Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
396125000 | Processing circuit | 58 |
20080199170 | CAMERA SYSTEM - In a camera system according to the present invention, a lens controller obtains an exposure synchronizing signal that is generated by a camera controller from a camera body, causes a configuration formed of a first encoder, a second encoder and a counter to detect the position of a focus lens according to the obtained exposure synchronizing signal, and notifies the camera body of the detected position of the focus lens. The camera controller associates the position of the focus lens or the mechanism member obtained from the lens controller with an AF evaluation value based on the exposure synchronizing signal, and controls an autofocus operation of the camera system based on the position and AF evaluation value that are associated with each other. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the accuracy of an autofocus operation with a contrast system. | 08-21-2008 |
20080205870 | Photographing apparatus and focusing control method - A photographing apparatus comprises: a photographing device which takes an image of a subject; a focusing control device which controls the focusing status of the photographing device in response to an input of a focusing instruction; a focusing judgment device which, upon an input of the photographing instruction after the input of the focusing instruction, judges whether or not a focus position at the time of the input of the focusing instruction is optimum; and a photographing control device which controls to execute photographing using the focus position as it is if the focus position at the time of the input of the focusing instruction is judged to be optimum, and controls to execute photographing after performing focusing control again if the focus position is judged to be not optimum. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205871 | FOCUS DETECTION DEVICE FOR IMAGE FORMING OPTICAL SYSTEM, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND FOCUS DETECTION METHOD FOR IMAGE FORMING OPTICAL SYSTEM - A focus detection device for an image forming optical system comprises a micro-lens array constituted with a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed micro-lenses, a light-receiving element array that includes a plurality of light-receiving elements receiving a light flux from the image forming optical system via the micro-lenses, the plurality of light-receiving elements being disposed in correspondence to each micro-lens, and a focus detection unit that generates image data representing an image formed by the image forming optical system and a focus detection signal, which corresponds to a focus adjustment state at the image forming optical system, based upon signals output from the light-receiving elements at the light-receiving element array, and that detects the focus adjustment state at the image forming optical system based upon the image data and the focus detection signal. | 08-28-2008 |
20080267604 | AF LENS POSITION DETERMINATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS AND ANTI-DAZZLING SCREENS THEREOF - AF lens position determination systems and methods. The system comprises an anti-dazzling screen, a sensor and a processing module. The anti-dazzling screen comprises first and second areas. The length of a respective covered sub-area in the first area is a first distance, and the length of a respective uncovered sub-area in the first area increases progressively from the center to a first border of the anti-dazzling screen. The length of a respective uncovered sub-area in the second area is a second distance, and the length of a respective covered sub-area in the second area increases progressively from the center to a second border of the anti-dazzling screen. The sensor moves within a range, and generates high and low signals based on the anti-dazzling screen. The processing module determines the position of an AF lens according to the signals generated by the sensor. | 10-30-2008 |
20080273869 | Method and apparatus for auto-focusing in image sensor - For auto-focusing of a focusing lens within an image sensing system, an N-bin luminance histogram is generated by a digital signal processor from an image. A microprocessor determines a type of the image from the N-bin luminance histogram. The microprocessor also determines a focus position using a first set of at least one focus value if the image is determined to be of a first type. The microprocessor also determines the focus position using a second set of at least one focus value different from the first set if the image is determined to be of a second type. | 11-06-2008 |
20090116830 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An imaging apparatus includes an object information holding unit to hold a size of a predetermined object included in a subject; an imaging unit to convert incident light from the subject to a captured image; an object detecting unit to detect the object included in the captured image and a size of an object image; an object-autofocus-range calculating unit to calculate an object-autofocus-range that is a limited movement range of a focus lens; a use determination range calculating unit to calculate a use determination range that is a range to determine whether detection of an in-focus position of the detected object is to be performed in the object-autofocus-range and that includes the object-autofocus-range; and an autofocus control unit to detect the in-focus position by setting the object-autofocus-range and moving the focus lens in the object-autofocus-range if a current position of the focus lens is within the use determination range. | 05-07-2009 |
