| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20080198258 | Single lens reflex type electronic imaging apparatus - There is disclosed an electronic imaging apparatus capable of selecting a first observation mode in which a subject image is observed using an optical finder and a second observation mode in which the subject image is acquired as image data from an image pickup device and is displayed in a monitor. In this electronic imaging apparatus, subject information (e.g., a person position) recognized based on the image data from the image pickup device in the second observation mode is succeeded even in the first observation mode, and shooting conditions can be set based on the subject information even in the first observation mode. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080198259 | Auto focus system - The auto focus system obtains focus information on a lens-interchangeable camera body of a TV camera and sends the focus information to a lens apparatus mounted on the camera body. The lens apparatus controls an auto focus based on the focus information. It is thereby possible to control the focus on adequate conditions according to optical specifications of the lens apparatus and so on. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080225158 | Imaging device and imaging method - An imaging device having an imaging element which takes a subject image by light from a subject passing through a photographing lens and obtains an image data, includes a filter selection device configured to select a filter transmitting an optional frequency component of the subject image; an autofocus detection device configured to detect a focus from an image data obtained by moving a focus lens to a lens position; and an acquisition timing setting device configured to set a timing of capturing the image data, the imaging device being configured to use the acquisition timing setting device in accordance with a photographing condition, and change the filter of the filter selection device in accordance with the acquisition timing set by the acquisition timing setting device. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080225159 | AUTOMATIC FOCUSING SYSTEM - A taking lens | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080278619 | IMAGING DEVICE - In a present imaging device, an optical image formed through a lens group from a subject is converted into an imaging signal by an imaging element and a focused area is detected by a focused area detection portion. Optical displacement or physical movement of the lens group is detected by a focus lens movement detector and an adjustment stage of the lens group is determined by a focused stage determination portion based on a detection signal output from this. Based on the determination result, the focused area of the imaging signal is automatically enlarged and output. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080284900 | Digital camera - A digital camera includes: an imaging unit that receives and images a light from a subject transmitted a photographing optical system; a recognition unit that recognizes a feature region of the subject using an image obtained by imaging with the imaging unit; a detection unit that detects a size of the feature region that is recognized with the recognition unit; and a control unit that predicts a distance to the subject after a predetermined period of time according to the size of the feature region, and controls the photographing optical system so as to focus on the subject. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080284901 | AUTOMATIC FOCUS ADJUSTING APPARATUS AND AUTOMATIC FOCUS ADJUSTING METHOD, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP METHOD - In an automatic focus adjusting method for adjusting the focus based on image signals in a preset focus detection area, the face is detected from an image, and the detected face area is set as the focus detection area in a front-light scene. On the other hand, when a backlight scene is identified, an area in which the detected face area is reduced is set as the focus detection area. This enables to control the focus so that the face is accurately focused on without being affected by the contrast of the contour of the face in a backlight scene (contrast of the contour of the face is strong in the backlight scene). | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080316353 | IMAGE TAKING APPARATUS AND LENS APPARATUS - An image taking apparatus which can perform a focusing operation quickly is described. The image taking apparatus comprises a light splitting unit which splits a light flux from the image-taking lens into a plurality of light fluxes, a view finder optical system for observing an object image formed by the light flux from the image-taking lens, an image pickup element which photoelectrically converts the object image to an electric signal and a focus detection unit for detecting the focusing state of the image-taking lens according to a phase difference detection system. Here, the light splitting unit changes between a first state in which the light flux is directed to the view finder optical system and the focus detection unit and a second state in which the light flux is directed to the image pickup element and the focus detection unit. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090009652 | IMAGE DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS - An image display control apparatus includes a determination unit (step S | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090021632 | LENS CORRECTION LOGIC FOR IMAGE SENSORS - Methods of calibrating a pixel correction function for compensating for vignetting in an optical device include exposing an optical device to a reference object in order to generate pixel data of at least part of an image of the reference object. A pixel correction function is provided including a first number of unknown constant values. Pixel data of a second number of sample points is provided from the pixel data of the at least part of the image. The second number is equal to the first number or the first number plus one. The constant values are determined using the pixel data of the second number of sample points. The method allows a pixel correction function to be calibrated with a small number of sample points, thereby simplifying calibration processes for individual optical devices, and thus reducing the manufacturing costs. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090059062 | IMAGING DEVICE AND AUTOFOCUSING METHOD - In a digital video camera according to one aspect of the invention, a black level of a video signal is specified during an initialization process. An autofocusing process obtains an AF evaluation value and a brightness evaluation value at each current position of a compensator lens and updates a maximum AF evaluation value and a corresponding position of the compensator lens based on the obtained data. The autofocusing process also detects an AGC gain, computes an offset value of the AF evaluation value from the detected AGC gain, the obtained brightness evaluation value, and the specified black level, and calculates a threshold value from the computed offset value and the updated maximum AF evaluation value. When the obtained AF evaluation value is less than the calculated threshold value, the lens position corresponding to the maximum AF evaluation value is specified as the focus position. When the obtained AF evaluation value is not less than the calculated threshold value, on the other hand, this series of processing is repeated with a position shift of the compensator lens by a preset number of steps. This arrangement ensures efficient and precise hill-climbing autofocus control in view of the potential influence of high frequency noise in the digital video camera or another electronic camera. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090086084 | Solid-state image device - A solid-state image device has a photoelectric conversion part and has pixels for focus detection and pixels for image which are allocated in a row direction and a column direction, and the solid-state image device includes a vertical scanning circuit for image which reads image signals to a horizontal output circuit for image via vertical signal lines for image, a horizontal scanning circuit for image which outputs in a horizontal direction image signals of one row read to the horizontal output circuit for image, a horizontal scanning circuit for focus detection which reads signals for focus detection to a vertical output circuit for focus detection via horizontal signal lines for focus detection, and a vertical scanning circuit for focus detection which outputs in a vertical direction signals for focus detection of one column read to the vertical output circuit for focus detection. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090102963 | Auto-focus image system - An auto focus image system that includes an image sensor coupled to a controller. The image sensor captures an image that has at least one edge with a width. The controller generates a focus signal that is a function of the edge width. A lens receives the focus signal and adjust a focus. The edge width can be determined by various techniques including the use of gradients. A histogram of edge widths can be used to determine whether a particular image is focused or unfocused. A histogram with a large population of thin edge widths is indicative of a focused image. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090115886 | AUTO-FOCUS METHOD AND DIGITAL CAMERA - An auto-focus method for camera is provided. First, a digital signal processor sets a first parameter p and a second parameter q. An image capture unit captures an only image. Then, the digital signal processor utilizes the only image, the first parameter p and the second parameter q to compute an object distance. Then, an optical focusing device utilizes the object distance to regulate a focal position. Therefore, the present invention substantially shortens the time for regulating the focal position. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090115887 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD - If an aperture of the objective-imaging is the same as an aperture when a state has turned into a focused state with autofocus before the objective-imaging or if an F value of the objective-imaging is equal to or greater than an F value when a state has turned into a focused state with autofocus before the objective-imaging, the focused state is maintained and the focusing of the objective-imaging is skipped. Even in other cases, a in-focus position is detected near the in-focus position before the objective-imaging. Alternatively, if the user selects a speed priority, the in-focus position is detected in a narrow range near the in-focus position before the objective-imaging. This enables to achieve both enough speed and focus accuracy of the main-photographing. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090135292 | Image recognition device, focus adjustment device, image-capturing device, and image recognition method - An image recognition device includes; an image sensor that captures an image via an image forming optical system and outputs image information repeatedly; a detector that detects differences between reference image information related to a reference image and a plurality of sets of partial information included in the image information; a recognition circuit that includes a microprocessor and recognizes a set of partial information, for which a smallest difference value among a plurality of differences detected in correspondence to the plurality of sets of partial information is calculated, as information matching the reference image information if the smallest value is smaller than a threshold value; and a controller that includes a microprocessor and sets the threshold value in correspondence to a color indicated in the reference image information | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090167931 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device is provided to perform focus control by detecting a facial part of a person, or to prevent focus shift to a background other than a human subject even when no facial part is detected, and to ensure that a subject desired by a user is photographed. A timer is started by a half-pressing operation of a release button. When a facial part of a person is detected, photographing is performed by focusing on the facial part. When no facial part is detected, the lengths of a time period T | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090180021 | METHOD FOR ADJUSTING POSITION OF IMAGE SENSOR, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A CAMERA MODULE, AND CAMERA MODULE - A lens unit and a sensor unit are held by a lens holding mechanism and a sensor shift mechanism. As the sensor unit is moved in a Z axis direction on a second slide stage, a chart image is captured with an image sensor through a taking lens so as to obtain in-focus coordinate values in at least five imaging positions on an imaging surface. An approximate imaging plane is calculated from the relative position of plural evaluation points which are defined by transforming the in-focus coordinate value of each imaging position in a three dimensional coordinate system. The second slide stage and a biaxial rotation stage adjust the position and tilt of the sensor unit so that the imaging surface overlaps with the approximate imaging plane. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090195689 | DIGITAL IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING PROGRAM FOR EXECUTING THE METHOD - Provided are a digital image photographing apparatus which easily captures an image of a composition intended by a user, a method of controlling the apparatus, and a recording medium having a program for executing the method. The apparatus includes: an image capturing device for receiving light to generate data on an image; and an auto-focusing tracking unit for allowing a lens to be auto-focused on a subject selected by a user. The image capturing device generates data on a still image when the subject on which the lens is auto-focused is located in a predetermined region of interest (ROI). | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090207299 | ELECTRONIC CAMERA - An electronic camera includes an imaging device. The imaging device has an imaging surface capturing an object scene through a focus lens and repeatedly produces an object scene image. The focus lens is moved in an optical-axis direction in parallel with a process of the imaging device. A high-frequency component of the object scene image is extracted by a focus evaluation circuit in parallel with moving of the focus lens. A CPU specifies lens positions respectively corresponding to local maximum values found from the extracted high-frequency component. When an interval ΔF between the specified lens positions falls below a threshold value, the focus lens is placed at a lens position on the nearest side, out of the specified lens positions. When the interval ΔF is equal to or more than the threshold value, the focus lens is placed at a position different from the lens position on the nearest side. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090213263 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING TARGET OBJECT - An imaging system includes an imaging device, a recognition device, a focus detector, a correcting device, and a selecting device. The imaging device is configured to capture an image formed by an imaging optics. The recognition device is configured to recognize a target object candidate in the image captured by the imaging device. The focus detector is configured to detect a focus adjustment state of the imaging optics. The correcting device is configured to obtain a magnification of an image of the target object candidate and configured to correct the magnification based on the focus adjustment state with respect to the target object candidate detected by the focus detector. The selecting device is configured to select a target object from the target object candidate based on the corrected magnification corrected by the correcting device. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090237552 | ELECTRONIC CAMERA - An electronic camera includes an imaging device. The imaging device has an imaging surface irradiated with an optical image of an object scene that undergoes a focus lens, and outputs an object scene image produced on the imaging surface. A CPU predicts a focus direction based on a focus position registered in a register when a shutter button is half-depressed. The CPU also changes a position of the focus lens by referencing a prediction result of the focus direction, and based on the object scene image outputted from the imaging device in parallel with this change process, adjusts the position of the focus lens to the focus position. The CPU further registers the adjusted position of the focus lens, as the focus position, into the register. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090237553 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUSES, METHODS OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING COMPUTER READABLE INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXECUTING THE METHODS - A digital photographing apparatus capable of automatically determining whether a macro mode is an appropriate mode, a methods of controlling the same, and a computer readable recording medium storing instructions for executing the method(s) is disclosed A lens position determining unit is disclosed that determines whether an auto-focusing lens position is within the lens position range corresponding to a macro mode, according to the position relationship between a lens position point corresponding to a maximum value of the plurality of auto-focus values obtained by an auto-focus value obtaining unit and other lens position points corresponding to other auto-focus lens values. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090256952 | Correlation calculation method, correlation calculation device, focus detection device and image-capturing apparatus - A focus detection device includes: a light-receiving unit that receives a pair of images and outputs a first signal string and a second signal string; a decision-making unit that determines a condition assumed as the light-receiving unit receives the pair of images; a selection unit that selects a correlation operation expression among a plurality of correlation operation expressions in correspondence to the condition; a correlation calculation unit that calculates a correlation quantity between a plurality of first/second signals included in the first/second signal string by applying the correlation operation expression selected; a shift amount detection unit that detects a shift amount between the pair of images; and a focus detection unit that detects a focusing condition. The selection unit selects the correlation operation expression to reduce an extent to which signal intensity difference between the first and the second signal strings affects the correlation quantity. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090256953 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - In an image capturing apparatus that carries out TV-AF type autofocus control by setting an AF frame on a predetermined object, for example a person's face, that is detected in an image, in a case in which a in-focus position search direction cannot be determined from an AF evaluation value, changes in the size of the region of the object are detected and focus detection is carried out by determining the in-focus position search direction based on the changes in the size of the region of the object. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090268080 | Bracketing apparatus and method for use in digital image processor - Provided are an apparatus for and method of processing a digital image, specifically, a bracketing apparatus and method for use in a digital image processor, which can reduce a photographing time by calculating focuses for all detected faces by moving a focus motor only once after face detection, and then performing bracketing by compensating the focuses by an interval of the focus motor applied while calculating the focuses of each face. The bracketing apparatus includes a digital signal processor, which detects one or more faces from a live-view image, detects focus values for all detected faces by moving a focus motor only once, and then performs bracketing by compensating a focus by an interval of the focus motor applied while detecting the focus values of each face. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090273704 | Method and Apparatus for Motion Detection in Auto-Focus Applications | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090284645 | Camera - A face detecting section of a camera detects a face area in a shooting screen under an output of an image sensor. A focus detecting section calculates a defocus amount from a relative interval of a pair of images under an optical flux passed through a shooting lens in each of optional areas in the shooting screen. A first focus controlling section specifies a focus detecting area from the optional areas under an output of the face detecting section, and performs a focus operation under the defocus amount of the focus detecting area. A second focus controlling section calculates a focus evaluation value in the face area under an output of the image sensor, and performs a focus operation by using the focus evaluation value. A control section causes at least one of the first focus controlling section and the second focus controlling section to perform a focus operation. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090322935 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to receive an optical image transmitted through a lens unit and configured to convert the image into image data, a target image detection unit configured to detect a target image satisfying a predetermined form from the image data converted by the imaging unit, and a focus control unit configured to move a focus position of the lens unit by a predetermined amount according to a result of the target image detected by the target image detection unit. The target image detection unit detects the target image from image data converted by the imaging unit in the moved focus position when the focus control unit moves the focus position of the lens unit by the predetermined amount according to the detected result of the target image. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100002128 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus which is capable of performing stable and high-speed focusing on an object intended by a photographer. In a video camera as the image pickup apparatus, an image pickup element picks up an object image formed by a photographic optical system including a focus lens and thereby outputs a video signal. A face-detecting section detects a face detection area based on the video signal. An AF signal processing circuit generates an AF evaluation value signal. An external ranging unit generates object distance information. A microcomputer performs a TV-AF process using an AF evaluation value of the AF evaluation value signal and an external ranging AF process using the object distance information. The microcomputer controls execution of the two focus control processes according to a result of the detection by the face-detecting section. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100045849 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS, IMAGE SENSING SYSTEM AND FOCUS DETECTION METHOD - An image sensing apparatus including: an image sensor including a plurality of focus detection pixel pairs that perform photoelectric conversion on each pair of light beams that have passed through different regions of a photographing lens and output an image signal pair; a flash memory that stores shift information on relative shift between an optical axis of the photographing lens and a central axis of the focus detection pixel pairs; a correction unit that corrects a signal level of the image signal pair based on the shift information and exit pupil information of the photographing lens so as to compensate for an unbalanced amount of light that enters each of the focus detection pixel pairs; and a focus detection unit that detects a focus of the photographing lens using the image signal pair corrected by the correction unit. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100073550 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING A BORDER OF AN IMAGE OF AN OBJECT - A system and method for measuring a border of an image of an object includes setting measurement parameters, selecting a start point, an end point, and a image capture direction, and marking isS=true, moving a CCD lens to a current point, capturing an image by the CCD lens, and obtaining sequential border points of the image. The method further includes determining if the sequential border points are fuzzy, performing an automatic focus function if the sequential border points are fuzzy, or further determining the border of the object has been completely captured if the sequential border points are clear, calculating accurate border points if the border of the object has not been completely captured, and determining a new start point to capture the next image of the object. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100073551 | CAMERA BODY - The camera body includes an imaging element, a hot shoe, an internal light source, and a camera controller. The imaging element is configured to convert an optical image of the subject into an electrical signal, and is configured to produce image data for the subject. The hot shoe allows the flash device to be mounted. The internal light source is arranged to shine light on the subject. The camera controller is configured to calculate an evaluation value on the basis of the image data produced by the imaging element, and is configured to perform video autofocusing on the basis of the evaluation value. The camera controller controls the imaging element and the internal light source so that when the camera controller decides that the auxiliary light is needed, and the camera controller decides that the flash device mounted to the hot shoe has an external auxiliary light source arranged to emit near infrared light, the internal light source emits light during the video autofocusing and the image data is acquired. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100097515 | AUTO FOCUSING APPARATUS AND AUTO FOCUSING METHOD, AND IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS - When a face is detected from image signals, stability determination time is set for determining if the face is recognized in a stable manner, and a period of time for which the face is consecutively detected starts to be measured. Until the measured period of time exceeds the stability determination time, an AF evaluation value acquired from a normal frame set to include a face frame corresponding to the face is used to exercise TV-AF control. Once the measured time exceeds the stability determination time, TV-AF control is exercised based on AF evaluation values acquired from each of the face frame and the normal frame. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100097516 | Method And System For Providing Background Blurring When Capturing An Image Using An Image Capture Device - A method and system are described for providing background blurring when capturing an image using an image capture device. According to one aspect, input is received for initiating an image capture process for capturing an image of a subject at an image capture device. A depth of field for capturing the image of the subject in a half of the depth of field furthest from the image capture device is automatically determined. The image is captured using the automatically adjusted depth of field to provide background blurring in the captured image. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100141828 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ELECTRO-OPTICAL SPLIT IMAGE FOCUSING - Provided are an electro-optical split image focusing apparatus and method through which an in-focus position of a photographed plane with respect to the image of a subject can be detected with accuracy and speed. The apparatus comprises at least one electro-optical element disposed along an optical axis between a subject and a photographed plane. The electro-optical element is characterized by a refractive index that varies with distance along a perpendicular to the optical axis when a voltage is applied. An image of the subject is transmitted toward the photographed plane through the electro-optical element. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100157136 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO AUTOFOCUS ASSISTED BY AUTOEXPOSURE CONTROL - In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes comparing a frame rate of image capture by an image sensor to a frame rate threshold at an image capture device. The method also includes when the frame rate is less than the frame rate threshold, increasing the frame rate to a modified frame rate that is greater than or at least equal to the frame rate threshold. The method further includes performing an autofocus operation on an image to be captured at the modified frame rate. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100165177 | AUTOMATIC FOCUSING METHOD IN HIGH-NOISE ENVIRONMENT AND DIGITAL IMAGING DEVICE USING THE SAME - An automatic focusing method in a high-noise environment and a digital imaging device using the same are used for determining an object distance. The method includes taking two digital images at a farthest object distance and taking two digital images at a nearest object distance, under a first exposure condition and a second exposure condition; capturing digital images under the first exposure condition at a plurality of different object distances other than the farthest and nearest object distances; selecting at least two images captured at adjacent object distances to create a composite image; calculating an object distance of the composite image; calculating high-frequency signals of the second farthest object distance image, the second nearest object distance image, and the composite image in the focusing frame; determining from the images an object distance corresponding to the maximum high-frequency signal; and moving an automatic focusing lens to the object distance. