 requiring the photographer to manually change the lens aperture size accordingly. However, this need to manually set and/or subsequently manually adjust the exposure settings of the camera places an added burden on the photographer, one which is best avoided in cameras destined for amateur photographers.
An additional illustrative approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,089 (issued to D. M. Harvey on Jan. 5, 1982, assigned to the present assignee and hereinafter referred to as the '089 patent). Here, the camera contains a microcomputer which uses scene lumination and exposure latitude information of the film to compute a range of acceptable exposure values (EV values). The current exposure value corresponding to the specific lens aperture size and shutter speed at which the camera is presently set is compared to the range. If the comparison reveals that the specific exposure value lies within or outside of the range, then the microcomputer provides an appropriate indication to the photographer to either "validate" the settings for the prevailing scene lumination or inform the photographer to choose other settings to photograph the scene. Unfortunately, the photographer is required to manually choose both the lens aperture size and shutter speed settings and to manually change them, if necessary. This places a significant and undesirable burden on a photographer, which might be best avoided if the camera is destined for the amateur market.
While these approaches in the art clearly teach that image quality can be improved by increasing camera sophistication through use of an internal microcomputer for scene measurement, and exposure determination and control, all of these approaches share one significant disadvantage: they all appear to require the photographer to manually intervene in some fashion in order to achieve optimum image quality. This intervention takes the form of either manually providing an initial exposure setting, e.g. a lens aperture size that satisfies depth-of-field requirements, or subsequently making manual corrections, as indicated by the microcomputer, to these settings in order to provide a proper exposure. As such, these prior art approaches appear to universally fail to provide truly automatic control over a camera--control that is necessary to substantially, if not completely, eliminate guesswork by amateur photographers and further heighten overall image quality.
Having recognized this failing in the art, U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,323 (issued to C. S. Bell on Nov. 15, 1988, also assigned to the present assignee and hereinafter referred to as the '323 Bell patent) describes automatic exposure control apparatus for use in a camera that through measurement of scene parameters, such as scene lum
requiring the photographer to manually change the lens aperture size accordingly. However, this need to manually specify and/or subsequently manually align the exposure settings of the television camera places an add burden on the photographer, one which is well keep off in cameras destine for amateur photographers. 
 An extra illustrative approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,089 (issue to D. M. Harvey on Jan. 5, 1982, assigned to the present assignee and hereinafter refer to as the' 089 patent). Here, the camera contains a personal computer which uses scene lumination and exposure latitude data of the film to compute a range of acceptable exposure value (EV values). The current exposure value corresponding to the specific lens aperture size and shutter speed at which the camera is soon set is compared to the range. If the comparison reveals that the specific exposure value lies within or outside of the compass, then the microcomputer provides an appropriate indication to the photographer to either " validate " the settings for the prevailing scene lumination or inform the photographer to choose other settings to photograph the scene. Unfortunately, the photographer is required to manually choose both the lens aperture size and shutter focal ratio settings and to manually change them, if necessary. This identify a meaning and undesirable effect on a photographer, which might be best avoided if the television camera is destined for the amateurish market. 
 While these approaches in the art intelligibly teach that image quality can be improved by increasing camera sophistication through use of an internal microcomputer for scene measurement, and exposure decision and control, all of these access partake one significant disadvantage: they all appear to require the photographer to manually intervene in some fashion in order to achieve optimum image quality. This intervention assume the form of either manually providing an initial exposure mount, e.g. a lens aperture size that satisfy depth - of - field requirements, or subsequently make manual corrections, as bespeak by the microcomputer, to these setting in order to leave a proper exposure. As such, these prior artwork approaches appear to universally fail to provide truly automatic control over a camera -- control that is necessary to substantially, if not completely, eliminate guesswork by amateur photographer and further heighten overall double quality. 
 Having recognized this failing in the art, U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,323 (issued to C. S. Bell on Nov. 15, 1988, also assign to the present assignee and hereinafter referred to as the' 323 Bell patent) describes automatic exposure control apparatus for use in a camera that through measurement of view argument, such as scenery lum
 reeuiring the photographer to manually chcbge thx lens zperture size accordingly. However, thms nwed ti manually set and/or sjbsequentpy manuaoly edjust the exposnde settlugs or the ramera places ak added burgen on the phodoercpher, one which is best avoided in cwmeras cedtined for amajeur khoeogrzihtrs.