20090185799 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND LENS APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus to which a lens apparatus is detachably attached includes an image sensor configured to generate an image signal by photoelectrically converting an object image, a first acquisition unit configured to acquire a contrast value of the image signal acquired by the image sensor, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire lens position information at a predetermined time interval, and a focus detection unit configured to detect a focal position based on outputs of the first acquisition unit and the second acquisition unit, wherein the focus detection unit selects the lens position information that corresponds to the contrast value acquired by the first acquisition unit from a plurality of pieces of the lens position information acquired by the second acquisition unit at the predetermined time interval, and detects the focal position. | 07-23-2009 |
20090202235 | AUTO-FOCUS CALIBRATION FOR IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE - The disclosure relates to techniques for calibration of an auto-focus process in an image capture device. The techniques may involve calibration of a lens actuator used to move a lens within a search range during an auto-focus process. For example, an image capture device may adjust reference positions for the search range based on lens positions selected for different focus conditions. The different focus conditions may include a far focus condition and a near focus condition. The focus conditions may be determined based on a detected environment in which the device is used. Detection of an indoor environment may indicate a likelihood of near object focus, while detection of an outdoor environment may indicate a likelihood of far object focus. An image capture device may detect indoor and outdoor environments based on lighting, exposure, or other conditions. | 08-13-2009 |
20100027983 | System and method for manual selection of multiple evaluation points for camera control - A method and system for additively, manually sequentially or manually in parallel, selecting multiple points or regions of interest in the analog or digital viewfinder of a photo or video camera with automatic controls like auto-focusing, auto-metering and auto white-balancing. Points or regions capable of being selected, within a grid of elements comprising a camera's evaluative matrix and represented to the user in a viewfinder or other display, may be hard-coded (pre-defined, selectable regions) or any point, pixel, or group of pixels. Data from the selected regions is used to simultaneously, dynamically adjust focus related parameters, light metering and white balancing of the camera and is tied into these features. Point selection may be via touch screen or by holding down a lock button. The selected points or regions may be applied to focus and aperture related adjustments or for any other camera function related to measurement of the scene. | 02-04-2010 |
20100150539 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE AND FOCUS ADJUSTMENT METHOD - A focus adjustment device includes an image sensor that includes imaging pixels for capturing an image formed via an imaging optical system and focus detection pixels for detecting a focus adjustment state at the imaging optical system through a first pupil division-type image shift detection method, a focus detector that detects a focus adjustment state at the imaging optical system through a second pupil division-type image shift detection method different from the first pupil division-type image shift detection method, and a focus adjustment controller that executes focus adjustment for the imaging optical system based upon the focus adjustment states detected by the image sensor and the focus detector. | 06-17-2010 |
20100158496 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FOCUSING A CHARGE COUPLED DEVICE LENS ON A SELECTED SURFACE OF AN OBJECT - A positioning system and method for focusing a charge coupled device (CCD) lens on a selected surface of an object to be measured is provided. The positioning system and method moves the CCD lens downwards to approximate an estimate Z-axis coordinate of the CCD lens, and moves the CCD lens upwards to find an accurate Z-axis coordinate of the CCD lens according to the selected surface of the object. The system and method further moves the CCD lens to a position corresponding to the accurate Z-axis coordinate to focus the CCD lens on the selected surface. | 06-24-2010 |
20100195998 | Imaging device and focal point detector - A focal point detector includes: a condenser lens for transmitting a light image from an optical system; and a distance measurement sensor group for receiving a luminous flux which has passed through the condenser lens. The sensor group includes a first distance measurement sensor pair for receiving divided beams of the luminous flux for a first focus detection region which is located off the center of a shooting region. The first distance measurement sensor pair includes first and second distance measurement sensors. The first focus detection region extends in a first direction in the shooting region from a position where the first focus detection region is spaced from the center in the first direction and also in a second direction. The first and second distance measurement sensors are spaced from each other and arranged at different angles in the direction associated with the first direction on the sensor arrangement surface. | 08-05-2010 |
20100209094 | FOCUS ADJUSTING APPARATUS AND FOCUS ADJUSTING METHOD - There are provided a focus adjusting apparatus and method in which a look of an image plane can be improved when an object area to be focused in the image plane is judged and focused prior to image-taking preparation operation. A first operation for determining the object area to be focused is performed prior to the image-taking preparation operation, and a second operation for performing the focus adjusting operation is performed at the time of the image-taking preparation operation. | 08-19-2010 |
