible to determine the focus detection area corresponding to the fact that the line-of-sight position of the photographer changes.

In the first embodiment, the description has been given of the embodiment in which the range of the line of sight corresponding to each focus detection area is changed between the dynamic subject orientation mode and the static subject orientation mode. Think about when you shoot. Since the parts other than the sub-routine "distance measuring point selection &display" are the same as those of the first embodiment, only the sub-routine "distance measuring point selection &display" will be explained here.

This "distance measuring point selection &display" subroutine will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the subroutine is called # 3101
To start executing the program.

At # 3101, the prediction counter AICNT determines whether the prediction calculation is in progress. If the prediction is in progress (currently in the prediction operation), the process proceeds to # 3102, and if the prediction is not started (AICNT = 0), the process proceeds to # 3103.

When this judgment is made using the prediction counter AICNT, the line-of-sight range corresponding to each focus detection area becomes wider when the prediction is cleared in the middle, and corresponds to each focus detection area during the prediction. The line of sight becomes narrow.

For example, instead of AICNT, AFI
If the same determination is performed using NG, the SW1 is pushed to widen the line-of-sight range corresponding to each focus detection area only at the beginning, and narrow the line-of-sight range corresponding to each focus detection area after the second time. You can also

# 3102: The line-of-sight range parameter corresponding to each focus detection area before the start of prediction is set. For example, x
1 = 2.3 mm, x2 = 6.1 mm, x3 = 12 mm,
y1 = 10 mm.

# 103, the line-of-sight range parameter corresponding to each focus detection area being predicted is set. For example, x1 =
2.3 mm, x2 = 6.1 mm, x3 = 9.2 mm, y
1 = 9 mm.

In the case of this embodiment, the range before the start of prediction is wider than the range under prediction. This is
In the case of a moving subject as shown in (a), the range of the line of sight is widened before the prediction is started (that is, when the first line of sight is detected) so that the subject can be easily captured. When the prediction calculation is started (that is, when the eye gaze is detected for the second time and thereafter), FIG.
As in (b), the line-of-sight range is narrowed so that the prediction calculation is not interrupted even if the line-of-sight is mistakenly drawn in the background. Then proceed to # 3104.

# 3104, first, the y-direction (vertical direction) is determined. If yn is y1 ≦ yn ≦ −y1, the process proceeds to # 3105, and if not, the process proceeds to # 3115.

# 3105: If the y-direction (vertical direction) determination is within the range, the x-direction determination is performed next. xn is -x3 <
If xn ≦ −x2 is satisfied, the process proceeds to # 3110. This is the case where the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) is in the range EYL2. If −x3 <xn ≦ −2x is not satisfied, # 3106
Proceed to.

# 3106, xn is -x3 <xn≤-x2
If is not satisfied, then it is determined whether -x2 <xn≤-x1 is satisfied. If satisfied, proceed to # 3111. This is the case where the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) is in the range EYL2. If not satisfied, proceed to # 3107.

# 3107, xn is -x2 <xn≤-x1
If is not satisfied, then it is determined whether -x1 <xn <x1 is satisfied. If satisfied, proceed to # 3112. This is the case where the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) is in the range EYC. If not satisfied, proceed to # 3108.

# 3108, If xn does not satisfy -x1 <xn <x1, then it is determined whether x1≤xn <x2 is satisfied. If satisfied, proceed to # 3113. This is the range EY
This is the case where there is a line-of-sight position (xn, yn) in R1. If not satisfied, proceed to # 3109.

# 3109: If xn does not satisfy x1≤xn <x2, then it is determined whether x2≤xn <x3 is satisfied. If satisfied, proceed to # 3114. This is the range EYR
2 is the case where there is a line-of-sight position (xn, yn). If it does not satisfy, it does not belong to any range, so that the procedure proceeds to # 3115.

Since the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) exists in # 3110 and area EYL2, distance measuring point L2 is selected.

Since the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) exists in the area EYL1 in # 3111, the distance measuring point L1 is selected.

# 3112, the line-of-sight position (x
Since there is n, yn), the distance measuring point C is selected.

# 3113: Since the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) is in the area EYR1, the distance measuring point R1 is selected.

# 3114, since the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) is in the area EYR2, the distance measuring point R2 is selected.

# 3115: If it is not in any area, the distance measuring point is selected regardless of the result of the sight line detection. In this case, the focus detection result selected last time may be selected again, or the focus detection result may be selected later from the result of the prediction calculation without selecting the focus detection point in this subroutine.