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100171871 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - In an image sensing apparatus including an image sensing unit with an image sensor and an EVF, first image signals obtained every preset number of frames, of image signals output from the image sensing unit are displayed on the EVF, focus evaluation values indicating a focus state of an image are obtained from second image signals obtained in frames other than the frames for the first image signals of the image signals output from the image sensing unit, a direction of driving a focus lens for an in-focus state is determined on the basis of the obtained focus evaluation values, and the determined driving direction is displayed on the EVF. Further, the focus lens is moved for image sensing in the frames for the second image signals to carry out image sensing of the subject at different focus lens positions for each frame. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100177236 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device of the present invention includes a normal operation period and a focusing operation period and includes: a CCD ( | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100182494 | WAVELENGTH DETECTING APPARATUS AND FOCUS DETECTING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A wavelength detecting apparatus capable of detecting the main wavelength of the light coming into an image capture apparatus and a focus detecting apparatus using the same are disclosed. The wavelength detecting apparatus may include a spectral unit which separates the incoming light according to the respective wavelengths, and may focus the separated light onto a sensor. The main wavelength can be determined based on the wavelength distribution sensed by the sensor. The determined wavelength can be used to further determine amount of adjustment to be made to the defocus amount to compensate for the chromatic aberration associated with the wavelength of the light illuminating the source. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100182495 | FOCUSING MEASUREMENT DEVICE, FOCUSING MEASUREMENT METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A focusing measurement device according to the present application includes an image input section that obtains a captured image; a filter section that generates, with respect to the image, blurred images by using each pair of filters having different frequency characteristics; an extracting section that extracts, at each of specific points on the image, a first feature quantity and a second feature quantity both from the image and the respective blurred images; and a focusing measurement section that calculates, from the first feature quantity and the second feature quantity, a focusing amount indicating a degree of in-focus to measure a focusing level at each of the specific points on the image. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100194970 | Automatic focusing apparatus and optical device - The present invention is directed to the provision of an automatic focusing apparatus that can detect a focusing point at a sufficiently high speed for practical use and can achieve a lens condition having good focusing performance. The automatic focusing apparatus of the present invention includes a liquid crystal lens which forms a refractive index profile, an optical-to-electrical conversion unit which converts an optical image focused through the liquid crystal lens into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal as an image signal, a focus signal extracting unit which causes the refractive index profile to change by applying a first range of voltage to the liquid crystal lens, and extracts a plurality of focus signals based on the image signal, a focusing point identifying unit which identifies a focus signal corresponding to a focusing point from among the plurality of extracted focus signals, and a focusing point adjusting unit which adjusts the focusing point by applying to the liquid crystal lens a second voltage that is capable of generating the refractive index profile corresponding to the focus signal identified by the focusing point identifying unit and that is smaller than the first range of voltage applied to the liquid crystal lens in order to obtain the focus signal identified by the focusing point identifying unit. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100194971 | TWO-DIMENSIONAL POLYNOMIAL MODEL FOR DEPTH ESTIMATION BASED ON TWO-PICTURE MATCHING - Apparatus and method for electronically estimating focusing distance between a camera (still and/or video camera) and a subject. Images at different focal positions of a calibration target are collected with distances between subject positions. In one aspect, histogram matching is performed to reduce noise error. A focus matching model is then generated in response to detected blur differences between successive images of the calibration target. The focus matching model is preferably converted to a polynomial equation of a desired order to smooth out image collection noise. The focus matching model is stored for access during operation. In use, the distance to subject is estimated in response to capturing images, detecting blur differences between the images and entering the blur difference information into the matching model. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100194972 | FOCUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A focusing device includes a distance information acquisition section acquiring information on a distance to a subject based on a plurality of image data acquired by taking images of the subject at a plurality of different viewpoint positions. A subject detection section detects a first area and a second area based on the distance information and threshold information for the distance range within which a subject of interest that obstructs a main subject in the subject is present. In the first area, the subject of interest is present in each of the plurality of image data. In the second area, the subject of interest is not present. A focusing estimation section estimates the focusing of the main subject based on the distance information on the second area in each of the plurality of image data. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100201864 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP METHOD - An image pickup apparatus which can reduce the time required for automatic focus scanning. The size of the face is determined based on information on a subject's face, which is detected from image data acquired by shooting by an image pickup device. The subject distance is estimated based on the determined size of the face. The depth of field is calculated. A range over which the focus lens is driven varies according to the estimated subject distance and the calculated depth of field. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100208127 | Image capturing apparatus, control method thereof, and program - An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor obtaining a captured image of a subject, a face detection section detecting a face of the subject from the captured image, a focusing control section performing a tracking focusing operation for maintaining a state in which the face of the subject is focused on the basis of a signal obtained from a distance measuring area provided in an image capturing area, a first determination section determining whether the face of the subject is present in the distance measuring area when the face of the subject is detected by the face detection section, and a second determination section determining whether a body area in which a body corresponding to the face of the subject is expected to be present is present in the distance measuring area when the face of the subject is determined not to be present in the distance measuring area. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100220230 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AUTO FOCUS, AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS USING THE METHOD AND APPARATUS - Provided is a method and apparatus for controlling an auto focus (AF) function. The method performs AF only on an area that is converted according to a shape of a subject, instead of on an area in a predetermined frame. Accordingly, focus is accurately adjusted even in a backlight situation or in a dark place, and also, an AF speed is increased since an AF area to be calculated is reduced. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100245657 | FOCUS POSITION CONTROL APPARATUS AND CAMERA - A focus position control apparatus includes a lens for forming an image from light from a subject, an imaging element and an imaging controller for performing photoelectric conversion on the subject image, lights having at least two different wavelengths or wavelength bands, on an imaging plane to generate at least a visible-region image signal and an infrared-region image signal, a focus-position movement mechanism for moving the lens in a direction along an optical axis relative to the imaging plane, a focusing state evaluator for evaluating a focusing state in each wavelength or wavelength band based on the generated visible-region image signal and infrared-region image signal, and a movement controller for driving the focus-position movement mechanism based on the evaluation result from the focusing state evaluator. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100259670 | Methods and Apparatus for Coordinated Lens and Sensor Motion - In exemplary implements of this invention, a lens and sensor of a camera are intentionally destabilized (i.e., shifted relative to the scene being imaged) in order to create defocus effects. That is, actuators in a camera move a lens and a sensor, relative to the scene being imaged, while the camera takes a photograph. This motion simulates a larger aperture size (shallower depth of field). Thus, by translating a lens and a sensor while taking a photo, a camera with a small aperture (such as a cell phone or small point and shoot camera) may simulate the shallow DOF that can be achieved with a professional SLR camera. This invention may be implemented in such a way that programmable defocus effects may be achieved. Also, approximately depth-invariant defocus blur size may be achieved over a range of depths, in some embodiments of this invention. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100271537 | IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM THEREIN - An imaging apparatus is equipped with a voltage control section, which individually controls the focus distance of a lens managed on the basis of each of a plurality of pieces of management information in accordance with a predetermined control condition corresponding to each of the pieces of management information and switches the focus distance of the lens at the time of imaging at a predetermined switching period in accordance with the focus distance indicated by each piece of management information while switching the plurality of pieces of management information at the predetermined switching period. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100315545 | Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus - Provided is a zoom lens including a first lens group, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein conditional expressions f | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100328521 | APPARATUS FOR DETECTING FOCUS - An apparatus for detecting a focus state has an optical image-forming system that forms an object image, a plurality of line sensors that is arranged on a projected area of the optical image-forming system; a plurality of monitor sensors that is arranged on the projected area along the direction of a line-sensor array, each monitor sensor being adjacent to a corresponding line sensor and monitoring an amount of light incident on the corresponding line sensor; and a signal processor that outputs image-pixel signals corresponding to the object image on the basis of electric charges accumulated in the plurality of line sensors. At least an endmost monitor sensor corresponding to an endmost line sensor is arranged on the center-facing side of the endmost line sensor. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110019068 | COMPUTATIONAL IMAGING SYSTEM - An imaging sub-system, a liquid crystal (LC) element, and a digital focus processor are provided. The LC element is placed in the light path of the imaging sub-system, functioning as the aperture of the imaging sub-system, and includes a periodically patterned electrode which is patterned according to a periodical modulation function and configured to blur an intermediate image captured by the imaging sub-system by applying a controllable voltage thereto. The digital focus processor is configured to deconvolute the periodical modulation function to remove the blur away from the intermediate image and determine an all-in-focus real image. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110037889 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING WHETHER AUTO-FOCUS OPERATION IS RE-EXECUTED AND IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE USING SUCH METHOD - A method for determining whether an auto-focus operation is re-executed and an image pickup device using such a method are provided. The image pickup device includes an image sensor, a register and a back-end chip. According to the automatic exposure value change amount and the automatic gain value change amount in a focusing environment, the back-end chip determines whether the auto-focus operation is re-executed. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110043680 | AUTO FOCUSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - The invention includes steps of setting a main area set within the frame of a photographed image signal, and a plurality of auxiliary areas each of which is smaller than the main area, selecting one or a plurality of focus detection areas from the main area and the auxiliary areas in accordance with the in-focus position of a focus lens based on the focus signals of the main area and the auxiliary areas, and controlling the focus lens to move to the in-focus position of the focus lens in the focus detection area selected in the selecting step. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110043681 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to photoelectrically convert an object image incident via a focus lens to acquire image data; a detection unit configured to detect a size and a position of an object based on the acquired image data; an adjustment unit configured to execute focus adjustment by acquiring a focus signal indicating a focusing state of the focus lens based on the image data while moving the focus lens, and moving the focus lens based on the focus signal; and a control unit configured to execute an operation if the detected size has changed, and to change the operation if the detected position has changed while the detected size has not changed. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110058096 | FAST FOCUSING METHOD FOR DIGITAL CAMERA - A fast focusing method for a digital camera is applied in an auto focusing stage for judging whether the digital camera needs to be refocused. The fast focusing method includes recording a system time after a previous focusing (defined as a first time); capturing a system time before a current focusing (defined as a second time); performing a fuzziness detection procedure to acquire a focus value when a difference obtained by subtracting the first time from the second time is greater than a focusing time threshold; setting a focusing focal length range covering a reference focal length when the focus value is between a lower limit focusing threshold and an upper limit focusing threshold; capturing images at different focusing focal lengths respectively in the focusing focal length range; calculating a contrast value of each image; calculating a target focal length from the contrast values through a quadratic curve approximation method. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110063494 | CONTINUOUS FOCUSING METHOD FOR DIGITAL CAMERA - A continuous focusing method for a digital camera is described, which is applicable to determine whether the digital camera performs a focusing procedure or not when the digital camera switches from a first scene to a second scene in a live view stage. The continuous focusing method includes the following steps. A preview image of a second scene is obtained. A blur detection procedure is performed on the preview image, so as to acquire a corresponding focus value. It is determined whether the focus value exceeds a focusing threshold value or not; if not, a focusing procedure is performed; otherwise, if the focus value is greater than the focusing threshold value, the digital camera still maintains a current focusing focal length, which represents that a focusing focal length of the second scene is the same as that of the first scene. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110085073 | Camera Module and Method for Adjusting Focus of Lens in Camera Module - Disclosed herein is a camera module having a selective focus adjustment function. The camera module includes a lens part containing a multiple of lenses, an image sensor converting an optical image transmitted through the lens part into an electric signal, and a main control part transferring the lens part driving signal to set a focusing area around the finger end part indicated by a finger in an image obtained from the optical image in a preview state. According to the proposed invention, a focusing region is set around the end part of a finger at the time of capturing an image when a user indicates a desired focusing setting area by a finger, so that the user can take the focus by selecting a desirable focus position freely at the time of photographing an image using a portable terminal having a camera module of the present invention. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110115967 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FOCUSING ON SUBJECT IN DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE - An method and apparatus focus on a subject in a digital image processing device, the apparatus including a digital signal processor (DSP) for focusing on a subject based on an eye detected from a face of a subject having a greater ratio than a predetermined ratio in a picture. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110122310 | CAMERA AND METERING METHOD FOR CAMERA - A camera includes: a taking lens forming an image of a subject; an image pickup unit; a subject brightness acquisition unit acquiring the brightness information of the subject on the basis of the output of the image pickup unit; a control unit controlling the exposure according to the brightness information acquired by the subject brightness acquisition unit; and a storage unit storing the information indicating the optical state of the taking lens before the subject brightness acquisition unit acquires the brightness information. The control unit determines whether or not the brightness information is acquired again by the subject brightness acquisition unit according to the information about the optical state of the taking lens stored in the storage unit when the subject brightness acquisition unit previously acquired the brightness information, and the information about the optical state of the taking lens when the latest brightness information is acquired. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110128434 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE, IMAGE-CAPTURING DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - An image-capturing device includes a detector which detects that a resistance value of an actuator, made of shape memory alloy, is maintained within a predetermined range. The image-capturing device moves a lens step by step from a place corresponding to a first field in order to obtain image data from each one of the fields provided in a focus region. The image-capturing device also calculates a target place, where the lens should be finally positioned, by using the obtained image data, and then positions the lens at the calculated target place. The foregoing structure allows obtaining reliable and stable data. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110134311 | IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING METHOD - An imaging device includes: an optical system which obtains an optical image of a photographic subject; an image sensor which converts the optical image to an electric signal; a digital signal processor which produces image data based on the electric signal; a display section which displays a photographic subject image expressed by the image data; and an operating section which performs a necessary setting regarding imaging, the digital signal processor including: an autofocus operation section which performs an autofocus operation based on data of an autofocus area set in the photographic subject image; a main area setting section which sets a main area in the photographic subject image; and a blurring operation section which performs a blurring operation on an area other than the main area in the photographic subject image, wherein the autofocus area is set automatically to overlap with at least a part of the main area. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110134312 | AUTO-FOCUS IMAGE SYSTEM - An auto focus image system that includes a pixel array coupled to a focus signal generator. The pixel array captures an image that has at least one edge with a width. The focus signal generator may generate a focus signal that is a function of the edge width and/or statistics of edge widths. A processor receives the focus signal and/or the statistics of edge widths and adjusts a focus position of a focus lens. The edge width can be determined by various techniques including the use of gradients. A histogram of edge widths may be used to determine whether a particular image is focused or unfocused. A histogram with a large population of thin edge widths is indicative of a focused image. The generator may eliminate an edge having an asymmetry of a gradient profile of an image signal. The generator may also eliminate an edge that fails a template for an associated peaking of the gradient. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110157457 | AUTO-FOCUS INTRA-ORAL CAMERA HAVING A LINEAR PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - An auto-focus camera has an optical system for forming an image of a target, a moveable sensor for recording a set of one or more images of the target, the set of one or more images corresponding to a set of one or more positions for the moveable sensor, and a linear piezoelectric actuator mechanically coupled to the moveable sensor for driving the moveable sensor to the set of one or more positions along a predetermined moving direction in response to a stimulus. A driving system is actuable to generate the stimulus to drive the piezoelectric actuator. An image processor, in response to stored instructions, obtains the set of one or more recorded images from the moveable sensor, processes the set of one or more obtained recoded images, and identifies the image that is in focus. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110176051 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FOCUSING OPTICS - In an apparatus and system for focusing optics an objective lens is configured to collect light from a region of an object to be imaged, said region having a feature with a known geometric characteristic, wherein the geometric characteristic is known before the feature is imaged by the optical device. A focusing sensor is configured to observe a shape of the feature and a splitter is configured to split the collected light into a first portion and a second portion, and directing said first portion through a weak cylindrical lens to the focusing sensor. A processor is configured to analyze the observed shape and determine whether the observed shape of the feature has a predetermined relationship to the known geometric characteristic and a mechanism is configured to autofocus the optical device by moving at least one of the objective lens and the object to be imaged in response to the analysis and determination of the processor. In some embodiments, the feature can be a fluorescent bead. In some embodiments, the splitting step can be accomplished with a dichroic mirror. In other embodiments, the splitting step can be accomplished with a partial mirror. In some embodiments, the known geometric characteristic of the feature can be substantially spherical, the observed shape can be an oval, and the predetermined relationship can be an allowable aspect ratio of the oval. In some embodiments, the allowable aspect ratio can be approximately one. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110194018 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An image capturing apparatus capable of switching between an optical viewfinder and live view which involves periodically reading out an image signal out of an image sensor and sequentially displaying the image signal on a display unit, comprises a phase difference focus control unit that performs auto focus control using a phase difference detection method; a selection unit that selects one of a plurality of focus detection areas used for the auto focus control; an electronic zoom unit that changes an angle of view; and a control unit that causes the phase difference focus control unit to perform auto focus control by the phase difference detection method using the selected focus detection area if the selected focus detection area is located within the changed angle of view, otherwise not to perform auto focus control by the phase difference detection method using the selected focus detection area. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110211107 | Method to perform sobel calculations and normalization for auto-focus in a digital camera - A focus motor of a digital camera is moved to a point of focus from which image data is integrated and evaluated for sharpness and luminance. When the focus motor is stopped, a delay is initiated to allow integration of the image data from which a Sobel value and a luminance value are determined to allow the calculation of a focus value to be calculated from the ratio of the Sobel value to the luminance value. Once the focus value is calculated, the next motor position is determined from which a next focus value is determined. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110211108 | METHOD AND DIGITAL IMAGING APPLIANCE ADAPTED FOR SELECTING A FOCUS SETTING - A method for selecting a focus setting for a digital image acquisition appliance, the method comprising: acquiring a first image ( | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110249173 | FOUR-DIMENSIONAL POLYNOMIAL MODEL FOR DEPTH ESTIMATION BASED ON TWO-PICTURE MATCHING - Camera depth estimation is performed in response to picture matching based on blur difference computed between images captured at different focal positions. A blur difference model is stored in the camera based on characterization of the camera with a series of matching curves in which blur difference varies depending on the focal length, aperture, subject distance, and lens focus position. A four-dimensional polynomial model is created to fit the matching curves for use in estimating subject distance. During operation, images are captured for use in estimating subject distance. Motion compensation is applied and blur difference is determined. Blur difference is utilized in the polynomial model to estimate subject distance. Subject distance estimates can be output or utilized within an auto focus process to provide accurate focus adjustments. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110261252 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - An imaging system includes a lens assembly, an image sensor, an image processing unit, an actuator, and a control unit. The lens assembly is configured for focusing a subject image. The image sensor is located at the image side of the lens assembly for providing image information corresponding to the subject image. The image processing unit is electrically connected to the image sensor for modifying the image information in a digital image process. The actuator is connected to the lens assembly for adjusting the depth of field of the lens assembly. The control unit is electrically connected to the image sensor, the image processing unit and the actuator for receiving the electronic information to control the image processing unit or the actuator so as to provide a clear image. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20120008038 | ASSISTING FOCUSING METHOD FOR FACE BLOCK - An assisting focusing method is applicable in an image capture device having an auto focusing (AF) procedure. The AF procedure has a preset sampling interval. The assisting focusing method includes the following steps. An image for focusing is captured. A face parameter of a face block in the image for focusing is calculated. According to the face parameter, a parameter-to-focus conversion table is looked up to acquire a focusing section. According to the focusing section and a face sampling interval, the AF procedure is performed to acquire a target focus. The face sampling interval is smaller than the preset sampling interval. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120013786 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A focus adjustment apparatus comprises a detection unit that detects a subject/subjects having a predetermined characteristic from an image obtained while shooting a moving picture, a selection unit that, in the case where a subject/subjects having the predetermined characteristic have been detected by the detection unit, selects, from the detected subject/subjects, a subject that also fulfils a predetermined condition, and a focus adjustment unit that controls a focus lens to focus on the subject selected by the selection unit. The focus adjustment unit does not control the focus lens in the case where no subject having the predetermined characteristic has been detected by the detection unit. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120019709 | ASSISTING FOCUSING METHOD USING MULTIPLE FACE BLOCKS - A method using multiple face blocks for assisting focusing is applicable in an image capture device. The assisting focusing method includes the following steps. A focusing image is captured individually at a focusing distance. The focusing image has a plurality of face blocks. The face blocks in the focusing image are detected. Clarities of the face blocks in the focusing image are calculated with the image capture device. A face focal length corresponding to the face block is calculated according to the clarity corresponding to the face block. A target focal length is obtained according to the face focal length. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120019710 | Autofocus control circuit, autofocus control method, and image pickup apparatus - An autofocus control circuit, includes a focusing unit determining an in-focus location of a subject image based on a contrast evaluation value of a compressed image data under a first environment, and based on a size of the compressed image data under a second environment. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120033128 | Optical Device and Focus State Detection Method - An optical device comprises an image sensor having plural pixels and a detection unit configured to detect a focus state. The pixels include first focus state detection pixel pairs that respectively receive a pair of light fluxes having transmitted different pupil areas of the photographing lens, and second focus state detection pixel pairs that respectively receive a pair of light fluxes having transmitted pupil areas shifted by a predetermined amount from the pupil areas where the pair of light fluxes received by the first focus state detection pixel pairs have transmitted. The detection unit detects the focus state based on signal pairs obtained by adding the signals output from the first and second focus state detection pixel pairs, respectively, if a subject to be photographed is darker than a predetermined brightness, otherwise the detection unit detects the focus state based on signal pairs output from the first and second focus state detection pixel pairs, respectively. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120038818 | FOCUSING APPARATUS, FOCUSING METHOD AND MEDIUM FOR RECORDING THE FOCUSING METHOD - Provided are a focusing apparatus for generating an image signal by converting image light incident through a focus lens to an electrical signal by an image pickup device, storing the image signal un a memory, calculating an AF evaluation value for an image signal read from the memory in a direction different from a reading direction of the image pickup device, and driving the focus lens by deriving a focus lens position corresponding to the calculated AF evaluation value, a focusing method thereof, and a recording medium for recording the focusing method. Accordingly, a focus can be correctly adjusted for various subject images, and a focus can be effectively adjusted for the images even in a high speed capturing mode. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120057072 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - A focus adjustment apparatus for performing focus adjustment using a captured image and a plurality of point spread functions prepared in advance for each defocus direction and defocus amount is provided. The apparatus includes a focus adjusting stop whose aperture does not have rotational symmetry about an optical axis. Focus adjustment is performed by comparing the plurality of point spread functions prepared in advance with a point spread function of an image captured using the focus adjusting stop and not having rotational symmetry about the optical axis, obtaining the defocus direction and the defocus amount, and performing the focus adjustment according to the obtained defocus direction and defocus amount. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120062788 | FOCUSING APPARATUS - A focusing apparatus including a focus lens; a focus lens driving unit that drives the focus lens; an imaging device configured to generate an image signal; a focus evaluation value calculating unit configured to receive an image signal from the imaging device and to calculate a focus evaluation value of a captured image; a difference calculating unit configured to calculate a difference between a current focus evaluation value and a previous focus evaluation value; a first determining unit configured to compare the difference to each of a plurality of threshold values different from each other; a counter configured to count results of comparing the difference to each of the plurality of threshold values and to generate count information; and a second determining unit configured to compare the count information to threshold count information and to determine a target drive direction in which the focus lens is to be driven. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120113315 | FOCUSING DEVICE, IMAGE PICK-UP APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD - A focusing device includes a first focus-position determining unit configured to determine a focus position based on a change in a radio-frequency component in an image signal obtained with movement of a focusing lens, a second focus-position determining unit configured to determine a focus position by using a different process from a process performed by the first focus-position determining unit, a mode setting unit configured to select at least a first mode which uses a result with the first focusing-position determining unit together with the second focusing-position determining unit or a second mode which uses a result with the first focus-position determining unit without the second focus-position determining unit, and a control unit configured to control driving of the focusing lens according to selection by the mode setting unit such that the focusing lens is driven in the first mode at a higher speed than in the second mode. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120113316 | FOCUSING DEVICE AND CAMERA - A focusing device including: an optical system that includes a focusing lens; an image sensor that captures a subject image formed via the optical system and outputs an image signal containing a plurality of color components; an edge detection unit that detects an edge in correspondence to each color component among the plurality of color components contained in the image signal; a differential value calculation unit that calculates a differential value of an edge strength of the edge detected by the edge detection unit, in correspondence to the each color component; and a decision-making unit that determines a moving direction along which the focusing lens is to move for purposes of focus adjustment of the optical system based upon the differential value calculated by the differential value calculation unit. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120120304 | Digital Image Processing Using Face Detection and Skin Tone Information - A technique for processing a digital image uses face detection to achieve one or more desired image processing parameters. A group of pixels is identified that corresponds to a face image within the digital image. A skin tone is detected for the face image by determining one or more default color or tonal values, or combinations thereof, for the group of pixels. Values of one or more parameters are adjusted for the group of pixels that correspond to the face image based on the detected skin tone. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120127360 | IMAGE-CAPTURE SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH TWO OPERATING MODES - The invention relates to a system for capturing at least one image of a scene. The system comprises: an optical system, a sensor, an autofocus module for adjusting the focus of the system, and a digital processing means. The system estimates at least one value representative of the sharpness in at least one area of at least one initial captured image of a scene. The autofocus module captures the initial image with a predefined focus. On the basis of at least the value representative of the estimated sharpness, the system selects a first operating mode or a second operating mode. In the first mode, the autofocus module controls the focus of the system to capture a sharper image of the scene. In the second mode, the initial captured image or another captured image is processed by the digital processing means, the other image being captured with the predefined focus. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120154669 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An imaging apparatus that adjusts focus based on frequency components extracted from an image signal is provided. The apparatus includes a 1st order Infinite Impulse Response (IIR)-filter including a plurality of sample delayers having a plurality of line buffers for buffering and delaying a plurality of samples to sequentially read pixels of the image signal through raster scanning and extracting frequency components of the image signal from the read pixels by using the plurality of sample delayers; and a delay sample number controller for controlling the IIR-filter to match the number of horizontal pixels sequentially read from the image signal through raster scanning to the number of the plurality of samples buffered by the plurality of line buffers, wherein the delay sample number controller commands the IIR-filter to read a sample from each of the plurality of line buffers in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the raster scanning, and perform filtering processing on the read sample. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120188437 | ELECTRONIC CAMERA - An electronic camera includes an imager. An imager has an imaging surface capturing an optical image through a focus lens and repeatedly outputs an electronic image corresponding to the optical image. A designator designates, on the imaging surface, an area corresponding to a partial image coincident with a dictionary image out of the electronic image outputted from the imager. A changer repeatedly changes a distance from the focus lens to the imaging surface after a designating process of the designator. A calculator calculates a matching degree between a partial image outputted from the imager corresponding to the area designated by the designator and the dictionary image, corresponding to each of a plurality of distances defined by the changer. An adjuster adjusts the distance from the focus lens to the imaging surface based on a calculated result of the calculator. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120200765 | CAMERA BODY - The camera body includes an imaging element, a hot shoe, an internal light source, and a camera controller. The camera controller is configured to calculate an evaluation value on the basis of the image data produced by the imaging element, and perform video autofocusing on the basis of the evaluation value. When the camera controller decides that the auxiliary light is needed, and that the flash device mounted to the hot shoe has an external auxiliary light source arranged to emit near infrared light, the internal light source emits light during the video autofocusing. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120212662 | IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging device includes a micro lens that collects light from a subject, a light sensing element that generates a signal for performing focusing determination through phase difference detection by sensing subject light collected by the micro lens, a first light blocking unit that performs pupil division by blocking a portion of the subject light, and a second light blocking unit that is disposed between the first light blocking unit and the micro lens, and blocks the portion of the subject light which is incident to the first light blocking unit, wherein an aperture area of the second light blocking unit is smaller than an aperture area of an image generation pixel. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120218461 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP METHOD USED FOR THE SAME - An aspect of the present invention provides an image pickup apparatus, comprising: an image pickup optical system which forms an image of a subject; an imaging device which obtains an image by picking up the image of the subject via the image pickup optical system; a target detection device which detects a size of a target in the image; a first control device which controls a focus position of the image pickup optical system according to the size of the target detected by the target detection device; and a second control device which performs continuous AF that detects a focusing position where a contrast in the image reaches a local maximum by moving the focus position of the image pickup optical system, moves the focus position of the image pickup optical system to the focusing position and keeps an in-focus state. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120224096 | IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging device includes a micro lens that collects light from a subject, a light sensing element that generates a signal for performing focusing determination through phase difference detection by sensing subject light collected by the micro lens, and a light blocking portion that is disposed between the micro lens and the light sensing element and performs pupil division for the subject light by blocking a part of the subject light, wherein the light blocking portion is set such that a position of an image forming point of subject light passing through the micro lens and a position of an end portion of the light blocking portion on an entrance side become distant from each other according to a variation in image height. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120257099 | DRIVER CIRCUIT FOR A CAMERA VOICE COIL MOTOR - A driver circuit for a camera voice coil motor (VCM) is described. A first power switch selectively conducts current from a VCM node to a power supply node, and a second power switch selectively conducts current from the VCM node to a power return node. A pulse width modulation circuit controls the first and second power switches. In another embodiment, a switch mode current control circuit sources VCM current alternately from the power supply node and the power return node, into the VCM node. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120262623 | OPTICAL APPARATUS - An optical apparatus includes: a first focus detection unit that detects a focusing condition of an image forming optical system through a first focus detection method and outputs a first focus detection signal; a second focus detection unit that detects the focusing condition of the image forming optical system through a second focus detection method different from the first focus detection method and outputs a second focus detection signal; a focus adjustment unit that executes focus adjustment for the image forming optical system based upon either the first focus detection signal or the second focus detection signal; and a notification unit that alters a focus detection method notification in correspondence to the focus adjustment that the focus adjustment unit executes. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120268647 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - The image pickup apparatus electrically converts an object image to produce an image signal and includes a first detector detecting a first in-focus position by a phase difference detection method, a second detector detecting a second in-focus position by a contrast detection method using the image signal, and a corrector correcting, based on a difference between the first and second in-focus positions, the first in-focus position for image pickup. A controller instructs the optical apparatus to move the focus lens by a predetermined movement amount when the second in-focus position is detected, receives, from the optical apparatus, information on an actual movement amount of the focus lens in response to the instruction, and instructs again the optical apparatus to move the focus lens with change of the predetermined movement amount when a difference between the predetermined and actual movement amounts exceeds a predetermined value. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120300116 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - The image pickup apparatus includes a first detector detecting a first in-focus position by a phase difference detection method using paired image signals, a controller controlling position of a focus lens a basis of the first in-focus position to perform focusing, a second detector detecting a second in-focus position by a contrast detection method, a calculating part calculating a correction value for correcting the first in-focus position in image capturing on a basis of difference between the first and second in-focus positions, and a determining part determining a level of reliability of the first in-focus position. The controller calculates the correction value when the level of reliability is a first level, and to restrict the calculation of the correction value when the level of reliability is a second level lower than the first level. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120307133 | System And Method For Extending Depth Of Field In A Lens System By Use Of Color-Dependent Wavefront Coding - An optical system for generating an image having extended depth of field. The system includes a phase mask and a chromatic wavefront coding lens. The chromatic wavefront coding lens provides axial color separation of light by generating specified chromatic aberration in an image created by the lens. The phase mask causes the optical transfer function of the optical system to remain substantially constant within a specified range away from the image plane, and the optical transfer function of the system contains no zeroes within at least one spectral passband of interest. Digital processing may be performed on the image to generate a final image by reversing a decrease in modulation transfer function generated by the phase mask. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120314121 | AUTO-FOCUS IMAGE SYSTEM - An auto-focus image system that includes a pixel array coupled to a focus signal generator. The pixel array captures an image that has a plurality of edges. The generator generates a focus signal that is a function of a plurality of edge-sharpness measures, each being measured from a different one of the plurality of edges. The edge-sharpness measure is a quantity that has a unit that is a power of a unit of length. It may be a distance in the edge. It may be an area. It may be a central moment. The generator may reduce a relative extent to which an edge contributes to the focus signal on basis of detecting that the edge does not have sufficient reflection symmetry in a sequence of gradients of an image signal across the edge according to a predefined criterion. The edge may be prevented from contributing altogether. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120320257 | AUTO-FOCUS ACTUATOR FOR FIELD CURVATURE CORRECTION OF ZOOM LENSES - A wide field angle camera module that incorporates field curvature correction suitable for an electronic device is described herein. By way of example, the wide field angle camera module comprises micro optical lenses adapted to capture field angles of greater than thirty degrees, and is further adapted to provide field curvature correction for a range of object distances, and for a range of zoom configurations include 1×, 2× and 3× zoom configurations. Furthermore, the field correction can be implemented alone or in conjunction with signal processing that corrects barrel distortion introduced by the micro optical lenses. In particular aspects, the field correction can be automated based on image quality analysis to provide a high quality image for object distances substantially 30 centimeters or larger. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120320258 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A controller configured to move a lens to reduce a defocus amount of a focus area selected from among a plurality of focus areas, wherein the controller repeats a detection of a defocus amount while moving the lens, and performs a selection of a focus area by using face position information, which is obtained and output by the first detection unit after detection of the defocus amount is repeated a plurality of times. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120327290 | OPTICAL INSTRUMENT, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR OPTICAL INSTRUMENT - An optical instrument of the present invention comprises a ring member which is arranged to be rotatable with respect to a lens barrel, and also to slide in an optical axis direction to a first position and a second position, a rotation position detection section for outputting a preset distance that has been set by a rotation operation, when the ring member is at the second position, and a control section for, when the ring member has been subjected to a slide operation between the first position and the second position, moving a photographing lens at a first speed or a second speed up to a distance corresponding to an operation position. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130002936 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An image pickup apparatus is characterized in that it includes an imaging element having imaging pixels and focus detecting pixels, a determining unit determining an amount of noise superimposed on an image obtained by driving the imaging element, and a pixel interpolation unit executing the interpolation processing from among a plurality of interpolation processings with different processing contents in accordance with a determination result of the amount of noise determined by the determining unit, with respect to the image, to generate interpolation pixel values with respect to the focus detecting pixels. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130016276 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - In an image capturing apparatus that carries out TV-AF type'autofocus control by setting an AF frame on a predetermined object, for example a person's face, that is detected in an image, in a case in which a in-focus position search direction cannot be determined from an AF evaluation value, changes in the size of the region of the object are detected and focus detection is carried out by determining the in-focus position search direction based on the changes in the size of the region of the object. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130021519 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING FOCAL POINT BY USING IMAGING DEVICE FOR OUTPUTTING PHASE DIFFERENCE SIGNAL - Apparatus and method for adjusting a focal point using an imaging device including phase difference detection pixels are disclosed. An apparatus is provided that includes an imaging device comprising an optical aperture disposed between a micro lens and a photoelectric conversion unit of each of a plurality of pixels, the optical aperture being eccentric with respect to an optical axis of the respective micro lens, the imaging device configured to output a phase difference signal; and a control unit that detects a focal position from the phase difference signal detected from entire pixels of the imaging device to drive a focus lens and that adjusts a focal point. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130021520 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING FOCUS IN IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE - An apparatus and a method for automatically adjusting a focus in an image capturing device are provided. The method includes generating an image by capturing a subject through a lens when a flash unit is enabled, dividing the image into a plurality of windows, determining a brightest window from among the plurality of windows, and setting an Auto Focus (AF) detection area for performing an AF function centering on the determined window. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130027606 | LENS POSITION - Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture for generating frames and changing lens positions based on the analysis of the frames. In one example, a controller coupled to a first camera and a second camera is to change a lens position of the first camera for a second frame based on the identification of a focal target in a frame generated by the second camera. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130038778 | FOCUS DETECTION SENSOR AND OPTICAL APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A focus detection sensor includes a line sensor comprised of a pair of sensor arrays in which a plurality of pixels are arranged. The sensor arrays include a pixel of a first type having an arrangement for transferring charges generated by a photoelectric conversion device to a corresponding memory device and causing the memory device to integrate the charges during a charge accumulation period, and a pixel of a second type having an arrangement for integrating, in the pixel, the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion device during the charge accumulation period without transferring the charges to the memory device until the end of the charge accumulation period, and transferring the charges to the corresponding memory device when the charge accumulation period has ended. An accurate charge accumulation result can be obtained by a simple arrangement. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130038779 | FOCUS DETECTOR, AND LENS APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A focus detector for detecting a defocus amount of an image pickup optical system based on a displacement amount between two images formed by two beams divided from the image pickup optical system and passed through two pupil areas, the focus detector including: two lenses; two phase difference sensors for photoelectrically converting two subject images formed by the two lenses into two image signals; a correlation computing unit for dividing the two image signals based on a reference number-of-pixels to compute an image displacement amount for each divided area; a waveform coincidence computing unit for computing a coincidence degree of the two image signals in the each divided area in which the image displacement amount is computed by the correlation computing unit; and a defocus computing unit for computing a defocus amount based on the coincidence degree of the two image signals computed by the waveform coincidence computing unit. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130038780 | AUTO FOCUSING APPARATUS AND AUTO FOCUSING METHOD, AND IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS - a When a face is detected from image signals, stability determination time is set for determining if the face is recognized in a stable manner, and a period of time for which the face is consecutively detected starts to be measured. Until the measured period of time exceeds the stability determination time, an AF evaluation value acquired from a normal frame set to include a face frame corresponding to the face is used to exercise TV-AF control. Once the measured time exceeds the stability determination time, TV-AF control is exercised based on AF evaluation values acquired from each of the face frame and the normal frame. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130044255 | AUTO-FOCUS IMAGE SYSTEM - An auto-focus image system includes a pixel array and a focus signal generator coupled to the pixel array. The pixel array captures an image that has more than one edge. The generator generates a focus signal. Each edge has a width and contributes a quantity to compute the focus signal. The quantity may remain unchanged if all pixel values that enter a computation of the quantity are scaled up by a common multiplier. The quantity may have a dimension based solely on a dimension of length. The quantity may be the width. The generator eliminates an edge whose gradient profile has a first width at a first percentage height of the gradient profile that falls outside a tolerance region. The tolerance region varies with a second width of the gradient profile at a second percentage height. Alternatively, the edge's contribution to the focus signal is deemphasized. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130057753 | TWO-DIMENSIONAL IMAGER WITH SOLID-STATE AUTO-FOCUS - An imaging system having a solid-state auto focusing system advantageously images broadband light reflected from an object to be imaged using a lens objective having chromatic aberration, which focuses different colors of light at different focal planes. Using the color information in the focal planes in conjunction with an object distance determined by a range finder, a luminance plane is constructed that has a focused image of the object. The system provides the focused image of the object without the use of any moving parts. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130076970 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND FOCUS DETECTION METHOD - The image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor photoelectrically converting paired object images formed by light fluxes from mutually different pupil areas of an image capturing optical system, a signal producing part producing, by using output from each of plural pixel lines in a focus detection area in the image sensor, paired image signals corresponding to the paired object images for each pixel line, a calculating part calculating a defocus amount by using the paired image signals produced for each pixel line. The calculating part shifts the paired image signals relatively, produce first correlation data showing change of a correlation value of the paired image signals according to their relative shift amount, adds the first correlation data produced for the respective plural pixel lines to produce second correlation data, and calculates the defocus amount from the second correlation data. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130093943 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS - In a focus position control apparatus, a control unit performs, when a size changing amount of an object image is larger than a predetermined amount during control for driving a focus lens according to a distance change of an object image in an optical axis direction based on a determination result of a determination unit, a following driving operation corresponding to the distance change as a driving control, and limits the following driving operation corresponding to the distance change when the size changing amount of the object image smaller than the predetermined amount. The predetermined amount is changed according to an imaging parameter and an object status. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130107107 | IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130113986 | Lens Driving Device and Lens Driving Method Thereof - A lens driving device and a lens driving method thereof The lens driving device comprises an image sensing element used to sense an image of an image pickup target; a focus lens group used to change a focus point of the image; a direct current motor used to drive and move the focus lens group; and a microcontroller electrically coupled to the image sensing element for receiving the image signal, and used to control the direct current motor to drive and move the focus lens group for changing the focus point of the image, such that a contrast ratio of the image signal will change. Also, the microcontroller calculates a contrast value according to the contrast ratio. A process of focusing is completed while the focus lens group is located at a position of a maximum contrast value corresponding to the image signal. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130113987 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - The focus detection apparatus includes an image pickup part ( | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130120642 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. According to the method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus, when an image of a portion of an area is expanded for display for manual focusing, an image of the entire area and the expanded image are displayed simultaneously so that the user is able to determine which part of the entire image is currently being focused on. Thus, user convenience may be improved. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130120643 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - The focus detection apparatus includes an image pickup part | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130120644 | IMAGE CAPTURE ELEMENT AND IMAGING DEVICE - In a second image sensor | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130128099 | AUTOFOCUS CAMERA SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method for focusing a miniature camera includes providing a current through a coil, moving a lens of a camera based on the current to adjust a focus of the camera, and limiting movement of the lens along an optical path of the camera. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130135520 | APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING AUTOFOCUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An apparatus for adjusting an autofocus and a method of controlling the same are provided. The apparatus includes an imaging device that photographs light from a subject so as to generate an image signal; a contrast calculation unit that calculates a first contrast value of an image from the image signal; a correction unit that corrects a luminance of the image signal if the calculated first contrast value is equal to or less than a reference value; and a focus adjustment unit that adjusts a focus by using a second contrast value that is calculated from the corrected image signal, thereby providing an improved focus adjustment function. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130141631 | AUTO-FOCUS APPARATUS, IMAGE PICK-UP APPARATUS, AND AUTO-FOCUS METHOD - Disclosed is an auto-focus apparatus utilized for an image pickup apparatus having a focus ring. The auto-focus apparatus includes an evaluation value calculator periodically calculating a plurality of evaluation values for a plurality of areas of a subject image based on high frequency components of image signals of the plurality of areas of the subject image; and a control unit, after detecting that the focus ring has been stopped, performing image processing on an area of the subject image where fluctuations of the evaluation values obtained just before the focus ring has been stopped exhibit a predetermined history, based on an evaluation value obtained in the area of the subject image exhibiting the predetermined history, and outputting instruction signals for moving a focus lens base on a peak of the evaluation values obtained by the image processing. | 06-06-2013 |
| 20130148010 | AUTO FOCUSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - The invention includes steps of setting a main area set within the frame of a photographed image signal, and a plurality of auxiliary areas each of which is smaller than the main area, selecting one or a plurality of focus detection areas from the main area and the auxiliary areas in accordance with the in-focus position of a focus lens based on the focus signals of the main area and the auxiliary areas, and controlling the focus lens to move to the in-focus position of the focus lens in the focus detection area selected in the selecting step. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130169857 | SELF-CALIBRATED RINGING COMPENSATION FOR AN AUTOFOCUS ACTUATOR IN A CAMERA MODULE - Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an actuator driver in a camera module, and more particularly to methods, systems and devices of employing self-calibrated ringing compensation to improve the autofocus rate of the camera module that is driven by an actuator. Oscillation characteristics of the actuator are calibrated to control a sink current that drives the actuator during an autofocus. The actuator driver comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a filter, a current sink and a self calibration module. The self calibration module calibrates the free-oscillation frequency and damping coefficient, and accordingly, the DAC generates a voltage that may be subsequently bypassed, filtered or shaped by the filter. This voltage is further converted to the sink current by the current sink. Such self-calibrated ringing compensation allows close tracking of free oscillation, and may efficiently enhance the settling time of the lens and autofocus rate of the camera module. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130182173 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC CAMERA - A solid-state imaging device includes a second image sensor having an organic photoelectric conversion film transmitting a specific light, and a first image sensor which is stacked in layers on a same semiconductor substrate as that of the second image sensor and which receives the specific light having transmitted the second image sensor, in which a pixel for focus detection is provided in the second image sensor or the first image sensor. Therefore, an AF method can be realized independently of a pixel for imaging. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130201385 | OPTICAL APPARATUS - An optical apparatus includes an image sensor that includes a focus detecting pixel and an image pickup pixel, a first focus detector configured to provide a focus detection based upon a phase difference between the pair of image signals detected by the focus detecting pixel of the image sensor, a second focus detector configured to provide a focus detection based upon a contrast value based upon an output of the image pickup pixel of the image sensor, and a controller configured to provide autofocus utilizing the first focus detector when a focus detection precision of the first focus detector is equal to or higher than a first value and an image magnification variation amount calculated from a wobbling amount of the image pickup optical system used for the second focus detector is equal to or higher than a second value. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130201386 | IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD - An image signal processing apparatus is disclosed. This device includes a divided area setup unit which sets rows and columns of divided areas in an area defined by a focal evaluation value calculation area setup unit, a high-brightness pixel presence/absence check unit which determines whether a high-brightness pixel exists in each divided area defined by the divided area setup unit, a high-brightness pixel judgment threshold setup unit which sets a threshold for use in the high-brightness pixel presence/absence checker, and an area-selective focal point evaluation value calculation unit which selects a divided area that was determined by the high-brightness pixel checker to contain no high-brightness pixels as a focal evaluation value calculation target and then calculates a focal evaluation value. Variable control of the high-brightness pixel judgment threshold that is set by the high-brightness pixel judgment threshold setup unit is started and stopped at specified timings. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130201387 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS THAT MAKES MOVEMENT OF FOCUS LENS INCONSPICUOUS, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus includes a detector configured to detect an in-focus direction based on a focus signal that results from an output signal of an image pickup device by reciprocating a focus lens in an optical axis direction, and a focus controller configured to provide focusing by moving the focus lens in the in-focus direction. The focus controller is configured to set an amplitude of the focus lens when moving a center of a reciprocation of the focus lens, to be less than that of the focus lens when the center of the reciprocation of the focus lens is not moved. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130215320 | Zoom Lens System, Imaging Optical Device, and Digital Appliance - A zoom lens system is composed of negative, positive, negative, and positive lens groups, of which at least the first to third move during zooming. During zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the distance between the first and second lens groups decreases, the distance between the second and third lens groups varies, and the distance between the third and fourth lens groups increases. The conditional formulae 1.0≦|f2/f1|≦1.5 and 2.0≦|f4/f1|≦5.0 are fulfilled (f1, f2, and f4 representing the focal lengths of the first, second, and fourth lens groups). | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130222677 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit which captures a plurality of images having different in-focus positions; a defocus amount calculating unit which calculates a defocus amount of an image captured by the image capturing unit; a filtering unit which performs filtering on an original image according to the defocus amount calculated by the defocus amount calculating unit; and a displacement amount detecting unit which detects a displacement amount between the images having different in-focus positions using the image on which filtering was performed by the filtering unit. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130235252 | Electronic Device and Focus Adjustment Method Thereof - An electronic device and a focus adjustment method thereof are provided. The electronic device and the focus adjustment method thereof pre-process the image frames captured to provide focus information of the image frames and adjust the focus according to the focus information. Therefore, as the subject followed or the current scene is out of focus in response to movement of the electronic device, the present invention can immediately obtain the change of focus via the focus information and effectively adjust the focus according to the focus information. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130235253 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS - An image capture apparatus includes: an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that photoelectrically convert an object image formed by an imaging optical system, each of the pixels having one microlens and a photoelectric conversion portion that has been divided into a plurality of portions; a focus detection unit configured to correct an image shift amount detected with a phase difference detection method using focus detection signal arrays of two images obtained by the photoelectric conversion portions divided into a plurality of portions; and a controller that calculates information corresponding to a movement amount of a lens of the imaging optical system based on the image shift amount detected and corrected by the focus detection unit, and controls movement of the lens of the imaging optical system. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130235254 | DEVICE FOR ASSISTING FOCUSING OF A CAMERA - A device for assisting focusing of a camera that is equipped with a manual focus-adjusting unit and that provides digital image contents, such as a smart camera. The device includes a means for determining a focus value of the camera depending on an operation of the manual focus-adjusting unit and means for displaying focusing information on the basis of the determined focus value to a user being provided. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130242172 | FOCUSING APPARATUS - A focusing apparatus with a photoelectric converter which photoelectrically converts at least a pair of optical images formed by light fluxes that have passed a focus lens to output at least a pair of image signals, a phase difference detector which detects a phase difference between the pair of output image signals, and a driving amount calculator which calculates a driving amount of the focus lens based upon the detected phase difference. The driving amount calculator changes the calculated driving amount, in accordance with a first driving amount corresponding to a detected phase difference when the focus lens is located at a first position, a second driving amount corresponding to the detected phase difference when the focus lens is located at a second position, and a relationship between the first and second positions. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130242173 | FOCUSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING FOCUSING APPARATUS - A focusing apparatus includes an image pickup element that includes a plurality of unit cells including a first pixel and a second pixel corresponding to a same microlens, a detector configured to detect a phase difference of an image signal of a first pixel group and an image signal of a second pixel group that correspond to a focus detection region, a focus controller configured to perform a focus control based on a detection result of the detector, an exposure controller configured to control an exposure value based on an output from the image pickup element, the detector detects the phase difference of an image signal generated by sequentially switching a plurality of focus detection regions, and the exposure controller controls the exposure value so as to be fixed until the detector completes a detection of the phase difference in the plurality of focus detection regions. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130258167 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOFOCUSING AN IMAGING DEVICE - Methods and apparatus for autofocusing an image consider object movement or an object's color when selecting an object to focus on. In some implementations, input is received corresponding to an object color to focus on. An image is then captured with an image sensor. Objects are detecting in the image and an object is selected based on the object's color corresponding to the color to focus on. In some implementations, the image sensor may then be autofocused to bring the selected object into focus. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130258168 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND IN-FOCUS POSITION DETECTION METHOD THEREOF - It is provided a image capturing apparatus including a control unit that determines whether to set a division number to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of a subject, calculating a divided area evaluation curve by calculating a correlation between first detection information and second detection information for each of divided areas formed by dividing a phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and acquires a defocus amount to drive and control a focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the divided area evaluation curves of the plural divided areas. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130258169 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - In an image capturing apparatus that carries out TV-AF type autofocus control by setting an AF frame on a predetermined object, for example a person's face, that is detected in an image, in a case in which a in-focus position search direction cannot be determined from an AF evaluation value, changes in the size of the region of the object are detected and focus detection is carried out by determining the in-focus position search direction based on the changes in the size of the region of the object. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130258170 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS - An image capture apparatus includes an image capture means having a first pixel group, a second pixel group, and a third pixel group, a focus detection means that calculates a defocus amount of the imaging lens using a first image signal obtained from the first pixel group and a second image signal obtained from the second pixel group, an image generation means that corrects the first and second image signals so as to be equivalent to a third image signal obtained from the third pixel group, and that generates a captured image using first and second corrected image signals and the third image signal, wherein the image generation means corrects the first and second image signals based on the defocus amount calculated by the focus detection means, and obtains the first and second corrected image signals. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130265482 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - Disclosed is an image capture apparatus that has a subject tracking functionality of sequentially detecting a predetermined subject in images that are continuously shot, and a method for controlling the same. During tracking of the subject, degrees of reliability of tracking are determined. When the detected face is set as a template image, the template image is not changed until it is determined a predetermined plurality of times in succession that the degrees of reliability of tracking are low. It is thus possible to achieve a subject tracking functionality that is hardly affected by false detections. | 10-10-2013 |
| 20130265483 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A focus detection apparatus which performs a center-of-gravity adjustment of a pair of image restoration filters for restoring the pair of image signals, on the basis of an image shift amount which is calculated from a pair of image signals of an object which are formed by focus-detecting pixels of an image pickup element having a plurality of focus-detecting pixels for respectively receiving light which passes through different exit pupil areas of a photographing lens; calculates the image restoration filters; generates a pair of restored image signals by restoring the pair of image signals by the calculated pair of image restoration filters; and detects a defocus amount of the photographing lens by using the pair of restored image signals. | 10-10-2013 |
| 20130265484 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An image capturing apparatus includes: a first detection unit that, based on feature amounts of an image obtained by an image sensor, detects a position of a certain subject in the image and a position of a certain part of the certain subject; and a second detection unit that detects a position of a region of the certain subject in the image obtained by the image sensor with a smaller calculation amount than the first detection unit. A focus detection area corresponding to the certain part is selected from among a plurality of focus detection areas based on a relationship between the position of the region of the certain subject detected by the second detection unit and the positions of the certain subject and the certain part detected by the first detection unit. | 10-10-2013 |
| 20130271645 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT HAVING RECORDED THEREON A PROGRAM FOR EXECUTING THE METHOD - A digital photographing apparatus, a method of controlling the same, and a recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method for obtaining a plurality of clear sections in a plurality of images and combining such clear section into a final image. The digital photographing apparatus including: a lens unit including a focusing lens that adjusts a focal length; an image capturing device that obtains image data from incident light; a border image data obtaining unit that obtains border image data from image data obtained by the image capturing device; and a clear image determining unit that determines an image including an area that is the clearest from among images that respectively correspond to a plurality of image data. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130300917 | AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM - An autofocus system includes: an imaging unit which captures an image of an object formed by an optical system; an autofocus portion which performs focus adjustment of the optical system on an autofocus area set in the image captured by the imaging unit so that the object within the autofocus area comes into focus; an AF area tracking processing portion which performs tracking processing to set a predetermined object within the autofocus area as a target to be tracked, detect a presence area of the target to be tracked in an image newly captured by the imaging unit and determine the presence area as a new autofocus area; a depth-of-field computing portion which calculates a depth of field based on information acquired from the optical system; and a control portion as defined herein. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130321693 | QUICK AUTO-FOCUS METHOD - An auto-focus method controls a motor to drive an optical lens of a lens module to a focus point and includes steps of: describing a first parabola according to three coordinate points in a coordinate system; describing a second parabola according to a first highest point of the first parabola and two coordinate points selected from the three coordinate points in the coordinate system, wherein the resolution values of two selected coordinate points are greater than that of unselected coordinate point; comparing a difference between the electric current value of a second highest point of the second parabola and the electric current value of the first highest point with a preset value; wherein when the difference is less than the preset value, the second highest point is regarded as the focus point. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20130329124 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - It is required to carry out a tapping operation on a display screen to adjust the focus in a case where refocus process is performed in shifting to a reproduction mode, so that a user has to do an extra work. An image processing apparatus obtains a multi-view image data obtained by image-capturing in a plurality of viewpoints. A mode indicating information on a target to be focused is set. A combined image data focused on the target is generated by executing image processing to the multi-view image data based on the set mode. | 12-12-2013 |
| 20130329125 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - An image pickup apparatus includes a focus adjustment unit, an image sensor, a focus evaluation value calculation unit, and a control unit configured to drive the focus adjustment unit based on a focus evaluation value to perform an in-focus operation. A change curve representing a change amount of a focus evaluation value indicating a focusing state of an object image includes a first slope before inversion of a sign of an inclination of the change curve at a peak value on the change curve and a second slope after inversion of a sign of an inclination of the change curve at a peak value on the change curve. The control unit determines whether the focus evaluation value corresponding to the peak value on the change curve is used for the in-focus operation based on an inclination of the first slope and an inclination of the second slope. | 12-12-2013 |
| 20130335618 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE REPRODUCING APPARATUS - An image recording unit obtains image data which is obtained by a photographing operation, and can reconstruct a refocus image, and photographing information, generates a parameter used to reconstruct a refocus image in relation to an object included in an image based on the obtained photographing information, and records the generated parameter in a recording medium as meta data of the image data together with the obtained image data. An image reproducing apparatus reads out the recorded image data and parameter from the recording medium, reconstructs a refocus image from the readout image data using the readout parameter, edits the reconstructed refocus image according to an editing instruction, and edits a parameter of the edited refocus image. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20130335619 | IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING METHOD - An imaging device includes an imaging element configured to output an image signal in accordance with a target image acquired via an imaging lens, an autofocus detector configured to decide a focus in accordance with image data obtained from the image signal, a lens movement section configured to move the imaging lens on the basis of the focus, a driving condition setting section configured to set a driving condition of the imaging element, a point light source detector configured to determine whether or not the target is a point light source target on the basis of a brightness component of the image data, a target detector configured to detect a certain target from the image data, and a filter selection section configured to select a filter through which the image data is to be transmitted. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20130342750 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING AUTO-FOCUS PROCESS - The method includes changing a focal length of a camera device while capturing one or more frames of sensor data from a sensor array of the camera device by sequentially reading signals from different areas of the sensor array, such that different sections of each of the one or more frames corresponds to sensor data captured at different focal lengths of the camera device. The method further includes deriving focus statistics from the one or more captured frames, each focus statistic providing a measure of an extent to which a section of a frame to which the focus statistic relates is in focus at a given focal length; identifying from the focus statistics an optimal focal length at which an optimally focused image can be captured; and adapting the focal length of the camera device in accordance with the optimal focal length. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20130342751 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND ITS CONTROL METHOD - An image pickup apparatus including an image pickup unit for outputting image signals obtained by respectively photoelectrically converting light passing through different exit pupil areas of a focusing optical system, and a setting unit for setting a focus detection area into an image pickup area of the image pickup unit, stores at least one approximate function for calculating correction values of the image signals obtained by the image pickup unit in an approximation manner, obtains an approximate function effective for the correction at least in the focus detection area set by the setting unit on the basis of at least the one stored approximate function to calculate a correction value in accordance with the obtained approximate function; and performs a focus detection by using the image signals obtained by the image pickup unit and the calculated correction values. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20130342752 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image pickup apparatus including an image pickup optical unit which picks up an object image focused by an optical system including a focus lens and acquires an image data from which a refocus image is reconstructable, a driving unit which drives the focus lens, an object detection unit which detects a predetermined object based on the image data, and a refocus image generation unit which reconstructs the refocus image from the image data at an arbitrary focal distance within a refocus range, determines a shift position of the focus lens based on the refocus range to acquire an image data from which the refocus image is reproducible at an arbitrary position in a focus adjustment range, controls the driving unit and the image pickup optical unit according to the determined position to acquire the image data, and detects the predetermined object based on the image data. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20130342753 | IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGING METHOD AND PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM - An imaging device includes an AF section that determines in-focus positions for subjects; a determination section that determines a main subject; a shifting section that, if a difference between an in-focus positions of the main subject and a non-main subject is a first threshold value or greater, shifts a focal position for the non-main subject from the in-focus position towards the main subject side; an imaging section that sequentially captures images at the in-focus position of the main subject and the shifted focal position of the non-main subject; a detection section that detects corresponding points of the subjects between a reference image and a non-reference image; an deformation section that deforms the non-reference image to match the corresponding points thereof with those of the reference image; and an generation section that generates a blur-adjusted image based on the reference image and the deformed non-reference image. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140016019 | Video Refocusing - The present invention operates in connection with refocusable video data, information, images and/or frames, which may be light field video data, information, images and/or frames, that may be focused and/or refocused after acquisition or recording. A video acquisition device acquires first refocusable light field video data of a scene, stores first refocusable video data representative of the first refocusable light field video data, acquires second refocusable light field video data of the scene after acquiring the first refocusable light field video data, determines a first virtual focus parameter (such as a virtual focus depth) using the second refocusable light field video data, generates first video data using the stored first refocusable video data and the first virtual focus parameter, wherein the first video data includes a focus depth that is different from an optical focus depth of the first refocusable light field video data, and outputs the first video data. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140022441 | DETERMINING AN IN-FOCUS POSITION OF A LENS - An in-focus lens position may be determined by computing a focus metric value, by counting the number of transition pixels for images of a target captured at different lens positions. Using as little as two frames to compute two focus metric values, a reasonable approximation of the in-focus lens position may be obtained. The approximation of the in-focus lens position may then be used as a starting point for a fine focus search process, to determine an in-focus lens position. An advantage here is that the focus metric values relate to the number of transition pixels and are easy to compute, and yield a reasonable approximation of the in-focus position with just a few frames. Other embodiments are also described. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140022442 | ZOOM LENS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having negative refractive power, a second lens unit having positive refractive power, a third lens unit having negative refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having positive refractive power, in order from an object side to an image side, each lens unit moving during zooming, and the third lens unit moving toward the object side during focusing from an infinitely-distant object to a nearby object. A focal length f | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140022443 | AUTO-FOCUS IMAGE SYSTEM - An auto focus image system that includes a pixel array coupled to a focus signal generator. The pixel array captures an image that has a plurality of edges. The generator generates a focus signal that is a function of a plurality of edge-sharpness measures for the plurality of edges. The generator compares a sequence of gradients across the edge with one or more reference sequences of gradients and/or reference curves defined by data retrieved from a non-volatile memory. The generator may reject or de-emphasize the edge using result of the comparison. The edge sharpness measure is a quantity whose unit is a positive or negative, integer or non-integer power of a unit of length. It may be measured from the edge and/or a reference sequence/curve matched to the edge, or may be retrieved for the matched reference sequence/curve from a non-volatile memory. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140043522 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor configured to capture an image, a focus detection area setting unit configured to set a focus detection area with respect to a face detection area of the object within an imaging plane of the image sensor, and a focus detection unit configured to obtain a focus evaluation value indicating contrast in a focus evaluation direction of the object in the focus detection area set within the imaging plane of the image sensor based on an image signal obtained by photoelectric conversion by the image sensor, and the focus detection area setting unit sets the focus detection area such that a length of the focus detection area in the focus evaluation direction is shorter than a length of the focus detection area in a second direction perpendicular to the focus evaluation direction regardless of a tilt of a face of the object. | 02-13-2014 |
| 20140063328 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD OF FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS - A focus detection apparatus comprises a pair of line sensors that generate a pair of image signals by photo-electrically converting an object image, calculation unit configured to calculate a defocus amount using the image signals, and control unit configured to control the line sensors to execute a charge accumulation operation until output levels of the line sensors reach a first voltage level based on a saturated voltage, wherein the control unit switches the saturated voltage based on luminance information. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140063329 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS - An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor having a pixel that photo-electrically converts an object image, a readout unit that reads out a signal for image forming and a signal for focus detection from the pixel, and a control unit that controls which one of a first readout mode to read out both the signal for focus detection and the signal for image forming from the pixel and a second readout mode to read out only the signal for image forming from the pixel is to be used to operate the readout unit. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140078377 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS - A focus detection apparatus for performing phase difference detection type focus detection includes sensor units each configured to generate a signal used for detecting a phase difference, a setting unit configured to set one or more sensor units as determination targets, a determination unit configured to sequentially select a sensor unit from the determination targets, and repeatedly determine whether a signal generated by the selected sensor unit satisfies a termination condition of having a peak value greater than a threshold, and a detection unit configured to perform focus detection using the signal that satisfies the termination condition. The apparatus operates in a first mode and then shift to a second mode. The setting unit includes, in the determination targets in the second mode, a sensor unit that is not included in the determination targets in the first mode. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140092294 | FOCUS EVALUATION VALUE GENERATION APPARATUS, FOCUS EVALUATION VALUE GENERATION METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM STORING FOCUS EVALUATION VALUE GENERATION PROGRAM - A focus evaluation value generation apparatus includes a low frequency image data generation unit configured to generate low frequency image data, a thinned image generation unit configured to generate thinned input image data and thinned low frequency image data, and a focus evaluation value generation unit configured to generate the focus evaluation value based on the thinned input image data and the thinned low frequency image data. | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140098284 | CUSTOMER FACING IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OBTAINING IMAGES - An imaging system for obtaining an image of a display of an electronic device presented by a presenter holding the electronic device includes a housing having an imaging subsystem disposed in the housing. The imaging subsystem comprising an image sensor array and an imaging assembly operative for focusing an image of the display on the electronic device onto the image sensor array. A support comprising a support surface is operable for allowing the presenter to hold the electronic device against the support surface so that the display on the electronic device is positioned towards the imaging system while the image of the display is obtained. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140104483 | IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING METHOD - An imaging device of the present invention comprises a facial organ detection section for detecting eyes from a digital image, an eye-priority AF section for setting an AF region to a detected eye and focusing on the eye, and an image processing section for carrying out image processing on the digital image to feather the periphery of an eye that the eye-priority AF section has focused on, wherein the facial organ detection section detects facial organs from a digital image that has been captured by the imaging section, and determines inclination of a face based on the detected facial organs, the eye-priority AF section selects one eye based on the inclination of the face, and carries out focusing on the selected eye, and the image processing section carries out processing to feather eyes that have not been selected, and varies feathering strength in accordance with inclination of the face. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140118610 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM AND FOCUS DETECTION METHOD - A focus detection apparatus which includes an image pickup element having first and second photoelectric conversion elements sharing a lens, wherein the first and second photoelectric conversion elements perform a photoelectric conversion of images passing through different exit pupils of an image pickup optical system so as to output a focus detection signal used for focusing by a phase difference detection method, the focus detection apparatus includes an image shift amount calculator which performs a correlation calculation by using each of signal values obtained independently from the first and second photoelectric conversion elements and calculate an image shift amount, a defocus amount calculator which calculates a defocus amount by multiplying the image shift amount by a coefficient, and a coefficient correcting portion which corrects the coefficient in accordance with the signal value obtained from the first photoelectric conversion element or the second photoelectric conversion element. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140125860 | Passive Imaging Correction System Using Feedback and Method Thereof - A method and system for image processing comprising an opening for entrance of light for forming an image by the system; at least one optical element through which the light passes; a variable aperture operatively associated with the at least one optical element placed in the optical train at an image plane and comprising a plurality of settings comprising first mask settings for shielding portions of the light and second mask settings for selectively masking portions of the light that pass through the first mask settings; an imager, the at least one processor being operatively connected to the variable aperture and imager for controlling the passage of the light through the variable aperture by selecting one of plurality of first mask settings and associated second mask settings, obtaining image results using the settings, comparing image results obtained by the respective mask settings, and determining the optimal first mask setting. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140125861 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - An imaging apparatus including an imaging element that includes a pixel portion sets a first readout area and then performs detection processing for detecting the phase difference of an image signal read out from the area to thereby output the reliability of the phase difference. If the imaging apparatus determines that phase difference detection has been successful, the imaging apparatus executes focus adjustment processing based on the detected phase difference. If the imaging apparatus determines that the phase difference has failed to be detected, the imaging apparatus sets a second readout area having a range wider than that of the first readout area as a readout area, and then sets an area other than an area which is included in the first readout area from the second readout area and is used for generating a display image as a trimming target. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140125862 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ADJUSTING AUTOMATIC FOCUS - An apparatus and method of adjusting an auto focus are provided. The apparatus includes: an imaging pickup device for generating an image signal by capturing light passing through an imaging lens; a shutter for controlling light exposure of the image pickup device; a focus detector that calculates a contrast value from the image signal and detecting a focus from the contrast value; and a release controller for controlling a release operation constituting a photographing operation of a still image, wherein the release controller includes, as driving modes, a first mode that directs a focus lens included in the imaging lens to be driven while driving the shutter, and a second mode that directs the focus lens not to be driven while driving the shutter. Accordingly, a photographing time is reduced. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140132825 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND LENS UNIT - An image pickup apparatus is arranged to receive from a lens unit a predetermined signal for indicating whether or not a focus lens is movable by a mount of movement corresponding to first information within a predetermined time, if the received predetermined signal indicates that the focus lens is movable by the amount of movement corresponding to the first information within the predetermined time, make first information on the basis of a focus signal generated from an image signal corresponding to charges accumulated during a first period, and if the received predetermined signal indicates that the focus lens is not movable by the amount of movement corresponding to the first information within the predetermined time, make the first information on the basis of a focus signal generated from the image signal corresponding to the charges accumulated during a second period after the first period. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140139723 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC MOVABLE OBJECT, PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS INCLUDING AUTOMATIC FOCUS FUNCTION, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM FOR STORING AUTOMATIC FOCUS FUNCTION PROGRAM - A method capable of performing an automatic focus function upon a specific movable object in a real-time manner, the method being applicable to a photographic apparatus with the automatic focus function, includes: capturing real-time image within a field of view (FOV) of a lens; comparing images of a plurality of image areas of the real-time image with a feature image of the specific movable object to identify an image area corresponding to the feature image of the specific movable object; and, performing automatic focus on the identified image area. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140139724 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - A focus detection apparatus detects a first subject region (e.g., face region) from an image signal, detects a second subject region (e.g., human body region), in which the first subject region can be estimated, from the image signal, and performs focus detection based on an image signal corresponding to the set focus detection area. In the case where the primary subject corresponds to the first subject region detected, the focus detection area is set to a first region, and, in the case where the primary subject corresponds to the first subject region estimated based on the second subject region, the focus detection area is set to a second region that is larger than the first region. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140146219 | IMAGING APPARATUS, SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, AND IMAGING METHOD - An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device; a lens optical system including a focus lens for condensing light toward the imaging device; a driving section configured to driving one of the imaging device and the focus lens to change a position to which a focus is adjusted on an object side; a shutter provided at at least one of the imaging device and a position between the lens optical system and the imaging device; and a control unit configured to control the shutter and the driving section, wherein the control unit drives the imaging device or the focus lens such that a focus is adjusted to each of first to third focusing positions of different object distances and controls the shutter and the driving section such that image signals of first to third object images at the first to third focusing positions are obtained by the imaging device. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140152886 | BOKEH AMPLIFICATION - A method of modifying the blur in at least a part of an image of a scene captures at least two images of the scene with different camera parameters to produce a different amount of blur in each image. A corresponding patch in each of the captured images is selected each having an initial amount of blur is used to calculate a set of frequency domain pixel values from a function of transforms of the patches. Each of the pixel values in the set are raised to a predetermined power, forming an amplified set of frequency domain pixel values. The amplified set of frequency domain pixel values is combined with the pixels of the patch in one of the captured images to produce an output image patch with blur modified relative to the initial amount of blur in the image patch. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140168502 | OPTICAL FOCUS OF AN IMAGE ACQUISITION SYSTEM - A method for characterizing an optical focusing defect of an image capture instrument is based on contrast values. Said contrast values are calculated for two images of a same scene portion, captured in respective overlapping length segments of two image sensors. To this end, the sensors are mounted in an image capture instrument so that the overlapping length segments between the sensors are situated at different heights along a focusing direction perpendicular to said sensors. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140176783 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image capturing apparatus comprises: a focus detection unit to obtain an in-focus position for each preset focus detection area; a setting unit to set an object area for a captured image; an acquisition unit to acquire a representative in-focus position of the object area based on in-focus positions contained within a given range where in-focus positions of focus detection areas corresponding to the object area are most concentrated; a determination unit to determine, if a plurality of object areas are set by the setting unit, a priority order of the object areas based on representative in-focus positions of the object areas; and a control unit configured to perform control so as to sequentially drive the focus lens to the representative in-focus positions of the object areas in decreasing order of the priority order and perform shooting. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140176784 | AUTOMATIC FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - In the case where a predetermined subject can be detected from an image with a first detection method but cannot be detected with a second detection method, an in-focus direction of a subject detected with the first detection method is determined during a focusing operation. In the case where, when the predetermined subject becomes detectable with the second detection method, the in-focus direction of the predetermined subject detected with the second detection method has been determined by a determination unit, the focus-detecting operation is started using the determined in-focus direction. Speeding up of the focus-detecting operation that utilizes subject detection results is thereby realized, while suppressing any drop in the image quality of recorded images. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140184887 | INNER FOCUS LENS SYSTEM, INTERCHANGEABLE LENS APPARATUS AND CAMERA SYSTEM - An inner focus lens system comprising lens units each composed of at least one lens element, wherein a most object side lens unit is provided and is fixed with respect to an image surface in focusing, and the conditions: BF/Y<1.7 and (L×F | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140192249 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels, each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; a readout unit that reads out a signal from a portion of the photoelectric conversion elements of each pixel as a first signal and reads out a sum of signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements of each pixel as an image signal; a generation unit that generates a second signal for each pixel using the image signal and the first signal; and a calculation unit that calculates a moving amount of a focus lens for achieving an in-focus state based on a phase difference between the first signal and the second signal. The calculation unit performs the calculation without using a signal from a defective line. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140192250 | IMAGING APPARATUS, SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for generating a wide dynamic range image by executing a pixel value combination process of a plurality of different exposure time setting pixels. Control of a different exposure time is performed for each of a plurality of pixels of the same colors configuring a pixel block and an addition pixel value obtained by adding outputs of the plurality of pixels of the same colors of the pixel block is generated. The generation of the addition pixel value is executed in an operation unit having an adding unit that that adds the outputs of the plurality of pixels of the same colors of the pixel block. Or, the generation of the addition pixel value is executed by a floating diffusion (FD) set in a pixel block unit and a charge output from each of the plurality of pixels of the same colors configuring the pixel block is accumulated and output in the floating diffusion (FD). | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140198245 | IMAGING DEVICE AND FOCUS DETECTION METHOD - An imaging device of the present invention comprises a focus detection section using phase difference detection based on output of the focus detection pixels, a pixel adding section, for creating respective first addition outputs by adding outputs of a first number of focus detection pixels, and creating respective second addition outputs by dividing the first number of arrays into a plurality, and adding outputs of focus detection pixels of the divided array, and a determination section for determining whether or not to correct an angle error, wherein the focus detection section executes a focus detection operation on the basis of the first addition outputs, the determination section determines whether or not to correct angle error on the basis of the plurality of second addition outputs, and in the event that the determination section has determined to correct angle error, the focus detection section corrects angle error based on a result of a focus detection operation. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140204266 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT UNIT AND CAMERA SYSTEM - A focus adjustment unit according to the present invention has an imaging section configured to generate an image signal by forming and capturing an optical image on an image sensor by an optical system including a focusing lens, and performs focus adjustment based on a focus detection signal relating to a focus detection area set within an imaging area, the focus adjustment unit comprising a focusing lens position detection section configured to detect a position of the focusing lens, a storage section configured to store information on an image magnification change of the optical system along with movement of the focusing lens, and a focus detection area setting section configured to set a focus detection area within the imaging area, wherein the focus detection area setting section sets the focus detection area based on the position of the focusing lens and the information on an image magnification change. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140211075 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING FOCUSING PARAMETER VALUE - An image capturing apparatus includes: an image capturing element in which a plurality of pixels and phase difference pixels are formed within an effective pixel region; a photographing lens; a phase difference amount detecting unit analyzing a captured image signal and obtaining a phase difference amount from detection signals of two of the phase difference pixels that make a pair; and a control unit obtaining a defocus amount of a photographic subject image from the detected phase difference amount and performing a focusing control, in which the control unit obtains a parameter value regarding a ratio of the defocus amount and the phase difference amount based on photographing lens information of the photographing lens and a light receiving sensitivity distribution indicating sensitivity for each incident angle of incident light for the two of the phase difference pixels that make the pair, and obtains the defocus amount. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140211076 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING SENSITIVITY RATIO OF PHASE DIFFERENCE PIXEL - An image capturing apparatus includes: an image capturing element in which a plurality of pixels are formed and arranged and phase difference pixels are formed within an effective pixel region; a photographing lens; and a control unit which analyzes a captured image signal by the image capturing element, obtains a phase difference amount from detection signals of two of the phase difference pixels that make a pair, and performs a focusing control of the photographing lens, in which the control unit calculates, as a sensitivity ratio, a ratio of an integration value of light receiving sensitivity of the phase difference pixel within a range of an incident angle of the photographing lens, and an integration value of light receiving sensitivity of a pixel other than the phase difference pixel, and corrects a deviation in light receiving sensitivity between the two phase difference pixels. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140211077 | LIGHT FIELD DATA ACQUISITION - A light field data acquisition device includes optics and a light field sensor to acquire light field image data of a scene. In at least one embodiment, the light field sensor is located at a substantially fixed, predetermined distance relative to the focal point of the optics. In response to user input, the light field acquires the light field image data of the scene, and a storage device stores the acquired data. Such acquired data can subsequently be used to generate a plurality of images of the scene using different virtual focus depths. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140218593 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUM - In an image processing apparatus of the present invention, multiple subjects are selected in an image signal, and subject distances for focusing on each of the selected subjects are specified. A subject distance range defined by the specified subject distances is then set. Then, based on the image signal, the image processing apparatus generates a reconstructed image that is focused on each of the subjects that are to be focused on in the set subject distance range. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140218594 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor having first pixels used except for generating image signals and second pixels used for generating the image signals, the first pixels included in a first area, and a signal processing unit configured to perform interpolation processing on signals output from the first pixels in the first area. The signal processing unit performs the interpolation processing on the image signals output from the second pixels in an area other than the first area using a pattern based on an arrangement of the first pixels in the first area. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140232928 | IMAGING METHOD - An aspect of the present invention is an imaging method using a multifocal lens having a plurality of regions, the plurality of regions having different focal lengths, and the imaging method includes a focusing state control step of controlling a focusing state of the multifocal lens, and an imaging step of obtaining an image of a subject in the controlled focusing state. In the focusing state control step, the focusing state is controlled so that a main subject is focused via a region with a shortest required focusing time among the plurality of regions in response to a picture taking instruction. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140247385 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS, IMAGE SENSING SYSTEM AND FOCUS DETECTION METHOD - An image sensing apparatus including: an image sensor including a plurality of focus detection pixel pairs that perform photoelectric conversion on each pair of light beams that have passed through different regions of a photographing lens and output an image signal pair; a flash memory that stores shift information on relative shift between an optical axis of the photographing lens and a central axis of the focus detection pixel pairs; a correction unit that corrects a signal level of the image signal pair based on the shift information and exit pupil information of the photographing lens so as to compensate for an unbalanced amount of light that enters each of the focus detection pixel pairs; and a focus detection unit that detects a focus of the photographing lens using the image signal pair corrected by the correction unit. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20140253785 | Auto Focus Based on Analysis of State or State Change of Image Content - A method and apparatus of auto focusing for a camera based on analysis of the image content in a target window are disclosed. According to the present invention, image content in a target window is analyzed to determine a state, a state change or both associated with the target window. The information associated with the state, the state change or both is provided to update the camera parameters. The state may be size, position, pose, behavior or gesture of one or more objects, or areas associated with one or more regions in the target window. The state may correspond to the motion field or optical flow associated with the target window. The state may correspond to object motion, extracted features or scales of the objects in the target window. The state may correspond to image content description of the segmented regions or deformable object contour in the target window. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140253786 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element including a plurality of focus detection pixels configured to generate a pair of image signals based on light beams passing through pupil regions different from each other in an image pickup optical system, a detection unit configured to detect a base line length of the plurality of focus detection pixels and a pupil division direction based on position information of a focus detection region in the image pickup element and information relating to the image pickup optical system, and a calculation unit configured to calculate a phase difference in the pupil division direction by using the pair of image signals. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140293115 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS, FOCUS DETECTION METHOD AND PROGRAM, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A focus detection apparatus is arranged to obtain image data of an object obtained by an imaging unit having a pupil division unit of a photographing optical system for forming an optical image of the object, obtain setting information of a focus detection mode of the photographing optical system, set a focus detection area set into a pixel array area of the imaging unit, by dividing a predetermined area into a plurality of division areas in accordance with the focus detection mode and arranging the plurality of division areas in accordance with a different positional relation, form focus detection information by using the image data of the set focus detection area, and generate a drive signal of the photographing optical system on the basis of the focus detection information. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140293116 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device includes: an imaging unit that images a subject image and generates image data; a receiving unit that receives a mode setting to either one of a full AF mode of executing auto focus control by referring to data corresponding to an entire region of an image to be indicated by the image data and a partial AF mode of executing the auto focus control by referring to data corresponding to a partial region of the image to be indicated by the image data; and a controller that, in response to whether the mode is the full AF mode or the partial AF mode, generates first distance image data regarding a depth of the entire region of the image to be indicated by the image data or second distance image data regarding a depth of the partial region of the image to be indicated by the image data. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140293117 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus includes: an imaging characteristic acquisition unit that acquires, on the basis of information that designates a depth of field for second image data to be generated, imaging characteristics of a virtual optical system having the designated depth of field; a selection unit that determines, on the basis of the imaging characteristics acquired, an influence range in which an influence exerted onto an image by an object that is spaced apart from the focal position in the optical axis direction is greater than a predetermined condition, and that selects first image data of which focal position is contained within the influence range, from among a plurality of first image data items; and a generation unit that generates the second image data using the first image data selected by the selection unit. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140307150 | IMAGING DEVICE, FOCUS ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM, FOCUS INSTRUCTION DEVICE, AND FOCUS ADJUSTMENT METHOD - An imaging device includes: an imaging unit configured to repeat image capturing and output captured images in sequence; a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly transmit the captured images in sequence and wirelessly receive a first information specifying one of the captured images wirelessly transmitted in sequence and a second information indicating a specific position or region in the captured image specified by the first information; a subject detection unit configured to detect a subject present at the position or region indicated by the second information in the captured image specified by the first information, from the captured image newly captured by the imaging unit; and a focus adjustment unit configured to adjust focus so that the subject detected by the subject detection unit is in focus. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140320734 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image sensor has multiple pixel units in correspondence with each microlens, and focus detection is performed with a phase-difference detection method using output from the image sensor. The signals to be used in the focus detection can be combined, and a larger signal combining amount is set in the case of output from the image sensor with a first thinning amount than in the case of output from the image sensor with a second thinning amount. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140340565 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image capturing apparatus comprises an imaging unit that includes imaging pixels that are arranged in a two-dimensional array and focus detection pixels arranged in part of the array of the imaging pixels, and a control unit that controls to read out pixel signals of imaging lines including the imaging pixels each configured to output a signal used for image generation, and pixel signals of focus detection lines including the focus detection pixels, wherein the control unit changes one of a thinning method and an addition method between the imaging lines and the focus detection lines. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140340566 | IMAGING DEVICE - Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to an imaging device and method. One example of such an imaging device includes a focus imaging unit and a camera imaging unit. The camera imaging unit is separate from the focus imaging unit and is configured to record an image. The imaging device additionally includes a focusing unit coupled to the focus imaging unit and the camera imaging unit. This focusing unit is configured to adjust a focus position of the focus imaging unit and the camera imaging unit. The imaging device further includes a control unit that is configured to actuate the focusing unit to adjust the focus position of the focus imaging unit and to thereby determine an optimal focus position, and to actuate the focusing unit to adjust the focus position of the camera imaging unit based on the determined optimal focus position. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140347547 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus includes a prism for separating a first luminous flux into a plurality of second luminous fluxes, a plurality of imaging sensors disposed corresponding to the second luminous fluxes, an image generator for generating image data based on output image signals, and focus controller for executing a focusing operation based on focus detection image signals. The imaging sensors each have a plurality of imaging pixels and a plurality of phase difference pixels disposed in a specific pattern. An arrangement of a first imaging sensor, which is one of the plurality of imaging sensors, is different from an arrangement of a second imaging sensor, which is another one of the plurality of imaging sensors. The specific pattern is such that a position of a phase difference pixel of the first imaging sensor does not overlap with a position of a phase difference pixel of the second imaging sensor. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140347548 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RENDERING AN IMAGE FROM A LIGHT-FIELD CAMERA - A method for rendering an image from a light-field camera, which generates a raw light-field image, includes: generating feature data, which includes feature elements associated with position information and obtained based on the raw light-field image and a preset threshold condition; generating a raw focused image from the raw light-field image; obtaining a virtual focus position that is designated on the raw focused image; and refocusing the raw focused image according to the virtual focus position by updating pixel values of pixels of the raw focused image that correspond respectively in position to the feature elements of the feature data, so as to generate a refocused image. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140347549 | CONTROL APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD - A control apparatus includes a first focus detection unit that performs focus detection by a phase difference method based on an image signal obtained from an image pickup element, a second focus detection unit that performs focus detection by a contrast method, and a control unit that performs focusing, the control unit performs the focusing, in a first mode, by using a detection result of the first focus detection unit, and performs the focusing, in a second mode, by selectively using one of the detection result of the first focus detection unit and a detection result of the second focus detection unit according to lens information, and the first mode is a mode in which the focusing is repeated, and the second mode is a mode in which a lens is stopped after the focusing. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140347550 | FOCUS DETECTOR, AND LENS APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A focus detector for detecting a defocus amount of an image pickup optical system based on a displacement amount between two images formed by two beams divided from the image pickup optical system and passed through two pupil areas, the focus detector including: two lenses; two phase difference sensors for photoelectrically converting two subject images formed by the two lenses into two image signals; a correlation computing unit for dividing the two image signals based on a reference number-of-pixels to compute an image displacement amount for each divided area; a waveform coincidence computing unit for computing a coincidence degree of the two image signals in the each divided area in which the image displacement amount is computed by the correlation computing unit; and a defocus computing unit for computing a defocus amount based on the coincidence degree of the two image signals computed by the waveform coincidence computing unit. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140354875 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor including a photoelectric conversion portion configured to receive light beams having passed through a portion of a pupil area of an imaging lens and output an image signal, a control unit configured to output, from the photoelectric conversion portion, a plurality of image signals captured by shifting a focus position of the imaging lens, an acquisition unit configured to acquire an image shift amount on an image sensing plane of the image sensor, which corresponds to a shift amount when shifting the focus position of the imaging lens; and a calculation unit configured to calculate a correction coefficient for shading on the image sensing plane based on the image shift amount by comparing signals corresponding to the same object among the plurality of image signals. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140362275 | Autofocus - Systems, methods, and computer readable media to provide improved autofocus operations are described. In general, techniques are disclosed that show how to improve contrast-based autofocus operations by applying a novel threshold-and-select action to window-specific focus scores. More particularly, techniques disclosed herein may evaluate a multi-window autofocus area over a burst collected group of images. For each captured image, focus scores for each window within an autofocus area may be collected, aggregated and then consolidated to identify a single focus metric and its associated lens position for each window. The window-specific focus scores may be reviewed and selection of a “best” autofocus lens position made using a selection criteria. The specified criteria may be used to bias the selection to either a front-of-plane (macro) or back-of-plane (infinity) focus position. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20140362276 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A defocus amount is corrected according to the difference between the focus state of an imaging optical system that corresponds to the accumulation period of multiple image signals used to generate an added image signal and the focus state of the imaging optical system when the focal point is adjusted. Here, when calculating the focus state of the imaging optical system that corresponds to the accumulation period of the image signals used to generate the added image signal, the focus state of the imaging optical system that corresponds to the accumulation period of an image signal used to generate the added image signal is weighted higher the higher the sharpness of that image signal is. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20140362277 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR SAME - An imaging apparatus includes an imaging element having pixel portions each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion units for each microlens. The imaging element can output a pixel signal depending on a pupil-divided light flux. An image processing LSI processes a video signal based on the pixel signal output from the imaging element. An imaging element control unit controls the operation of the imaging element. An exposure control unit performs exposure control for an optical lens unit and an imaging element. In the first mode, the operation for reading pixel signals from all of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units constituting the pixel portion of the imaging element is performed. In the second mode, the control for reading pixel signals from a part of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and for stopping a circuit relating to the unused photoelectric conversion units by reading no pixel signal is performed. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20140362278 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND IMAGE CAPTURING METHOD - An image capturing apparatus performs rough detection through high-speed focus detection targeting on a face contour portion and then performs focusing through high-precision focus detection targeting on a face-included portion set inside the face contour. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20140362279 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD, METHOD OF CONTROLLING FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS, AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - A focus detection apparatus comprises: an image sensing unit including photoelectric conversion elements for each microlens, with the microlenses being two-dimensionally arranged; a generation unit configured to generate a first signal pair having a first resolution from signals of a first area of the image sensing unit which corresponds to a predetermined focus detection area and generate a second signal pair having a second resolution lower than the first resolution from signals of a second area which corresponds to the predetermined focus detection area and is wider than the first area; a focus detection unit configured to perform phase difference focus detection processing based on at least one of the first and second signal pairs; and a recording image generation unit configured to generate a recording image from a signal output from the image sensing unit. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20140368726 | Machine Vision Inspection System and Method for Performing High-Speed Focus Height Measurement Operations - A machine vision inspection system comprising an illumination source and an imaging system and a method for performing high-speed focus height measurement operations. The method comprises: placing a workpiece in a field of view of the machine vision inspection system; determining a region of interest for focus height measurement operations; operating the illumination source to illuminate the workpiece with strobed illumination; periodically modulating a focus position of the imaging system along a Z-height direction proximate to the workpiece; collecting an image stack, wherein each image of the image stack corresponds to an instance of strobed illumination matched with a phase of the modulated focus position corresponding to an appropriate Z height within the image stack; and determining a Z-height measurement for at least one portion of the region of interest. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140375871 | IMAGING APPARATUS, METHOD OF DISPLAYING INFORMATION, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING UNIT - An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section having a focusing function, the imaging section being configured to generate a shooting image based on a subject and to output the generated shooting image; a calculation section configured to calculate a variation amount of focus level of the shooting image generated by the imaging section; and a display control section configured to allow a shooting image screen based on the shooting image and to allow information in accordance with the variation amount of the focus level calculated by the calculation section to be displayed on a display section. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20140375872 | AUTO-FOCUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE - An auto-focusing device including: an imaging unit which generates image data of a subject image; an optical system which includes a focus lens; a lens driver which drives the focus lens; a lens position detector which detects a position of the focus lens; a region detector which detects a predetermined region of the subject image; an evaluation value calculating unit which calculates an AF evaluation value; a movement determining unit which determines whether a subject is moving closer or away based on whether the predetermined region has been enlarged or reduced from the region before; and a lens controller which controls the lens driver, wherein the lens controller controls a moving direction and a moving speed of the focus lens in an autofocus operation based on a determination result of the movement determining unit, the AF evaluation value, and a position detection result for the focus lens. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150009394 | FOCUSING CONTROL METHOD USING COLOUR CHANNEL ANALYSIS - A method, an apparatus and a computer program are provided. The method comprises: analyzing different color channels of an image detected by an image sensor; and adjusting, in dependence upon the analysis, at least one of: a position of a focal plane of an optical arrangement and a position of the image sensor. In some embodiments, the sharpness of different color channels of the image is compared and the adjustment depends upon the results of the comparison. | 01-08-2015 |
| 20150015771 | IMAGE-CAPTURING DEVICES AND METHODS - The present invention provides an image-capturing device including a lens with an adjustable focal length, a photosensitive unit, a memory unit, a processing unit, and a display unit. The photosensitive unit obtains a plurality of images from a scene via the lens, and the images correspond to different focal lengths. The memory unit is configured to store the images corresponding to the different focal lengths. The processing unit obtains a target image according to a selected frame position, wherein the corresponding focal length of the target image focuses on an object of the scene, and the object in the target image is located at the selected frame position. The display unit is configured to output the obtained target image. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150022708 | IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING METHOD AND IMAGING SYSTEM - An imaging apparatus that performs focus control includes a signal conversion processing part that converts a subject image into a video signal, an image acquisition part that acquires the video signal output from the signal conversion processing part, a focusing area setting part that sets a focusing area as an evaluation value calculation area on an imaging screen acquired by the image acquisition part, an effective range selection part that obtains effective code density in an image of the focusing area with respect to each lens position while moving the lens and determines whether or not the lens position is in an effective range suitable for focusing based on the effective code density, and a focusing degree calculation part that obtains a focusing degree in the lens position when a determination that the lens position is located in the effective range is made in the effective range selection part. | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150022709 | STEPPING MOTOR CONTROL UNIT, STEPPING MOTOR CONTROLLING METHOD, AND OPTICAL APPARATUS - A control unit for a stepping motor includes an encoder and a controller. The controller controls the stepping motor based on information sent from an image pickup apparatus configured to capture an object via an image pickup optical system that includes the focus lens. in a case that the image pickup apparatus performs autofocusing in capturing a still image, the controller open-loop-controls the stepping motor in at least one of a drive start period and a drive stop period of the stepping motor, and feedback-controls the stepping motor using an output of the encoder between the drive start period and the drive stop period of the stepping motor. The controller open-loop-controls the stepping motor in a case that the image pickup apparatus performs the autofocusing in capturing a motion image. | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150022710 | AF CONTROLLER, LENS APPARATUS INCLUDING THE AF CONTROLLER AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An AF controller includes: a signal generator configured to generate an image signal pair for each of a plurality of areas in an imaging angle of view; a target position derives configured to derive a driving target position of a focus lens based on a defocus amount derived by the image signal pair input from the signal generator and based on an acquired position of the focus lens; and a driving command unit configured to output a driving command of the focus lens based on the driving target position, wherein the driving command unit outputs the driving command of the focus lens based on the driving target position in a range of a threshold. | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150029388 | IMAGING ARRANGEMENTS AND METHODS THEREFOR - Image data is processed to facilitate focusing and/or optical correction. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an imaging arrangement collects light data corresponding to light passing through a particular focal plane. The light data is collected using an approach that facilitates the determination of the direction from which various portions of the light incident upon a portion of the focal, plane emanate from. Using this directional information in connection with value of the light as detected by photosensors, an image represented by the light is selectively focused and/or corrected. | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150042868 | AUTOMATIC FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS - An automatic focus adjustment method for transmitting, from a camera main body side to a lens side, a driving amount of a focus operation member configured to drive a lens, the automatic focus adjustment method includes, when a driving amount according to defocus of an object is transmitted, transmitting a driving permissible time of the focus operation member according to a control method of automatic focus adjustment as well. On the camera main body side, the driving permissible time is acquired according to the set control method of the automatic focus adjustment. On the lens side, drive control of the focus operation member is switched so that a driving time of the focus operation member satisfies the driving permissible time. | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150049238 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FOCUSING IMAGING DEVICES - A system and method for automatically focusing imaging devices on an imaging set employs at least one tracker and two or more tracking markers, each tracking marker having an identification means and a tracking pattern. The tracking markers are configured for attaching to the imaging devices and to corresponding subjects to be imaged. A tracker gathers image information of the imaging set and provides it to a controller, which compares the image information to predetermined stored information about the tracking patterns of the various tracking markers. The tracking markers are identified and their three-dimensional positions determined. The distances between the imaging devices and the subjects are determined and the distances between the imaging devices and the subjects are calculated. This provides the focus setting information for communication to the imaging devices. The tracking patterns may have no rotational symmetry, allowing the orientation of subjects to be determined. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150055010 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system, an image pickup element including a plurality of pixels, a lens array configured such that rays from the same position on an object plane are incident on pixels of the image pickup element different from each other depending on a pupil region of the imaging optical system through which the ray passes, an image processing unit configured to perform image processing for the input image acquired by the image pickup element to generate the output images, and a control unit configured to drive the imaging optical system to perform focus control, the image processing unit is configured to acquire information on a refocus control range, and the control unit is configured to perform the focus control based on the information on the refocus control range. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150070566 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM, AND VISION MEASURING APPARATUS - A method includes: obtaining a plurality of object images, the plurality of object images being taken by an image pickup device while moving a focal position within a predetermined range, the image pickup device being capable of taking images of an object at arbitrary focal positions within the predetermined range; calculating a first in-focus position within the predetermined range based on pieces of contrast information on a manually-taken object image group, the manually-taken object image group including the plurality of object images taken while manually moving the focal position within the predetermined range; and calculating a second in-focus position within the search range based on pieces of contrast information on an automatically-taken object image group, the automatically-taken object image group including the plurality of object images taken while automatically moving the focal position within a search range, the search range being determined with reference to the calculated first in-focus position. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150070567 | IMAGE-PICKUP APPARATUS, LENS UNIT, CONTROL METHOD OF THE IMAGE-PICKUP APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD OF THE LENS UNIT, AND IMAGE-PICKUP SYSTEM - An image-pickup apparatus to which a lens unit that includes an image-pickup optical system including a focus lens is attachable includes an image sensor configured to photoelectrically convert an object image formed via the lens unit that has been attached, and to generate an image signal, and a controller configured to generate information on driving of the focus lens in the lens unit based upon the image signal and to provide focus control, the controller communicating data with the lens unit, wherein the controller transmits information on a driving target position of the focus lens to the lens unit in a first control, and transmits information on a driving direction and driving speed of the focus lens to the lens unit in a second control different from the first control. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150077621 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element configured to perform photoelectric conversion on an optical image obtained through an image pickup optical system to generate an image signal, a focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection based on the image signal, a determination unit configured to determine an object in a screen, a calculation unit configured to calculate an in-focus position based on information of the object determined by the determination unit, and a control unit configured to perform the in-focus control based on the in-focus position calculated by the calculation unit. | 03-19-2015 |