20100254690 | AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM - An autofocus system includes: an image pickup unit that takes a subject image formed by an optical system; a target subject detection unit that detects a target subject, which is previously registered as an autofocus target, in a photographing image taken by the image pickup unit; a lens-to-subject distance calculation unit that calculates a lens-to-subject distance to the target subject based on information on a photographing angle of view depending on a focal length of the optical system, a size of the target subject in the photographing image, and a size of the target subject in real space; and a rough AF unit that controls a focus of the optical system so as to bring into focus the subject which is located at the lens-to-subject distance calculated by the lens-to-subject distance calculation unit. | 10-07-2010 |
20100254691 | ELECTRONIC CAMERA - An electronic camera includes an imaging device. The imaging device includes an imaging surface capturing an object scene through a focus lens, and produces an object scene image in a designated cycle. When a shutter button is half-depressed, an adjuster adjusts a position of the focus lens based on the object scene image produced by the imaging device. Also, a determiner determines whether or not both an illuminance and a contrast of the object scene captured by the imaging surface fall below a reference in association with a position adjusting process of the focus lens, and a controller sets a length of the designated cycle when a determination result is affirmative to be longer than that of the designated cycle when the determination result is negative. | 10-07-2010 |
20100296804 | FOCUS LENS CONTROL APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - Provided is a focus lens control apparatus, including: an evaluation signal acquisition unit for acquiring an evaluation signal indicating an in-focus condition from a high frequency component of an acquired image by causing an actuator to drive a focus lens; a detection unit for detecting a driving condition of the actuator; and a drive control unit for performing driving of the focus lens based on the evaluation signal and, after calculating an in-focus position from the evaluation signal, performing the driving of the focus lens under closed-loop control based on an output from the detection unit. | 11-25-2010 |
20110069945 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS HAVING FOCUSING FUNCTION AND ITS CONTROL METHOD - An image pickup apparatus includes a focus detector that utilizes a phase detection method, an image pickup device, an optical path switch configured to switch a path of light from an object between a first optical path used to lead the light to the focus detector and a second optical path used to lead the light to the image pickup device, a face detector configured to detect a face of the object from the image data, and a controller configured to provide such a control that the optical path switch can set the second optical path after the optical path switch sets the first optical path and the focus detector detects the on-focus state using the phase difference method, and allows the face detector to detect the face of the object after the optical path switch can set the second optical path. | 03-24-2011 |
20110150448 | POWER SAVING AUTOFOCUSING CAMERA MODULE AND POWER SAVING METHOD - Provided is a power saving-type autofocusing camera module and a power saving method, an auto focusing power saving-type camera module of the present disclosure, including a control part setting a controlled-output-amount of the lens to 0 in a resolving power ensured duration, the camera module containing an autofocusing-use lens actuator. | 06-23-2011 |
20110188844 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND A COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM TO EXECUTE THE METHOD - Provided are a digital photographing apparatus, a method of controlling the same, and a computer-readable medium for storing a program for executing the method. In the method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus, at least one target subject is determined from an input image. A target subject focus value of the at least one target subject is extracted while auto-focusing the at least one target subject. It is determined whether the target subject focus value stays within an in-focus range for a reference time or longer. The at least one target subject is auto-photographed when the target subject focus value is stays within the in-focus range for the reference time or longer. | 08-04-2011 |
20110211822 | FOCUS CONTROL APPARATUS AND FOCUS CONTROL METHOD - A focus control apparatus for use in an imaging apparatus includes an exchangeable lens and a camera body. The exchangeable lens includes an optical system including a focus lens. The camera body is able to hold the exchangeable lens and includes an imaging element. The apparatus further includes a pan•tilt detection unit, a decision unit, and a control unit. The pan•tilt detection unit detects a pan and tilt of the camera body. The decision unit determines whether the exchangeable lens is able to achieve wobbling. The control unit controls an automatic focusing process of the focus lens in accordance with an image data generated by the imaging element. The control unit executes a different automatic focusing process in accordance with a decision made by the decision unit, when the pan or tilt of the camera body is detected to have started. | 09-01-2011 |
20110274420 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - To provide an imaging apparatus and a method of controlling the apparatus that enables improved automatic focus adjustment performance also in relation to an image having a shallow depth of field. An imaging element | 11-10-2011 |