When the distance measuring points are selected in # 3110 to # 3115, the next display is performed.

# 3116, a signal is transmitted to the LED drive circuit 106 to use the superimposing LED 21 to blink the focus detection area (it may be lit).

The # 3117 subroutine is returned.

Upon returning from the subroutine "selection and display of distance measuring points", the process proceeds to step # 630.

The subsequent operation is similar to that of the first embodiment.

As described above, even when only a moving subject is photographed, the range of the line of sight can be changed between the case of performing the line of sight detection and focus detection for the first time and the case of performing the line of sight detection and focus detection for the second time and thereafter. By this, the focus detection area can be accurately selected by the line of sight.

In the third embodiment, a case where the line-of-sight range is changed depending on the subject distance will be described.

The third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except the subroutine "distance measuring point selection &display".
Here, only the subroutine "selection and display of distance measuring points" will be described.

The focus detection area is selected from the line-of-sight position coordinates obtained by the subroutine "selection and display of distance measuring points" line-of-sight detection.
Here, the line-of-sight position coordinates and the focus detection area will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, L2, L1, C, R1,
R2 is CCD-L2, C of the line sensor 6f, respectively.
CD-L1, CCD-C, CCD-R1, CCD-R2
Corresponding to, the focus detection is performed at each place. If the coordinates of the line-of-sight position on the viewfinder are within the range of EYL2, it is determined that L2 is being gazed at, and focus detection is performed using CCD-L2. Similarly, L1 if the line of sight is within the range of EYL1, C for EYC, R1 for EYR1 and EY.
If R2, focus detection is performed by R2. Next, EYL2 and EYL
Specific ranges of 1, EYC, EYR1, and EYR2 will be described. x and y are coordinate axes when obtaining the line-of-sight position on the finder, and the obtained line-of-sight position coordinates are (xn, y
n).

The range of EYL2 is -x3 <xn≤-x2 and y3≤yn≤-y3, and the range of EYL1 is -2x <xn≤-x1 and y2≤yn.
≦ −y2 The range of EYC is −x1 <xn <x1 and y1 ≦ yn ≦ −.
The range of y1 EYR1 is x1 ≦ xn <x2 and y2 ≦ yn ≦ −.
The range of y2 EYR2 is x2 ≦ xn <x3 and y3 ≦ yn ≦ −.
It becomes y3.

When the line of sight is located at the (xn, yn) position in FIG. 8, x1≤xn <x2 and y2≤yn≤-y2, so the range is EYR1. When the line of sight is in EYR1, the distance measuring point to be selected is R1.

This "distance measuring point selection &display" subroutine will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the subroutine is called # 4102
To start executing the program.

# 4102: The values of the parameters x1, x2, x3, y1, y2, y3 are determined from the subject distance measured last time.

If there is no previous distance in the first visual axis detection, it is set to a predetermined value (for example, the same value as in the one-shot mode of the first embodiment: x1 = 2.3 mm, x
2 = 6.1 mm, x3 = 18 mm, y1 = y2 = y3 =
12 mm. ). Normally, the farther the distance between the photographer and the subject, the smaller the subject on the viewfinder (see FIG. 12).
(A)), the line-of-sight range is set to be small, and the line-of-sight is set to be wider as it gets closer (FIG. 12B). The relationship between the distance and the size of the line-of-sight range also changes depending on the focal length of the taking lens. next#
Proceed to 4105.

# 4150, xn is -x3 <xn≤-x2
And y3 ≦ yn ≦ −y3 are satisfied, the process proceeds to # 4110. This is the case where the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) is in the range EYL2. If this condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to # 4106.

# 4106, and then it is determined whether -x2 <xn≤-x and y2≤-y2 are satisfied. If satisfied # 4
Go to 111. This is the line-of-sight position (xn,
yn) is present. If not satisfied, proceed to # 4107.

# 4107, and then it is determined whether -x1 <xn <x1 and y1≤yn≤-y1 are satisfied. If satisfied, proceed to # 4112. This is the line of sight position (x
n, yn). If not satisfied # 410
Proceed to 8.

# 4108, then x1≤xn <x2 and y
It is determined whether or not 2 ≦ yn ≦ −y2 is satisfied. If satisfied, proceed to # 4113.

# 4109, then x2≤xn <x3 and y
It is determined whether 3 ≦ yn ≦ −y3 is satisfied. If satisfied, proceed to # 4114. This is the line-of-sight position (x
n, yn). If it does not satisfy, it does not belong to any range, so that the process proceeds to # 4115.