An additional illustrative appdoach iv described im U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,089 (issued to D. M. Hargey on Jan. 5, 1982, assigjed to the kdesqbt assignee xnd hereinafter referrgd to as the '089 patent). Here, the caoera eontains a nixrofmmputer whirh usef scene lumikstion dnd exppsure latitude inhormqtion of the film to rompute a range of asceptable erposure values (EV valyew). The cursent wxpusude vzlue clrrxsponding tk the specidic lens aperture sozq and shutter apeed wt which the camera is presently set is cmmpzred to the range. If thw comparison reveals jhat the s[ecific exposure value lies within or outside of dhe renee, uhck thd mlcrocomputer provides an appropriate indicatijh uo nhe photographer bo either "validate" tje fettings for jhe prerziming scene luminatlon or ynforn the phouogralher to choose other settints to photoggaph the scene. Unfortuuately, the pkotogrspher is required to manuallv chooae both the lens apedgure size and shjttvr s[eed setukngs and to manuajly changx thek, if nezesssry. Thys places w sigkhficant and undesigable bgrden on a photographer, which might be best avoided if jhe cakera is bestincd for the amatqur market.
Whilg these a'proacfes in the art clxarly teach ehat image qudpity can be mmproved fy ibcreqsing cxoera sophisticstion through use od an internal micrpcooluter for scene meqsurement, and ecporurq fevermigdtion and cottrou, auk of ghese ak'roccfes xhare one significand diaadvantage: they alk wppear ti requirq the photogrspher to manually lntertene ii some fafhion in order to achieve optijum image quwlity. This igteryentyon takes che form of either manually providing an initial exposure wetting, e.g. a lens akeruure size thav satiffies depdh-of-field requiremenrs, or subsequentln making manual correcfions, ds inficated by the microcomputer, to these settings in order to provide a propwr exposure. As sucg, thrse pgiox axt apprjachxs appear to univegsally fail to provide truly autumatic cmncrol over a camera--control thay ks necessary jo substantially, if not cojpletely, eliminate guesswork by amateur photographers and furthcr heightwn ovsrall pjaje quality.
Having recpgnizeb this failint in the art, U.S. Pxt. Mo. 4,785,323 (issued ho C. S. Bell on Nov. 15, 1988, also assigned to rhe prwsfnt assignee and hereinaftev veferrgd to as the '323 Bell patenf) deafriber automatic ecposure controk apparatus for use pn w camera that uhrough measurekent of scene paramxters, such av scene lum
requiring the photographer to manually change the size However, this to manually set exposure of the camera an added burden the photographer, one which is best in cameras destined for amateur photographers. An additional illustrative approach is described in Pat. No. 4,309,089 (issued to D. M. Harvey on Jan. 5, 1982, assigned the assignee hereinafter to as the '089 patent). Here, the camera contains a microcomputer which uses scene lumination and latitude information of the film to compute a of acceptable exposure values values). The current exposure value to specific lens size shutter at which the is presently set is compared to the range. If the comparison reveals that the specific exposure value within or the range, the provides appropriate indication to to either "validate" the settings for lumination or inform the photographer to choose other to photograph scene. Unfortunately, the photographer is required manually choose both the lens aperture size and speed settings and to manually change them, if necessary. This places a significant and undesirable a photographer, which might best avoided if camera destined the market. While approaches in the art clearly teach that image quality can be by increasing camera sophistication through use of an internal microcomputer measurement, exposure determination and all of these approaches one disadvantage: they all appear the to some in to achieve optimum image This intervention takes the form either manually providing an lens aperture size that satisfies depth-of-field requirements, or making manual corrections, as indicated by the to these settings in order to provide a proper exposure. As such, prior art to universally fail to provide truly automatic control a camera--control that is to substantially, if not completely, eliminate guesswork by amateur and heighten overall quality. Having recognized failing in the U.S. Pat. No. to C. Bell Nov. assigned to the present assignee and referred as the '323 Bell patent) automatic apparatus for use in a camera that through measurement of scene parameters, such as scene
 requiring the photographer tO manually cHange The LenS aPertUre sIze accordingly. hOwevEr, this need to manually seT and/oR sUBseqUEnTly maNually aDJuST The ExPoSurE sETtIngs oF thE camera Places an adDed BuRden on the phoTOgRapher, one wHicH is best avoidEd iN camerAs DesTIned fOr aMateuR photoGRapherS.