20120008929 | HALL-EFFECT BASED LINEAR MOTOR CONTROLLER - A linear motion control device for use in a linear control system is presented. The linear motion control device includes a coil driver to drive a coil that, when driven, effects a linear movement by a motion device having a magnet. The linear motion control device also includes a magnetic field sensor to detect a magnetic field associated with the linear movement and an interface to connect an output of the magnetic field sensor and an input of the coil driver to an external controller. The interface includes a feedback loop to relate the magnetic field sensor output signal to the coil driver input. | 01-12-2012 |
20120076482 | CAMERA SYSTEM - In a camera system according to the present invention, a lens controller obtains an exposure synchronizing signal that is generated by a camera controller from a camera body, causes a configuration formed of a first encoder, a second encoder and a counter to detect the position of a focus lens according to the obtained exposure synchronizing signal, and notifies the camera body of the detected position of the focus lens. The camera controller associates the position of the focus lens or the mechanism member obtained from the lens controller with an AF evaluation value based on the exposure synchronizing signal, and controls an autofocus operation of the camera system based on the position and AF evaluation value that are associated with each other. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the accuracy of an autofocus operation with a contrast system. | 03-29-2012 |
20120082444 | CAMERA SYSTEM AND CAMERA BODY - A camera system having a camera body and an interchangeable lens is made more convenient to use. A camera system | 04-05-2012 |
20120106938 | IMAGING CONTROL UNIT, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND IMAGING CONTROL METHOD - An imaging control unit includes: a detecting unit that detects a focused-status of a focus detecting range set to an image data of each frame; a setting unit that sets, at a position of a distinctive-region including a distinctive points of an object detected from an processed image data, a focus detecting range of an image data of a subsequent frame; and a control unit that performs, when the focus detecting range is not in focused-status, a focal length control to change a focal length of a imaging lens so that the focus detecting range is in focused-status. When a displacement amount from the focus detecting range set to the imaged image data to the distinctive-region detected in the processed image data based on the imaged image data is large, the control unit aborts performing the focal length control even when the focus detecting range is not in focused-status. | 05-03-2012 |
20120155847 | IMAGE SENSING DEVICE, IMAGE SENSING DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM FOR THE CONTROL METHOD - For preventing frequent use of auto-focus control and also for acquiring stable in-focus positions for target-objects, this invention comprises system control section | 06-21-2012 |
20120170922 | AUTOFOCUS CALIBRATION FOR LONG LENSES - A method for calibrating a focus point for a camera lens may include capturing a reflection of a focus point measuring device that is affixed to the camera. The method may include evaluating a captured image of the reflection to measure a calibration amount for a focus point, and adjusting a focus point of a lens of the camera by the calibration amount. The focus point measuring device may include a substantially planar target surface defining a plane, and a ruled target surface inclined at substantially 45° to the substantially planar target and extending through the plane thereof, marked to indicate respective distances in front of and behind the plane. The device may further include a fixture for holding the substantially planar target surface and the ruled target surface in a defined orientation to the camera, enabling performance of the method. | 07-05-2012 |
20120237194 | IMAGING SYSTEM, CAMERA BODY AND INTERCHANGEABLE LENS - An imaging system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The camera body includes a main body controller operable to transmit a reference signal for providing a reference of a driving start timing of the focus lens and delay time information indicating delay time with respect to the reference signal, to the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller operable to control the focus lens to be driven at a timing obtained by delaying the timing provided by the reference signal by the delay time based on the reference signal and the delay time information received from the main body controller. The delay time is set so that, for example, an exposure timing of a predetermined area in the imaging element is substantially coincident with a stop period of the wobbling operation of the focus lens. | 09-20-2012 |
20120243858 | AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM - In an autofocus system, a focus measurement unit receives an image, and accordingly generates an associated focus value. A focus transform unit receives and then transforms the focus value provided by the focus measurement unit, therefore generating an associated transformed focus value. An in-focus position estimation unit obtains an in-focus position, in an analytical manner, according to some transformed focus values and some associated lens positions. | 09-27-2012 |
20120294598 | EXCHANGEABLE LENS AND CAMERA BODY - An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles. | 11-22-2012 |