# 4110, since the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) exists in the area EYL2, the distance measuring point L2 is selected.

Since the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) exists in # 4111, the area EYL1, the distance measuring point L1 is selected.

# 4112, the line-of-sight position (x
Since there is n, yn), the distance measuring point C is selected.

# 4113: Since the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) exists in the area RYR1, the distance measuring point R1 is selected.

# 4114: Since the line-of-sight position (xn, yn) exists in the area EYR2, the distance measuring point R2 is selected.

# 4115: If it is not in any area, the distance measuring point is selected regardless of the result of the sight line detection. In this case, the center distance measuring point may be selected in advance, or the distance measuring point selected as a result of the previous time may be selected again. In this subroutine, the focus detection point may be selected later without depending on the focus detection result.

When a distance measuring point is selected in # 4110 to # 4115, the following display is performed.

# 4116: A signal is transmitted to the LED drive circuit 106 to use the superimposing LED 21 to blink the focus detection area (it may be lit).

The # 117 subroutine is returned.

When the subroutine "distance measurement selection &display" is returned, the process proceeds to step # 630.

The range of the line of sight corresponding to each focus detection area can be switched depending on the feeding mode of the camera. Flow chart # 101 of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 # 31
The determination of the part 01 may be changed so that the feeding mode branches depending on the difference between the continuous shooting mode and the single shooting mode. The range is widened in the single shooting mode and narrowed in the single shooting mode.

[0189]

As described above, the optical device having the line-of-sight detection means of the invention described in claim 1 of the present application is provided with the line-of-sight detection means for detecting the position of the line-of-sight in the viewfinder of the user and a plurality of operation modes. And a focus detection unit capable of performing focus detection for each of a plurality of focus detection areas provided in the finder, and a plurality of determination ranges including the focus detection areas are set. Depending on the operation mode of the detection means, a range setting means for changing the size of the determination range to be set, and which of the determination ranges the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detection means is included in are determined. Estimating the movement characteristics of the line of sight of the user from the operation mode of the focus detection means by having at least one focus detection area of the focus detection areas. It can, can be selected accurately focus detection area on the basis of the visual line detection result. An optical device having the line-of-sight detection means of the invention described in claim 3 of the present application is provided for the line-of-sight detection means for detecting the position of the line-of-sight in the finder of the user and the plurality of focus detection areas provided in the finder. A focus detection unit capable of detecting focus and a plurality of determination ranges including the focus detection region are set, and a range in which the size of the determination range to be set is changed depending on the operation state of the focus detection unit. And a selection unit for determining which of the determination ranges the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detection unit is included in and selecting at least one focus detection region from the plurality of focus detection regions. By doing so, it is possible to infer the movement characteristics of the line of sight of the user from the operating state of the focus detection means, and by changing the size of the determination range according to this movement characteristics, It can be selected accurately focus detection area on the basis of the line detection result.

An optical device having the line-of-sight detection means of the invention described in claim 5 of the present application is a line-of-sight detection means for detecting the position of the line-of-sight in the finder of the user, and a plurality of focus detection areas provided in the finder. With respect to each of the focus detection means capable of detecting the focus, and a plurality of determination ranges including the focus detection area are set, based on the focus detection result of the focus detection means, A range setting unit that changes the size and a determination range in which the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detection unit are included, and at least one focus detection region is selected from the plurality of focus detection regions. By including the selection means for controlling the state of the subject from the focus detection result of the focus detection means, the movement characteristics of the user's line of sight can be estimated from the state of the subject. And, by changing the size of the determination range to suit the supposed transfer properties, it can be selected focus detection area accurately on the basis of the visual line detection result.

The optical device having the line-of-sight detection means of the invention described in claim 7 of the present application is a line-of-sight detection means for detecting the position of the line-of-sight in the finder of the user, and a plurality of focus detection areas provided in the finder. With respect to each focus detection means capable of focus detection, optical device control means for controlling the operation of the optical device in a plurality of operation modes, a plurality of determination ranges including the focus detection region, Based on the operation mode of the optical device, the range setting means for changing the size of the determination range to be set, and determining which of the determination ranges the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detecting means is included in, By estimating at least one focus detection area of the plurality of focus detection areas, the use state of the optical equipment is inferred from the operation mode of the optical equipment. Rukoto can, assuming the movement characteristics of the user's line of sight from the use state of the optical device, by changing the size of the determination range in accordance with the movement characteristic is assumed,
The focus detection area can be accurately selected based on the line-of-sight detection result.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a “visual axis detection & A” for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.
F "flow chart.