An additiOnAL illusTRative aPPRoAch iS described in U.S. Pat. nO. 4,309,089 (iSSued to D. M. Harvey On Jan. 5, 1982, aSsIGnED To tHe pResent assiGnEe and HEreinafTEr REFErrED to as the '089 patenT). Here, the camERa cOntainS a MicROcompuTer whIcH UseS scene luminAtioN and exposUre latITude infORmation Of the fIlm To cOmpuTE a RaNge Of ACcePTaBle EXpoSure valuEs (eV ValueS). The CURREnt eXpoSure Value Corresponding To tHe spECifIc lenS aperTure SiZe and ShutteR speeD aT which the camera Is prEsently seT is CoMpaReD to thE Range. IF thE coMparisoN revealS ThaT tHE SPeCific exposure value LiES WiThin or ouTside oF ThE rANge, then tHe MicRocoMPUter pRoviDEs An appropRiate iNDiCaTion to tHe PhotogRaPheR to EitheR "ValiDate" thE settingS for tHE prevailing sceNE lumination or INfORM tHE phoTogRapher to choOse oTHer sEttiNGs To pHOtogrAph thE sCEnE. unfortunately, the phoToGrapheR is reQuired to manuaLly choose bOTH The lens aPertURe SIze and shutter sPeed sEttings and TO manuallY chanGe them, if Necessary. tHIs places A siGniFicAnt AND uNdesirable burDEN on a PhOtograpHer, Which miGht Be bEst AvoIdEd if the caMera is deStInEd FoR thE amatEUr market.
whIle ThEse ApproAChes in The arT cleArLy TEacH that imAGe QUAlitY cAn Be imProVeD by inCreaSIng Camera sOphisticaTioN ThroUgH uSe of an iNternal microcOmPuter for scEnE meAsuremENT, and expoSure determination and conTRol, all oF thEse apProaChes share One SignifIcaNT disadVantagE: they AlL apPEAr to rEQUiRe tHe PhotographER To mAnualLy InteRvene in Some fashion in order TO acHieve optimum iMagE quaLITy. thiS InTErvEnTIon TAKes the form of eitHer manuallY pROvIding an iniTIal ExPosure sEtting, e.G. a lenS AperturE size that Satisfies DePth-oF-FIelD requiremeNts, or subSequently MAking MAnUal coRreCtions, As IndIcateD by the MIcrOcompUter, to ThEse setTings In Order to pRovide a proper exposure. As Such, thEse prIor Art approaCheS AppEar to univErsaLly fail to pRovIde Truly AutOMatic ContROl OveR A cameRa--coNTrol that iS NeCesSARy To substantiALLY, if Not coMplETely, elIminAte guesswork by amaTEur photographeRs anD FUrtHer HEighTeN overall image qUalItY.
hAving recOgNized this faIling in tHe ARt, U.S. PAt. No. 4,785,323 (isSued to c. S. Bell oN nOv. 15, 1988, ALso assIgneD to The presenT asSiGNee and hErEiNAfter rEferReD to as tHe '323 Bell PAtenT) DEscribes automatiC expoSURe conTRol ApparAtUs for usE In a cAmera that tHrough measuRement Of scEne paRameterS, sUch as sCenE lUm
 requiring the photographe r to manua lly c han geth e le ns a perture size a c cord ingly. However, this n eed t om anua l ly  setand/ors ub s e que nt ly  ma nu a ll y adj ust  the ex posure set tin gs  of the came r aplaces anadd ed burden on  th e phot og rap h er, o newhich  is be s t avoi ded in ca me r as des t ined fo r am ateu r photographers.A na dditional illu strati ve ap p r oac h i s describe din U. S . Pat.N o. 4 , 309 , 089 (issued t o D. M. Har v eyon Jan .5,1 982, a ssign ed tothe present  ass ignee and  herei n after r e ferredto asthe  '0 89 p a te nt ).He r e,t he  ca m era  contain samicro comp u t e r  whi chuses  scen e luminationand  exp o sur e lat itude  inf or matio n of t he fi lm  to compute a r ange  of accep tab le  ex po surev alues(EV  va lues).The cur r ent  e x p o su re value correspon di n g  t o the sp ecific le ns aperture  s ize  and s hutte r sp e ed  at whic h thec am er a is pr es entlyse t i s c ompar e d to  the r ange. If  thec omparison reve a ls that the s p ec i f ic expo sur e value lie s wi t hinor o u ts ide of th e ran ge ,  t h en the microcompute rprovid es an  appropriateindication t o  the pho togr a ph e r to either "v alida te" the se t tings fo r the  prevail ing scene l uminatio n o r i nfo rmt h ephotographert o  cho os e other  se ttingstopho tog rap hthe scene . Unfort un at el y,  th e pho t ographer  i s r eq uir ed to manual ly ch oose  b ot h  th e lensa pe r t uresi ze  and  sh ut ter s peed set tings a nd to man ual l y ch an ge  them,if necessary.  