20120301126 | INTERCHANGEABLE LENS - An interchangeable lens to be removably attached to a camera body, includes: a receiving device that receives predetermined control data from the camera body through a first transmission path; a control device that executes predetermined control processing based upon the control data upon reception of the control data by the receiving device; a generation device that executes at predetermined intervals generation processing for generating predetermined lens data which indicates an operating state of the interchangeable lens; a transmission device that transmits the lens data to the camera body through a second transmission path, which is different from the first transmission path, upon generation of the lens data by the generation device; and a prioritizing device that gives priority to the generation processing by the generation device over the control processing by the control device. | 11-29-2012 |
20130094844 | CAMERA MODULE HAVING AUTO-FOCUS APPARATUS - The present invention discloses a camera module having an auto-focus apparatus including: a piezoelectric actuator for generating a force for moving a driven member; a rod connected to the piezoelectric actuator and transmitting the force of the piezoelectric actuator to the driven member; a lens barrel having at least one lens; and a connecting member for coupling the rod and the lens barrel together by a magnetic force. The connecting member has a rod guide groove corresponding to the rod and the rod is inserted and coupled to the rod guide groove in a movable manner. Since the lens barrel as a driven member is magnetically coupled to the rod which is adapted to move by the piezoelectric actuator, it is possible to easily assure the tilting performance of lens while securing and maintaining a preload. In addition, the overall size of the camera module can be reduced. | 04-18-2013 |
20130308932 | LENS BARREL AND CAMERA SYSTEM CAPABLE OF CORRECTING TRACKING DATA AND CAMERA SYSTEM - A lens barrel includes a moving lens unit that moves in accordance with a zooming operation, a focus lens that moves to correct an image plane variation caused by a movement of the moving lens unit, a driver that moves the focus lens, a controller that controls the driver, a zoom state detector that detects a zoom state, a focus lens detector that detects a position of the focus lens, a storage portion that stores tracking data indicating the position of the focus lens to correct the image plane variation, and a data correction portion that measures a real position of the focus lens in an in-focus state in a plurality of zoom states for each zooming operation in directions from wide angle to telephoto sides and from the telephoto to wide angle sides to generate correction data and correct the tracking data based on the correction data. | 11-21-2013 |
20130308933 | LENS APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM - A lens apparatus detachable from an image pickup apparatus includes a focus lens, a driver configured to drive the focus lens, a first position detector configured to detect a position of the focus lens, and a controller configured to correct the position of the focus lens detected by the first position detector to a position of the focus lens in a predetermined optical characteristic, to transmit a corrected position of the focus lens to the image pickup apparatus, to correct driving information of the focus lens in the predetermined characteristic received from the image pickup apparatus to driving information of the focus lens in a current optical characteristic, and to instruct the driver to drive the focus lens in accordance with the position of the focus lens detected by the first position detector and corrected driving information of the focus lens. | 11-21-2013 |
20130322862 | METHOD AND DIGITAL CAMERA HAVING IMPROVED AUTOFOCUS - The present disclosure provides a multi-lens device and method having improved autofocus. The method comprises: determining from a first focus value and second focus value whether a focus distance of a first lens or a focus distance of a second lens corresponds to a peak focus position; and adjusting the focus distance of the first lens and second lens when neither the focus distance of the first lens nor the focus distance of the second lens corresponds to the peak focus position. | 12-05-2013 |
20130322863 | CAMERA AND AUTO-FOCUSING METHOD OF THE CAMERA - A camera includes a depth-sensing lens, an auto-focusing apparatus, and a display screen. In an auto-focusing method of the camera, a focusing position of the depth-sensing lens is determined when an image of the scene is shown on the display screen. The depth-sensing lens senses a depth between the object and the camera, and determines a distance between the object and the focusing position of the depth-sensing lens. An optimal focus of the camera is calculated according to the depth and the distance. The auto-focusing apparatus controls the depth-sensing lens to move from the focusing position to the optimal focus of the camera. The camera controls the depth-sensing lens to capture an image of the scene based on the optimal focus when a user presses a button of the camera. | 12-05-2013 |
20140255017 | LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENT DRIVING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME, OPTICAL ENCODER, AND CAMERA - A light-emitting element driving apparatus comprising a light-emitting element, a driving unit including a control terminal for driving the light-emitting element based on a potential of the control terminal, and a controlling unit including a voltage holding unit, wherein the controlling unit controls the potential of the control terminal such that an emitted light amount approaches a target value and causes the voltage holding unit to hold a voltage corresponding to the potential of the control terminal, when the light-emitting element is in an emitting state, controls the potential of the control terminal to inactivate the driving unit, when setting the light-emitting element in a non-emitting state, and controls the potential of the control terminal by using the voltage of the voltage holding unit, when setting the light-emitting element in the emitting state again. | 09-11-2014 |