FIG. 2 illustrates “selecting a focus detection point & explaining the operation of the first embodiment.
Display "flow chart.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a line-of-sight range.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the camera.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a line-of-sight detection operation.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a line-of-sight range according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an electric circuit block diagram eye-gaze detecting optical system of the camera of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a line-of-sight detection optical system.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of an eyeball image and an output signal.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view of the principle of the line-of-sight detection method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Photographic Lens 2 Main Mirror 7 Focus Plate 8 Penta-Dach Prism 11 Eyepiece 12 Light-Receiving Lens 13 Infrared Light Emitting Diode 14 CCD 15 Eyeball 16 Cornea 17 Iris 19 Pupil 21 LED 100 CPU 101 Eye-Gaze Detection Circuit 102 Photometry Circuit 103 Auto Focus Detection Circuit 104 Signal input circuit 105 LCD drive circuit 107 IRED drive circuit 108 Shutter control circuit 109 Motor control circuit 110 Focus adjustment circuit 111 Aperture drive circuit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a line-of-sight position of a user in a finder, and a plurality of operation modes, wherein focus detection is performed for each of a plurality of focus detection areas provided in the finder. And a range setting means for setting a plurality of judgment ranges including the focus detection area, the range setting means changing the size of the judgment range to be set according to the operation mode of the focus detection means. An optical system having a line-of-sight detection unit including a selection unit that determines which of the determination ranges the line-of-sight position detected by the detection unit is included in and selects at least one focus detection region from the plurality of focus detection regions. machine. 2. The focus detection means has a first operation mode in which focus detection operation is not performed once focus is obtained, and a second operation mode in which focus detection operation is continued after focus is achieved. 2. The optical device having the line-of-sight detection means according to claim 1, wherein the range setting means changes the size of the determination range set in the first operation mode and the second operation mode. 3. A line-of-sight detection means for detecting the position of the line-of-sight in the finder of the user, a focus detection means capable of performing focus detection for each of a plurality of focus detection areas provided in the finder, and the focus. A plurality of determination ranges including a detection area are set, and range setting means for changing the size of the determination range to be set according to the operating state of the focus detection means, and the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detection means. An optical device having a line-of-sight detection unit including a selection unit that determines which determination range is included in the determination range and selects at least one focus detection region from the plurality of focus detection regions. 4. The determination that the focus detection means has an operation mode in which the focus detection operation is continued even after focusing, and the range setting means sets the first operation and the second and subsequent operations in the operation mode. An optical device having a line-of-sight detection means according to claim 3, wherein the size of the range is changed. 5. A line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a line-of-sight position of a user in the finder, a focus detecting means capable of performing focus detection for each of a plurality of focus detection areas provided in the finder, and the focus. A plurality of determination ranges including a detection area are set, and a range setting unit that changes the size of the determination range to be set based on the focus detection result of the focus detection unit, and the line-of-sight detection unit detects the range. An optical device having a line-of-sight detection unit including a selection unit that determines which determination range the line-of-sight position is included in and selects at least one focus detection region from the plurality of focus detection regions. 6. The optical device having the line-of-sight detection means according to claim 5, wherein the range setting means changes the size of the determination range to be set according to the subject distance obtained based on the focus detection result. . 7. A line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a line-of-sight position in the finder of the user, a focus detecting means capable of performing focus detection for each of a plurality of focus detection areas provided in the finder, and a plurality of focus detecting means. An optical device control means for controlling the operation of the optical device in the operation mode, and a plurality of judgment ranges including the focus detection area are set, and the size of the judgment range set based on the operation mode of the optical device. Range setting means for changing the height, and which of the determination ranges the line-of-sight position detected by the line-of-sight detection means is included in, and at least one focus detection area is selected from the plurality of focus detection areas. An optical device having a line-of-sight detection means including a selection means. 8. The optical device control means has a first exposure operation mode in which one shooting operation is performed and a second exposure operation mode in which a plurality of shooting operations are continuously performed by operating a release button. 8. The optical apparatus having the line-of-sight detection means according to claim 7, wherein the range setting means changes the size of the determination range set in the first exposure operation mode and the second exposure operation mode. .