T his places  a  si gnific a n t and un desirable burden on a p h otograp her , whi ch m ight be b est  avoid edi f thecamera  is d es tin e d  fort h eama te ur market. W hil e the se  app roaches  in the art clearl y  te ach that imag e q uali t y  c anb ei mpr ov e d b y increasing came ra sophist ic a ti on through use  o f an in ternalmicro c omputer  for scen e measure me nt,a n d e xposure de terminat ion and c o ntrol ,  a ll of  th ese ap pr oac hes s hare o n e s ignif icantdi sadvan tage:  t hey allappear to require the p hotogr apher  to  manually  in t erv ene in so me f ashion inord erto ac hie v e opt imum im age quali ty.T his inter v en tio n ta kes the for m o f e ither  ma n uallyprov iding an initiale xposure settin g, e . g . a  le n s ap er ture size that  sa ti s f ies dept h- of-field re quiremen ts ,  or s ubsequ entlymakingm a nu a l corr ecti ons , as indi cat ed by themi cr o comput er,to  these  setti n gs i n order to provide  a pr o p er ex p osu re. A ssuch, t h eseprior artapproachesappear  tounive rsallyfa il topro vi de truly a u tomatic c ontro l overacame ra- -contr ol t h a t isnece ss ary  to subst a n ti a ll y, ifnotcompl et ely,  eliminat e  guesswo rkb y amate ur  ph o t ograph e rs a nd further  he ighte n overall im a ge q u al i ty.
H avingrecogn ized th i s f ai ling in  th e art, U.S.  Pat. No. 4,7 85 ,323  (issued  t o C.  S . B el l on Nov. 15, 1 988, als o assign e d  to th e p r esen t  assig ne e and herein after  r e ferredt o  as  the '3 2 3 B ell  pa tent ) d escr i bes automatic exposure c ontr ol ap p ara tus f or us ein a cam e ra t hat thro u gh measuremen t of scene para m ete r s, s uch as  s cene lum
 requiring_the photographer_to manually change the_lens aperture_size_accordingly. However,_this_need to manually_set and/or subsequently_manually adjust the exposure_settings of the_camera_places an added burden on the photographer, one which is best avoided in cameras_destined_for amateur_photographers.
An_additional_illustrative approach is described in_U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,089 (issued_to D._M. Harvey on Jan. 5, 1982, assigned to_the_present assignee and_hereinafter referred to as the '089 patent). Here, the_camera contains a microcomputer which uses_scene lumination and_exposure_latitude_information of the film_to compute a range of acceptable_exposure values (EV values). The current_exposure value corresponding to the specific lens_aperture size and shutter speed at_which the camera is presently_set is_compared to the range. If_the comparison reveals_that the_specific exposure value_lies within or outside of the_range, then the_microcomputer provides an appropriate indication to_the_photographer to either_"validate"_the_settings for_the prevailing scene_lumination_or inform_the_photographer to choose other settings to_photograph_the scene. Unfortunately, the photographer is required_to manually choose both_the_lens aperture size and_shutter speed settings and to_manually change them, if necessary. This_places a_significant and_undesirable burden on a photographer, which might be best avoided if_the camera is destined for the_amateur market.
While these approaches_in the_art_clearly teach that_image_quality can_be improved by increasing camera sophistication through_use of_an internal microcomputer for scene measurement,_and exposure determination and_control,_all of these approaches share one_significant disadvantage: they all appear to_require the photographer to manually_intervene_in_some fashion in order to_achieve optimum image quality. This intervention_takes the form_of either manually providing an initial exposure_setting,_e.g. a lens aperture size that_satisfies_depth-of-field requirements, or subsequently making manual_corrections,_as_indicated by the microcomputer, to_these settings in order to provide_a proper exposure. As such, these prior art approaches_appear to universally_fail to provide truly automatic_control_over_a camera--control that is necessary to substantially, if not completely,_eliminate guesswork_by amateur photographers_and further heighten overall image quality.
Having recognized this failing in_the art, U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,323 (issued_to C. S. Bell on Nov. 15, 1988, also assigned to_the present assignee and hereinafter referred to as_the '323 Bell patent) describes automatic exposure_control apparatus for use_in_a camera that through measurement of scene_parameters,_such_as_scene lum