20150125140 | DRIVE APPARATUS, DRIVE METHOD, AND OPTICAL DEVICE - Noise produced during phase-difference changes is minimized without decreasing the responsiveness of a vibration-wave motor. A lens-side MCU ( | 05-07-2015 |
20160252797 | DRIVE APPARATUS, DRIVE METHOD, AND OPTICAL DEVICE | 09-01-2016 |
396127000 | Inflection point type | 7 |
20080205872 | FOCUS DETECTION DEVICE - Both of a high speed AF using contrast control and a high precision AF using a color temperature sensor are achieved. A focus detection device has: a first sensor which outputs a signal for a focus detection by detecting a phase difference; and a second sensor having a plurality of pixels whose spectral sensitivities are different. Accumulation start timing of the first sensor and that of the second sensor are different. The first sensor controls an accumulation time period and a read-out gain based on a difference between the maximum and minimum values of an accumulation signal. The accumulation of the second sensor is finished in a timing when the accumulation of the first sensor is finished. | 08-28-2008 |
20080219655 | AUTOFOCUS METHOD FOR A CAMERA - An autofocus method and apparatus provides a reduction in time required for performing the autofocusing procedure, preferably occurring during a one-time frame exposure. A distance between a focus of a lens system and a light receiving plane of an image sensor is varied, an image frame is formed by sequentially exposing pixels on the light receiving plane during a time period while varying the distance between the focus and the light receiving plane, a plurality of sub-blocks are set on the image frame and edge values are obtained for the respective plurality of sub-blocks. The maximum edge value is determined from among the obtained edge values, and a focus position of the lens system is identified based on the maximum edge value. The lens system is moved to the focus position. | 09-11-2008 |
20090016709 | AUTOMATIC FOCUSING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - An exemplary automatic focusing system adopted in a camera includes a brightness detecting unit, a recording unit, a correcting unit, and a selecting unit. The brightness detecting unit is configured for detecting a general brightness value of an environment of a subject prior to a focusing operation of the camera and outputting a correction factor associated with the general brightness value. The recording unit is configured for storing a first set of brightness values and the first set of contrast values. The correcting unit stores a preset brightness value and a preset contrast value. The correcting unit is configured for calculating a number of second contrast values according to the correction factor, the first set of brightness values, a preset brightness value, and a preset contrast value. The selecting unit is configured for choosing a maximum contrast value from the number of second contrast values of the subject. | 01-15-2009 |
20090047010 | Imaging device and imaging method - An imaging device includes an autofocusing section, which moves at least a part of an imaging lens as a focusing lens, and focuses the imaging device on a subject, a photographing distance range setting section, which sets a predetermined distance range including a subject distance to the subject obtained by the autofocusing section as a photographing distance range for photographing, a continuous shooting section, which continuously photographs at a plurality of focused positions in the photographing distance range while moving and stopping the focusing lens according to input of a photographing instruction, and a display section, which displays an image of the subject focused by the autofocusing section and the photographing distance range set by the photographing distance range setting section. | 02-19-2009 |
20090129767 | Focusing apparatus and method - A focusing apparatus and method are provided for a digital image processing apparatus. The focusing apparatus and method control an image sensor to read only pixels within a preset region of an image, calculate a focus value using only the read pixels, and apply the focus value to the entire image. The focusing apparatus includes: a region setting unit setting an arbitrary focus region of an image; a set region pixel reading unit reading only pixels within the set focus region; a focus value calculating unit calculating a maximum focus value according to a moving distance of a focus lens for achieving an in-focus state with respect to the pixels within the focus region read by the set region pixel reading unit; and a control unit applying the calculated maximum focus value to the entire image. | 05-21-2009 |
20090169193 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND FOCUSING METHOD THEREOF - An imaging pickup apparatus includes a lens module and a motor. The body includes a camera module configured for sensing an image. The motor is configured for driving the lens module to move in increments that are multiple steps of the motor. The multiplier used are “x” and “y” during an auto focus process. The image pickup apparatus includes a preset step number. Initially, the motor drives the lens module to move by increments of “x” steps. When the number of steps moved by the motor is greater than or equal to the preset step number, the motor drives the lens module to move by increment of “y” steps. | 07-02-2009 |
20090175610 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device includes a capturing module with at least one lens for capturing an image from a scene, a driving module for driving the at least one lens to different focusing positions using different driving steps, a flat-scene judging module, and a step-judging module. The flat-scene judging module divides the image into a central area and a plurality of peripheral areas, and determines whether the captured scene is a flat scene according to the divided image. The step-judging module determines whether the driving steps corresponding to a maximum focusing value of the central area of the image are same as driving steps corresponding to respective maximum focusing values of the peripheral areas of image, and changes the driving steps corresponding to the maximum focusing value of the central area to the driving steps corresponding to the greatest one of the maximum focusing values of the peripheral areas. | 07-09-2009 |
396128000 | Image correlation type | 12 |
20080317454 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor, composition unit, coupling unit, and arithmetic unit. The image sensor has a plurality of pupil-divided focus detection portions each formed from a first focus detection pixel and second focus detection pixel. The composition unit composites signals output from the first focus detection pixels to obtain a first composite signal, and composites signals output from the second focus detection pixels to obtain a second composite signal in each of sections assigned to the image sensor to include a plurality of focus detection portions. The coupling unit couples first composite signals to obtain a first coupled signal, and couples second composite signals to obtain a second coupled signal in the plurality of sections. The arithmetic unit calculates the defocus amount of an image forming optical system on the basis of the first and second coupled signals. | 12-25-2008 |
20090010634 | CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CAMERA UNIT AND PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CONTROL METHOD - A camera unit which is capable of coping with both a case where it is largely displaced from a preset position and a case where it is slightly displaced from the same, and makes it possible to enhance accuracy and reliability in displacement correction. A zoom/focus control circuit and a pan/tilt control circuit drive the camera unit. A memory stores preset information indicative of a shooting position and a focal length of the camera unit. A correction image memory stores correction images shot at different focal lengths at the shooting position. An image comparison circuit compares between an image shot by the camera unit at the shooting position and the stored correction images, and calculates a displacement amount. A CPU corrects the driving amount of the pan/tilt control circuit based on the calculated displacement amount. | 01-08-2009 |
20090034955 | IMAGING DEVICE, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device comprising an imaging unit for receiving subject light flux, incident via a photographing lens, on an imaging surface, and photoelectrically converting a subject image that has been formed on the imaging surface to output subject image data; a display unit for carrying out a live view display operation using the subject image data acquired by the imaging unit; a first contrast AF unit that obtains contrast information of the subject image from subject image data, and guides the photographing lens to within a first focus permissible based on the contrast information; a phase difference AF unit for placing the movable mirror in the optical path of the photographing lens, receiving subject light flux reflected by the movable mirror to detect a defocus amount of the photographing lens by the phase difference method, and guiding the photographing lens to within a third in-focus permissible range in response to the detection results; a release button having a two stage operating arrangement of half pressed and fully pressed; and a control unit for, when the release button has been pressed down halfway during execution of the live view display operation, executing a focusing operation using the first contrast AF unit, and after that, when the release button is pressed down fully, executing a focusing operation using the phase contrast AF unit. | 02-05-2009 |
20090067828 | IMAGING DEVICE AND IN-FOCUS CONTROL METHOD - An imaging device includes an imaging unit that obtains an image signal relating to a subject, a driving unit that drives a focus lens, a first detecting unit that performs focus detection based on a contrast detection method to detect an in-focus position of the focus lens, a second detecting unit that performs focus detection based on a phase difference detection method, while the focus lens is being driven toward the in-focus position, to detect a provisional in-focus position of the focus lens, and an in-focus control unit that controls the driving unit to drive the focus lens to pass through the provisional in-focus position and then return to the in-focus position. Focus detection information is obtained at least for a given range of positions, and is stored in a predetermined storage unit. The in-focus position is detected based on the stored focus detection information. | 03-12-2009 |
20090074396 | Auto-focus method, medium, and apparatus for image-capturing - An auto-focus method, medium, and apparatus for image-capturing. The auto-focus method includes obtaining a first image by placing a focus lens of a corresponding image-capturing apparatus at a first fixed position, obtaining a second image by placing the focus lens at a second fixed position; calculating blur levels of the first and second images, and determining a position of the focus lens by substituting the blur levels of the first and second images into each of a plurality of blur level relational expressions, which are derived from a plurality of pairs of images of respective corresponding objects at different distances from an image sensor module, each of the pairs of images being obtained by placing the focus lens at the first and second fixed positions, respectively. | 03-19-2009 |
20090080876 | Method For Distance Estimation Using AutoFocus Image Sensors And An Image Capture Device Employing The Same - A method of estimating the distance to a subject using image signals generated by autofocus image sensors of an image capture device comprises processing image data of each image sensor to detect edges therein and for each image sensor generating a corresponding edge image, correlating the edge images to determine the shift of one edge image relative to the other edge image that yields the best match therebetween, and calculating a distance estimation based at least on the determined shift. | 03-26-2009 |
20090092386 | Image pickup apparatus - An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system; a display unit; a detecting unit performing focus detection in phase difference detection; a focusing unit performing focus control of a lens in the imaging optical system on the basis of the focus detection result; an imaging unit generating an image signal concerning an optical image of a subject; an electronic zoom unit zooming in or out the image of the subject displayed in the display unit on the basis of the image signal by performing signal processing; and a switching unit switching between an electronic zoom active state and an electronic zoom inactive state. The detecting unit includes a sensor unit including a first licensor and a second licensor; a setting unit that sets detection sections having the same section length in the first and second licensors; a focus detecting unit; and a section length controlling unit. | 04-09-2009 |
20090110382 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensing device that receives object light and generates an image signal relating to the object image, a phase difference detection unit that receives the object light using a ranging sensor and generates a phase difference detection signal, a first focusing unit for performing a first focusing operation on the basis of the phase difference detection signal, and a display controlling unit for displaying a preview image on the basis of a plurality of image signals sequentially generated by the image sensing device before an image is actually recorded. The display controlling unit combines a first area for which the phase difference detection is performed using the ranging sensor and the preview image so as to display the combined image. | 04-30-2009 |
20090110383 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device having a shooting optical system, including an imaging element having a pixel array capable of generating image signals regarding light from a subject coming through the shooting optical system, and a focus-detection pixel line having pairs of pixels, the pixels of each of the pairs receiving luminous fluxes from the subject coming through a pair of individually corresponding partial regions of an exit pupil of the shooting optical system; a rapid-fire shooting unit configured to perform rapid-fire shooting to generate image signals at the pixel array on each exposure and to generate certain signals at the focus-detection pixel line; a focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection by a phase-difference detection method on the basis of the certain signals; and a focus adjustment unit configured to perform focus adjustment during each interval of the exposures on the basis of a result of focus detection. | 04-30-2009 |
20090148147 | IMAGE-CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image-capturing apparatus includes an image-capturing optical system; a sensor unit having line sensors that receive light fluxes of an object, which have been transmitted through a pair of partial areas in an exit pupil of the image-capturing optical system; image-capturing elements having a pixel arrangement capable of generating an image signal and a focus detection pixel sequence, in which two or more pairs of pixels that receive the light fluxes of an object, are arranged in a predetermined direction; a continuous image-capturing unit configured to perform continuous image capturing of actually exposing the image-capturing elements; a signal generation unit configured to perform another exposure for the sensor unit; a first focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection of a phase-difference detection method; a second focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection; and a focus adjustment unit configured to perform focus adjustment. | 06-11-2009 |
20100054723 | Focus adjusting apparatus and method - A focus adjusting apparatus adjusts a focus of a camera imaging a moving object. The apparatus includes a calculating unit that calculates a first out-of-focus level of a portion corresponding to the moving object within a first region of an image picked up by the camera, and calculates a second out-of-focus level of a portion corresponding to the moving object within a second region of an image; and a focus adjusting unit that shifts the focus of the camera in a direction in which the camera is focused onto the portion corresponding to the moving object within the first region when the first out-of-focus level is larger than the second out-of-focus level, and that shifts the focus in a direction in which the camera is focused onto the portion corresponding to the moving object within the second region when the second out-of-focus level is larger than the first out-of-focus level. | 03-04-2010 |
20110236007 | IMAGING APPARATUS PERFORMING AUTO FOCUSING FUNCTION WITH PLURALITY OF BAND PASS FILTERS AND AUTO FOCUSING METHOD APPLIED TO THE SAME - An imaging apparatus and an auto focusing method are provided. A plurality of focus signal values are calculated for a plurality of frequency bands of a captured image signal. An amount of defocus of a focus lens is calculated based on focus signal values calculated for two positions. A position of the focus lens is controlled depending on the calculated amount of defocus. Thereby, the imaging apparatus can detect a focus at higher speed. | 09-29-2011 |