| 20150085178 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND FOCUSING CONTROL METHOD - An image capturing apparatus, includes: an image capturing element configured to capture an image of a subject; and a focusing control unit configured to perform a focusing control by a phase difference AF method using detection signals of first signal detection units and second signal detection units; a matching degree generation unit configured to generate a first matching degree which corresponds to a matching degree of two images captured by a first pair using the detection signals of the respective signal detection units of the first pair, and a second matching degree which corresponds to a matching degree of two images captured by a second pair using the detection signals of the respective signal detection units of the second pair; and a credibility determination unit configured to determine credibility of the focusing control by the phase difference AF method based on the first matching degree and the second matching degree. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150085179 | Systems, Devices, and Methods for Managing Camera Focus - Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, via a device comprising an electro-active lens, automatically acquiring at least two images of a scene. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150092099 | FAST FOCUSING METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MULTI-SPECTRAL IMAGING - Fast focusing methods and devices for multi-spectral imaging are disclosed. The method comprising selecting one of a plurality of imaging channel as a reference channel, adjusting rotation positions of a stepper motor, calculating focus measures corresponding to all rotation positions of the stepper motor, and obtaining a first distribution curve; in each of the other imaging channels, selecting at least three rotation positions of the stepper motor, matching focus measures at the selected rotation positions with the first distribution curve to obtain a second distribution curve and a offset value between the first distribution curve and the second distribution curve, and calculating a clear focusing position of the imaging channel to be focused according to the offset value; performing a fine-tuning focusing, and thereby obtaining a more precise clear focusing position. A fast focusing for multi-spectral imaging and obtain clear multi-spectral images is obtained. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150092100 | IMAGING LENS AND IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging lens includes a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, and a third lens group having positive refractive power. The first to third lens groups are arranged in order from an object side toward an image side. A focusing operation is performed through allowing the second lens group to travel along an optical axis. The following conditional expressions are satisfied, | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150103231 | Focusing Method - A focusing method for an image capturing device includes detecting a plurality of focus frames of a plurality of characteristic points in a capturing area; acquiring a plurality of focuses according to the plurality of focus frames; and capturing a plurality of images according to each of the plurality of focuses. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150103232 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - If it is determined that an imaging optical system is not in an in-focus state, an interval for obtaining a phase-difference signal is set to a second time interval that is faster than a first time interval when a defocus amount that is obtained using the phase-difference signal that is output from an image sensor is a predetermined threshold or more, and the interval for obtaining a phase-difference signal is set to the first time interval when the defocus amount is less than the predetermined threshold. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150103233 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, AND IMAGE PICKUP METHOD - A solid-state image pickup device includes a lens, a first light receiving element, a second light receiving element, and an element separation area. The first light receiving element is configured to receive light from the lens. The second light receiving element is configured to receive light from the lens. The element separation area is between the first light receiving element and the second light receiving element. The lens has an optical axis, which is offset from a center of the element separation area. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150109513 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MEDIA FOR PROVIDING INTERACTIVE REFOCUSING IN IMAGES - Systems, methods, and media for providing interactive refocusing are provided, the systems comprising: a lens; an image sensor; and a processor that: causes the image sensor to capture a plurality of images over a predetermined, period of time, wherein each of the plurality of images represents a scene at a different point in time; changes a depth of field between at least a pair of the plurality of images; concatenates the plurality of images to create a duration focal volume in the order in which the images were captured; computes a space-time in-focus image that represents in-focus portions from each of the plurality of images based on the duration focal volume; and computes a space-time index map that identifies an in-focus image for each location of the scene from among the plurality of images based on die duration focal volume and the space-time in-focus image. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150109514 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, DEPTH INFORMATION ACQUISITION METHOD AND PROGRAM - Depth information of an object is determined on the basis of a difference in blur between a first image captured at a first focusing position and a second image captured at a second focusing position. A focus movement amount which is a difference between the first focusing position and the second focusing position is set in accordance with an F-number of an imaging optical system. The second focusing position may be set in such a manner that an absolute value of the focus movement amount is larger when the F-number is large, compared to when the F-number is relatively small. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150109515 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element configured to photoelectrically convert an optical image, an image processing unit configured to generate an image based on image signals acquired from a first region and a second region of the image pickup element, a focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection by a phase difference method based on the image signal acquired from the first region of the image pickup element, and a control unit configured to perform control so as to read the image signal acquired from the first region in a first mode and read the image signal acquired from the second region in a second mode different from the first mode. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150109516 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS, FOCUS ADJUSTMENT METHOD AND PROGRAM, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus arranged to perform a focus adjustment by moving a focus lens based on an image pickup signal, parallelly reading out the image pickup signal obtained in a period set by a timing signal for setting a first exposure period and the image pickup signal obtained in a period set by a timing signal for setting a second exposure period from an image pickup unit by shifting the timing signals from each other in phase, obtain a focus evaluation value from the image pickup signal obtained in the set exposure period, and determine a position of the focus lens corresponding to the focus evaluation value based on a focus lens position when the image pickup signal is read out for the first exposure period and a focus lens position when the image pickup signal is read out for the second exposure period. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150109517 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FOCUSING ON SUBJECT IN DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE - An method and apparatus focus on a subject in a digital image processing device, the apparatus including a digital signal processor (DSP) for focusing on a subject based on an eye detected from a face of a subject having a greater ratio than a predetermined ratio in a picture. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150116578 | FOCUSING APPARATUS, FOCUSING METHOD AND MEDIUM FOR RECORING THE FOCUSING METHOD - Provided are a focusing apparatus for generating an image signal by converting image light incident through a focus lens to an electrical signal by an image pickup device, storing the image signal in a memory, calculating an AF evaluation value for an image signal read from the memory in a direction different from a reading direction of the image pickup device, and driving the focus lens by deriving a focus lens position corresponding to the calculated AF evaluation value, a focusing method thereof, and a recording medium for recording the focusing method. Accordingly, a focus can be correctly adjusted for various subject images, and a focus can be effectively adjusted for the images even in a high speed capturing mode. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150124153 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same are provided. The method of controlling an image plane phase difference digital image processing apparatus, the method includes, in a continuous photographing mode for continuously capturing still images, performing a first focus detection by detecting phase difference of an image captured during a first image capture; performing a second focus detection by detecting phase difference of an image captured during a second image capture; determining moving speed of an object based on results of the first focus detection and the second focus detection; and correcting focus location by driving a focusing lens based on the determined moving speed of the object. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150124154 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREFOR, AND LENS UNIT AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREFOR, AND IMAGING SYSTEM - In a camera unit that is mountable to a lens unit having a focus lens, an AF signal processing unit generates an AF evaluation value from an imaging signal obtained by an imaging element, and a camera control unit generates drive information for moving the focus lens to an in-focus point using the AF evaluation value and transmits the drive information to the mounted lens unit. The camera control unit transmits drive information including a focus lens position served as a reference for micro vibration and an amount of movement of the focus lens indicated by shift amount of an image plane with reference to the focus lens position to a lens unit. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150124155 | Quick Automatic Focusing Method and Image Acquisition Apparatus - A method that includes: detecting, by the image acquisition apparatus, image data of a photographed subject in the case of current photographing parameters, where the photographing parameters include a photographing focal length and a focus, and the image data includes a position of the photographed subject in a formed image and an image size; adjusting the image acquisition apparatus based on the position of the photographed subject in the formed image, so that the position of the photographed subject in the formed image is a first position; determining a target value of the photographing focal length based on a photographing parameter-image data-photographing distance correspondence and according to a current photographing focal length, the image data, and a preset image size; and adjusting a photographing focal length of the image acquisition apparatus to the target value of the photographing focal length. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150124156 | AUTO-FOCUS IMAGE SYSTEM - An auto focus image system that includes a pixel array coupled to a focus signal generator. The pixel array captures an image that has at least one edge with a width. The focus signal generator may generate a focus signal that is a function of the edge width and/or statistics of edge widths. A processor receives the focus signal and/or the statistics of edge widths and adjust a focus position of a focus lens. The edge width can be determined by various techniques including the use of gradients. A histogram of edge widths may be used to determine whether a particular image is focused or unfocused. A histogram with a large population of thin edge widths is indicative of a focused image. Edge corruption/partial corruption may be detected. Partially corrupted edge may have edge width calculated by relying more on the side that is not corrupted and less on the side that is corrupted. Edge or edge side corruption may be detected by detecting a presence of an adjacent edge of the opposite sign. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150130986 | FOCUS DETECTION DEVICE, FOCUS ADJUSTMENT DEVICE AND CAMERA - A focus detection device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses at which light fluxes through an image forming optical system enter, disposed in a two-dimensional array pattern; a plurality of light receiving elements disposed in correspondence to each of the plurality of micro-lenses; a focus detection unit that executes a detection of a defocus quantity of the image forming optical system by detecting, based upon outputs from the plurality of light receiving elements, a phase difference of a plurality of light fluxes through different areas of the image forming optical system; and a recognition unit that recognizes, based upon the outputs from the plurality of light receiving elements, characteristics of a subject image formed onto the plurality of light receiving elements via the plurality of micro-lenses, wherein: the focus detection unit detects the defocus quantity through a method optimal for the characteristics of the subject image recognized by the recognition unit. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150130987 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image capturing apparatus comprises an imaging unit, a sensor unit, a first focus detection unit configured to detect a first in-focus position based on a pair of image signals, a second focus detection unit configured to detect a second in-focus position based on a signal output from the imaging unit, a control unit configured to control a position of the focus lens and control display indicating the focus detection areas, and a correction unit configured to acquire a correction amount for correcting the first in-focus position, wherein the correction unit determines a first focus detection area from which the correction amount is to be acquired while the focus lens is moved to the second in-focus position, and wherein the control unit controls the first focus detection area to be identifiable. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150130988 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS, FOCUS ADJUSTMENT METHOD AND PROGRAM, AND IMAGING APPARATUS INCLUDING FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS - A focus adjustment apparatus that, based on imaging signals obtained by picking up an optical image of an object formed via a photographing optical system including a focus lens, adjusts a position of the focus lens, reads out, in parallel with an operation of reading out first imaging signals at a predetermined frame rate, second imaging signals at a frame rate that is higher than the predetermined frame rate, the number of the second imaging signals being smaller than the number of the first imaging signals, generates first and second focus signals using the first and second imaging signals, and performs first focus adjustment according to determination of the focus state based on the first focus signal and second focus adjustment according to determination of the focus state based on the second focus signal to determine an in-focus position of the focus lens. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150138429 | IMAGE-CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image-capturing apparatus of the present disclosure includes a focus lens, an image sensor that captures an object image formed via the focus lens and generates image data, and a controller that calculates a value relating to an in-focus position based on (i) first image data generated by the image sensor when the focus lens is at a first position and (ii) second image data generated by the image sensor when the focus lens is moved from the first position by a first moving amount and located at a second position, and the controller changing a next moving amount of the focus lens from the first moving amount based on the calculated value relating to the in-focus position. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150138430 | IMAGE-CAPTURING APPARATUS - The present disclosure provides an image-capturing apparatus for determining an object distance with higher accuracy. An image-capturing apparatus includes an optical system that forms an object image of an object, the optical system including a focus lens, an image sensor that captures the object image formed via the optical system and generates image data, and a controller that determines an object distance according to information representing a state of the optical system based on (i) first image data generated when the focus lens is at a first focus lens position and (ii) second image data generated when the focus lens is at a second focus lens position. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150296122 | REAL-TIME SHARPENING OF RAW DIGITAL IMAGES - An approach for sharpening an image, a raw digitized image is provided. One or more processors receive a raw digitized image. One or more processors identify a first set of one or more focus points of the raw digitized image that are in focus, wherein the first set of one or more focus points are associated with a first area of the raw digitized image. One or more processors may cause a depth map, including the raw digitized image and a mask, to be displayed. One or more processors apply sharpening of a first sharpening strength to the first set of one or more focus points of the raw digitized image that are in focus. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150296124 | IMAGING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IMAGING APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM - An imaging apparatus includes a controller configured to perform focus control by adding a set value to a result of focus detection by automatic focusing based on a phase difference detection method. In a shooting mode, in a case where an AF frame to be used in the focus control is different from an AF frame to which the set value is set, the controller notifies a user of this fact. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150296125 | FOCUS DETECTION DEVICE AND IMAGE-CAPTURING APPARATUS - A focus detection device includes: an image sensor that includes a plurality of focus detection pixel rows, each having a plurality of focus detection pixels and each outputting a pair of focus detection signals; a spatial accumulation unit that calculates spatially accumulated values by adding together pairs of focus detection signals output from a first predetermined number of focus detection pixel rows among the plurality of focus detection pixel rows; and a focus detection unit that detects a focusing condition at an optical system based upon the spatially accumulated values. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150296129 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, AND FOCUS DETECTION METHOD - A focus detection apparatus detects a focus state of a subject using first and second pixel signals obtained by performing photoelectric conversion on subject light beams which have passed through different pupil regions of an imaging optical system. The focus state of a subject is detected from the first and second pixel signals. Further, each of the first pixel signals and second pixel signals are added by a predetermined addition number, and then the added first pixel signals and second pixel signals are relatively shifted. Thereafter, an evaluation value is calculated based on a signal obtained by adding the shifted first pixel signals and the second pixel signals and a defocus amount is detected from the evaluation value. The predetermined addition number is set in accordance with the focus state. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150296133 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image capturing apparatus is provided that is capable of performing both object detection using image recognition and object detection using movement detection on successively captured images. In the image capturing apparatus, the reliability of the result of the object detection using image recognition is evaluated based on the previous detection results. If it is determined that the reliability is high, execution of the object detection using movement detection is determined. If it is determined that the reliability is low, non-execution of the object detection using movement detection is determined. With this configuration, the object region can be tracked appropriately. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150304541 | FOCUSING SYSTEM FOR MOTION PICTURE CAMERA - A method of determining a focal distance between a principal camera and a target object utilizes first and second video cameras mounted in spaced apart positions relative to a principal camera. A first video image from the first video camera is displayed on a video monitor and a second video image from the second video signal is superimposed onto the first image. First and second controllers are provided for positioning the first and second video images, respectively, on the video monitor. First and second position signals corresponding to positioning of the first and second video images, respectively, are acquired. When the images of a target object in the two video images are aligned, the position signals are used to compute the focal distance from the principal camera to the object. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150304547 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An generation section generates a first display image based on an image signal output from an image pick-up device including first and second pixel groups on which respective images are formed by a pupil-divided subject-image, and generates a second display image for use in focus verification from first and second images based on an image signal output from the first and second pixel groups. A display controller performs control to display the first display image on a display section, and to display the second display image on the display section within a display region of the first display image. An automatic focus section, in cases in which a predetermined instruction has been input, performs automatic focusing in a focus region having at least a portion that overlaps with at least a portion of a display region of the second display image. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150304551 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRACKING A SUBJECT - Disclosed is an image capture apparatus that has a subject tracking functionality of sequentially detecting a predetermined subject in images that are continuously shot, and a method for controlling the same. During tracking of the subject, degrees of reliability of tracking are determined. When the detected face is set as a template image, the template image is not changed until it is determined a predetermined plurality of times in succession that the degrees of reliability of tracking are low. It is thus possible to achieve a subject tracking functionality that is hardly affected by false detections. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150312469 | Passive auto-focus device and method - A passive auto-focus device and method are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the passive auto-focus device comprises: a focus-searching-range decision circuit operable to compare a range of a variation area of a current scene with a predetermined range and determine a focus-searching range, in which the variation area is defined according to the comparison between the current scene and a preceding scene; a focal-distance-variation decision circuit operable to compare the definition pertaining to the focus-searching range with a first predetermined definition and generate a current step setting value; an image record generating circuit operable to generate first step image records in connection with the focus-searching range while the current step setting value indicates a first step and to generate second step image records in connection with the focus-searching range while the current step setting value indicates a second step, in which the first step is shorter than the second step. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150312470 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, IMAGE PICKUP METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system configured to form an image of an object, an image pickup unit configured to capture the image of the object via the imaging optical system, and a controller configured to control the image pickup unit. The controller sets, so as to always include part of the object in a first image pickup area corresponding to an image pickup plane of the image pickup unit, a second image pickup area by arranging at least one first image pickup area so that the second image pickup area contains an entire object on each of a plurality of sections perpendicular to an optical axis of the imaging optical system, and controls the image pickup unit so as to capture the first image pickup area that contains an in-focus range of the object in the second image area. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150319346 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE, CAMERA DEVICE, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR LENS DRIVING DEVICE - A lens driving device including: a lens holder; a coil mounted on the lens holder; at least one magnet disposed around the coil; a first and second spring members which support the lens holder at the both sides thereof in the optical axis direction so that the lens holder can move freely in the both directions of the optical axis of the lens in an initial state of no electric current to the coil; and an abutment surface to which the lens holder abuts when the lens holder moves toward one spring member against a biasing force of the one spring member; wherein the lens holder is exhorted a biasing force by the other spring member from the side of the other spring member to the side of the one spring member in the optical axis direction when the lens holder abuts against the abutment surface. Thus the lens driving device can support a lens holder in a stable fashion. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150319356 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor having focus detection pixels arrayed in pixel lines, and controls a ratio of pixel line addition to signal correlation amount addition in a focus detection region in accordance with subject information to perform focus detection with increased resolution and suppressed noise based on an image signal of a subject slanting in relation to the focus detection region. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150334288 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, LENS UNIT, AND IMAGE CAPTURING SYSTEM - An image capturing apparatus to which a lens unit having an optical imaging system is attachable, comprising: an image sensor configured to generate an image signal by performing photoelectric conversion on a light flux passing through the optical imaging system; a first calculation unit configured to obtain first control information for focus control by using a signal output from the image sensor; and a second calculation unit configured to obtain second control information for focus control without using a signal output from the image sensor, and transmit the second control information to the lens unit. The first calculation unit transmits the first control information to the lens unit without mediation of the second calculation unit. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150350522 | Focus Score Improvement By Noise Correction - A method to correct an autofocus operation of a digital image capture device based on an empirical evaluation of image capture metadata is disclosed. The method includes capturing an image of a scene (the image including one or more autofocus windows), obtaining an initial focus score for at least one of the image's one or more autofocus windows, obtaining image capture metadata for at least one of the one or more autofocus windows, determining a focus adjustment score for the one autofocus window based on a combination of the autofocus window's image capture metadata (wherein the focus adjustment score is indicative of the autofocus window's noise), and determining a corrected focus score for the one autofocus window based on the initial focus score and the focus adjustment score. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150350526 | IMAGING DEVICE, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device comprises an image data acquisition circuit for forming a subject image while shifting focus position by a given amount and acquiring a plurality of image data, an image selection circuit for selecting images to be combined based on shift amount of focus position when image data was acquired by the image acquisition circuit, and image data resolution, and an image combination circuit for combining the plurality of image data that was selected by the image selection circuit, to generate image data having a large depth of field. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150350530 | Light Field Imaging - An apparatus including a first optical element, a second optical element and an image sensor. The first optical element is configured to focus light with first wavelengths on the second optical element, and the second optical element is invisible to light with second wavelengths and configured to relay an image containing lightfield information on the image sensor from light with the first wavelengths. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150350531 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus authenticates whether the same person as a person as a destination of transmission is photographed in light field data as an object, and when the person is photographed as the object, sets a focal distance of an object image of the person as the destination of transmission as a focal distance to be used for refocusing the light field data. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150358529 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, ITS CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A first image generating unit configured to generate a first image having a predetermined depth of field from each of a plurality of light-field data each of which a focus state is changeable; a searching unit configured to search the light-field data that includes a predetermined object by analyzing the first image generated by the first image generating unit; and a second image generating unit configured to generate a second image that has a shallower depth of field than the first image and focused on the predetermined object, based on the light-field data detected by the searching unit are included. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150358530 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS, FOCUS ADJUSTMENT METHOD, PROGRAM AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - To achieve focusing suitable for a perspective-conflict object in AF control using a phase difference detection method, a focus adjustment apparatus detects a defocus amount of an image pickup optical system based on plural image signals generated from an exit pupil of the system, sets plural areas including a predetermined area used for focus adjustment of the system as areas of the plural image signals used for detecting the defocus amount, generates a focus adjustment signal for performing the focus adjustment based on the defocus amount detected in the predetermined area, and determines whether a perspective conflict occurs in the predetermined area according to the defocus amount detected in each set area. If the perspective conflict occurs in the predetermined area, the area used for the focus adjustment is changed from the predetermined area to any of other set areas, according to the defocus amount detected from each area. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150365584 | RELIABILITY MEASUREMENTS FOR PHASE BASED AUTOFOCUS - Techniques related to autofocus for imaging devices and, in particular, to generating reliability values associated with phase autofocus shifts are discussed. Such techniques may include performing a curve fitting based on accumulated phase difference values and phase shifts for phase autofocus images and generating a reliability value for a focus phase shift based on the curve fitting. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150373252 | AUTOFOCUS FOR FOLDED OPTIC ARRAY CAMERAS - Aspects relate to autofocus systems and techniques for an array camera having a low-profile height, for example approximately 4 mm. A voice coil motor (VCM) can be positioned proximate to a folded optic assembly in the array camera to enable vertical motion of a second light directing surface for changing the focal position of the corresponding sensor. A driving member can be positioned within the coil of the VCM to provide vertical movement, and the driving member can be coupled to the second light directing surface, for example by a lever. Accordingly, the movement of the VCM driving member can be transferred to the second light directing surface across a distance, providing autofocus capabilities without increasing the overall height of the array camera. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150373253 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - An image pickup apparatus comprising an imaging element for capturing an object image, and a sensor dedicated to focus detection for receiving light reflected from the object to output a signal for focus detection is provided. The image pickup apparatus carries out continuous shooting that sequentially exposes an imaging element. The image pickup apparatus acquires mode related information used in the determination of a focus adjusting mode applied to an interval between each of the exposures during the continuous shooting, and based on the acquired mode related information, determines either a first focus adjusting mode for calculating a defocus amount based on a signal output by the imaging element or a second focus adjusting mode for calculating the defocus amount based on a signal for focus detection output by the sensor dedicated for focus detecting, to be the focus adjusting mode applied to the interval between each of the exposures. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150373254 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, CONTROL APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit configured to receive an incident light beam from regions of a pupil of an optical system different from each other to output a first image signal and a second image signal, and a calculation unit configured to calculate an evaluation value while relatively shifting the first and second image signals from pixels included in a predetermined range to calculate a defocus amount, and the calculation unit is configured to change a size of the predetermined range so that a center of a visual field range relative to a position of a target pixel does not vary depending on a shift amount between the first and second image signals. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150373255 | AUTO-FOCUS IMAGE SENSOR AND DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - The inventive concepts provide an auto-focus image sensor and a digital image processing device including the same. The auto-focus image sensor includes a substrate including at least one first pixel used for detecting a phase difference and at least one second pixel used for detecting an image, a deep device isolation portion disposed in the substrate to isolate the first pixel from the second pixel, and a light shielding pattern disposed on the substrate of at least the first pixel. The amount of light incident on the first pixel is smaller than the amount of light incident on the second pixel by the light shielding pattern. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150381876 | IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM WITH BLUR MEASUREMENT AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF - An image processing system and method of operation includes: an image processing device; an image capture module for capturing a source image on the image processing device; an assessment module for detecting an edge of the source image, and measuring an edge width measure of the edge; and a retrieving module for retrieving a depth of field from the edge width measure. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160014327 | IMAGING DEVICE, SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, AND SIGNAL PROCESSING PROGRAM | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160021293 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SETTING FOCUS OF DIGITAL IMAGE BASED ON SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP - The present disclosure provides a system and method of setting the focus of a digital image based on social relationship. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a scene is imaged with an electronic device and a face present in the imaged scene is detected. An identity of an individual having the detected face is recognized by determining that the detected face is the face of an individual having a social relationship with the user of the electronic device. The focus of the image is set to focus on the face of the recognized individual. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160021297 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - An image pickup apparatus is configured such that if a monitoring unit detects that a focus evaluation value changes as much as or more than a predetermined threshold, a monitoring state caused by the monitoring unit transitions to a focus adjustment state by minute driving. The predetermined threshold in the monitoring performed in an in-focus position obtained by hill-climbing driving is greater than the predetermined threshold in the monitoring performed in an in-focus position obtained by the minute driving. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160021298 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - There is provided an image processing apparatus for displaying a region in focus in a refocused image to be output in such a manner that a user can easily recognize this region compared to displaying the refocused image without any arrangement made thereto. The image processing apparatus includes a first generation unit configured to generate an image in which an image region corresponding to an in-focus position in the refocused image is emphasized as a display image, an input unit configured to input a user instruction, which is an image output instruction, input based on a display of the display image, and an output unit configured to output the refocused image according to the user instruction. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160021302 | COGNITIVE SENSOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING OF THE SAME - A cognitive sensor and a method of operating the same. The cognitive sensor includes a sensor unit, which generates electric signals in response to outside stimulations; a signal processing unit, which generates sensed data regarding the outside stimulations by processing electric signals generated by the sensor unit; a cognitive circuit unit, which specifies an area of interest in the sensed data processed by the signal processing unit; and an output unit, which outputs the sensed data generated by the signal processing unit, wherein at least a portion of the sensed data output by the output unit is sensed data regarding the area of interest. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160028937 | IMAGING APPARATUS WITH FOCUS ASSIST FUNCTION - An imaging apparatus with a focus assist (FA) function includes an imager configured to obtain an image signal from a subject formed by a lens, a high-frequency signal extractor configured to extract a high-frequency signal from the image signal, a modulation level calculator configured to determine a magnitude of a modulation level signal in each of regions, into which a screen of the image signal is divided, in accordance with an amplitude level of the high-frequency signal, a level modulator configured to modulate an amplitude level of the high-frequency signal using the modulation level signal to obtain an FA signal, and an FA signal synthesizer configured to synthesize the FA signal with the image signal to output a resultant signal. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160028938 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An imaging apparatus having a lens or a mount unit for mounting a lens on an object side surface of an apparatus main body and a grip unit at an end portion on one side of the apparatus main body, includes a setting unit to set a prohibit state that prohibits changing a setting value, an operation member for changing the setting value, a temporary cancel member, and a control unit to perform control. Where the prohibit state is set and if the temporary cancel member has not been operated and the operation member has been operated, the control unit controls not to change the setting value. Where the prohibit state is set and if the temporary cancel member has been operated and the operation member has been operated, the control unit changes the setting value according to an operation performed on the operation member. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160028940 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - A generation section generates a first display image based on an image signal output from an image pick-up device, and generates a second display image for use in focus verification based on a first and second image. A correction section corrects gradation of the second display image according to gradation correction information determined based on at least one of a spatial frequency characteristic in the second display image or maxima values in a histogram of pixel values in the second display image. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160044229 | IMAGING SENSOR CAPABLE OF DETECTING PHASE DIFFERENCE OF FOCUS - An imaging device including 2-dimensionally arranged pixels for receiving light is provided. The imaging device includes a first area configured to detect a horizontal phase difference based on horizontal phase difference information obtained from pixels configured to detect the horizontal phase difference, a second area configured to detect a vertical phase difference based on vertical phase difference information obtained from pixels configured to detect the vertical phase difference, and a third area configured to detect horizontal and vertical phase differences based on horizontal phase difference information and vertical phase difference information obtained from pixels configured to detect the horizontal and vertical phase differences, wherein the first area is adjacent to a horizontal border of the third area, wherein the second area is adjacent to a vertical border of the third area, and wherein the third area is located at a center of the imaging device. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160044231 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor that includes a pixel array in which a plurality of unit pixels, each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, are arranged in matrix, and a plurality of column output lines respectively provided in columns of the pixel array, and a control unit that performs control such that in a case in which signals from a portion of photoelectric conversion elements of each of the plurality of unit pixels is to be read out, signals from a plurality of unit pixels that are arranged in the same column of the pixel array are output simultaneously to one column output line out of the plurality of column output lines. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160044246 | IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE DRIVE METHOD, AND IMAGING DEVICE CONTROL PROGRAM - An imaging device includes an imaging-lens, an image-sensor, a lens-moving-mechanism, a ROM, and an intersection-point-position-control-section. The lens-moving-mechanism moves an intersection point on the image-sensor by moving a second lens in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis. The ROM stores, in advance, a LUT that stores the intersection point and an image quality evaluation value of an image, which is obtained through image capturing performed at the intersection point, in association with each other. The intersection-point-position-control-section acquires the current intersection point, calculates distances between the current intersection point and the plurality of intersection points stored in the LUT, and selects an intersection point for imaging, at which a ratio of the image quality evaluation value to the distance from the current intersection point is at the maximum, among the positions of the plurality of intersection points stored in the LUT. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160044253 | OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR AN IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE - An optical system for an image acquisition device comprises a filter comprising a central aperture arranged to transmit both visible and selected near infra-red (NIR) wavelengths and a peripheral aperture arranged to block visible wavelengths and to transmit the NIR wavelengths. An image sensor comprises an array of pixels including pixels sensitive to visible wavelengths and corresponding pixels sensitive to the NIR wavelengths. A lens assembly is axially located between the filter and the image sensor and comprises a plurality of lens elements. The lens elements are arranged to simultaneously focus NIR light received from a given object through central and peripheral apertures of the filter and visible light received from the object through the central aperture onto the sensor surface. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160050361 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING FOCUS IN IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE - An apparatus and a method for automatically adjusting a focus in an image capturing device are provided. The method includes generating an image by capturing a subject through a lens when a flash unit is enabled, dividing the image into a plurality of windows, determining a brightest window from among the plurality of windows, and setting an Auto Focus (AF) detection area for performing an AF function centering on the determined window. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160073005 | INTERCHANGEABLE LENS APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING FOCUSING PROGRAM - The interchangeable lens apparatus provided with an image capturing optical system and being detachably attachable to an image capturing apparatus, the image capturing apparatus being configured to detect a defocus amount of the image capturing optical system by using a signal acquired by photoelectric conversion of an optical image formed by the image capturing optical system. The interchangeable lens apparatus includes a focus lens included in the image capturing optical system, and a memory to store information on a focus sensitivity indicating a relation between a unit movement amount of the focus lens and a displacement amount of the optical image. The information on the focus sensitivity is information for enabling acquiring the focus sensitivity different depending on an image height. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160073007 | FOCUS CONTROL APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, INTERCHANGEABLE LENS, FOCUS CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING FOCUS CONTROL PROGRAM - The focus control apparatus performs focus control of the interchangeable lens by using information obtained through detection of a focus state of an interchangeable lens and a correction value corresponding to the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens is a first interchangeable lens holding unique correction value calculation data used to calculate the correction value, or a second interchangeable lens not holding the correction value calculation data. The focus control apparatus includes a first memory storing values for calculating the correction value corresponding to the second interchangeable lens. A controller calculates the correction value by using the correction value calculated based on the values read from the first memory when the second interchangeable lens is attached to the image capturing apparatus, and by using the correction value calculation data acquired from the first interchangeable lens when the first interchangeable lens is attached to the image capturing apparatus. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160073008 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - In an image capturing apparatus having an image sensor including a plurality of unit pixels each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions and a microlens, the image sensor can be scanned with a first scan method of adding and reading out signals from a portion of the photoelectric conversion portions by a predetermined number of unit pixels and with a second scan method of adding and reading out signals from the photoelectric conversion portions by the predetermined number of unit pixels. A pixel signal read out with the second scan method is selected if a defocus amount is larger than a threshold value and the larger of the pixel signal read out with the second scan method and a signal obtained by using the pixel signal read out with the first scan method is selected if the defocus amount is equal to the threshold value or less. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160080631 | MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A mobile terminal for capturing an image and a method for controlling the same are provided. The mobile terminal includes a camera unit configured to receive an external image and process the received image to an image frame, and a control unit configured to set a focal point value of the image frame received from the camera unit, wherein the focal point value is a focal point value obtained by correcting a first focal point value extracted according to a first scheme of detecting a focal point value by using a phase difference of the image by using a second focal point extracted according to a second scheme of detecting a focal point by using a comparison value of the image. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160080634 | CONTROL APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM FOR PERFORMING FOCUS CONTROL - A control apparatus ( | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160080636 | FOCUSING CONTROL DEVICE AND CONTROLLING METHOD OF THE SAME - A focusing control device that can keep a moving subject in focus and can prevent significant defocusing of a low contrast subject or under a low-light intensity condition during continuous shooting. The focusing control device determines whether an in-focus position of a focusing lens can be obtained, predicts an in-focus position for the current exposure operation based on an in-focus position for the previous exposure operation when continuous main exposure operation is performed for shooting, and determines whether prediction of an in-focus position is possible. When prediction of an in-focus position for the current exposure operation is determined to be not possible, the focusing control device performs a scan operation to obtain an in-focus position based on an in-focus position of the previous exposure operation where obtaining of an in-focus position of the focusing lens was determined to be possible. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160088213 | INSPECTION APPARATUS, COORDINATE DETECTION APPARATUS, COORDINATE DETECTION METHOD, AND WAVEFRONT ABERRATION CORRECTION METHOD - In an inspection apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, a processing apparatus includes: a profile data generation unit that divides each of a plurality of images according to a circumferential position to generate profile data in which a radial direction position and luminance data are associated with each other; a deconvolution operation unit that carries out a deconvolution operation using a one-dimensional point spread function to generate deconvolution operation data based on the profile data; an estimation unit that estimates estimation data of the deconvolution operation data in a desired focus position in the optical axis direction using the deconvolution operation data; and a synthesis unit that synthesizes the estimation data estimated by the estimation unit for each radial direction position to generate the image in the desired focus position. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160088214 | COMPENSATING ANGULAR MISALIGNMENT IN OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZATION (OIS) SYSTEMS - Systems and methods for compensating angular misalignment in Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) systems are described. In some embodiments, a method may include measuring an angle representing a misalignment between an actuator and an electronic component within a camera; and compensating for the misalignment using a rotation matrix, wherein the rotation matrix is calculated based upon the angle. In other embodiments, a camera may include an image sensor coupled to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB); an OIS actuator coupled to the PCB and optically coupled to the image sensor, where the OIS actuator is physically misaligned with respect to the image sensor; and a controller coupled to the PCB, the controller configured to: measure an angle representing the misalignment; and compensate for the misalignment using a rotation matrix at the time of an image capture, where the rotation matrix is calculated based upon the angle. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160088217 | LENS DEVICE - The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the size of an image pick-up lens unit. A part of a bundle of rays representing subject optical images is deflected vertically downward by a polarization prism, and is further deflected forwards by a total reflection mirror. A bundle of rays totally reflected by the total reflection mirror is split in three directions by a tri-directional splitting prism. The bundle of rays, which is split in three directions, is incident on a first optical-path-length-difference image pick-up element, a second optical-path-length-difference image pick-up element, and a phase-difference image pick-up element included in a phase-difference AF optical system. Auto focus (AF) is performed on the basis of the optical path length difference from signals obtained from the optical-path-length-difference image pick-up elements, and AF is performed on the basis of the phase difference from a signal obtained from the phase-difference image pick-up element. Since the phase-difference AF optical system is disposed so as to be parallel to the axis of the light forming the subject optical images, the size of the image pick-up lens unit can be reduced. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160094776 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - An imaging apparatus includes: an image pickup unit having a plurality of photoelectric converting units for receiving light fluxes from an object which passed through different pupil areas; a distance information generating unit configured to detect light from the object and generate distance information regarding a distance of the object; a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the object exists in a refocusable distance range by a process after an image pickup on the basis of the distance information and a pupil division construction of the plurality of photoelectric converting units; and a control unit configured to control the image pickup of the object by the image pickup unit in accordance with a result of the determination by the determining unit. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160094777 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image capturing apparatus includes: an image sensor having a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally; a readout unit that reads out, from the pixels of the image sensor, signals for focus detection by thinning out pixels at a cycle corresponding to a predetermined pixel interval or adding the thinned-out pixels; a focus detection unit that detects an in-focus position of an imaging lens based on the signals for focus detection read out by the readout unit; a determination unit that determines whether or not a focus detection result of the focus detection unit varies depending on a phase of the thinning out or adding carried out when reading out the signals for focus detection; and a correction unit that corrects the focus detection result of the focus detection unit based on a determination result of the determination unit. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160094778 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image capturing apparatus comprising an image forming pixel and a focus detection pixel arranged on a portion of the image forming pixel, an image sensor that converts a subject image formed by an imaging lens into an image signal, and a control unit that switches between a first mode in which, after the image sensor has been exposed, pixels of the image sensor are sequentially read out in an order in which the pixels are arranged, and a second mode in which a signal from the focus detection pixel and a signal from peripheral pixels are read out first. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160105601 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC FOCUSING BASED ON STATISTICAL DATA - A system for automatic focusing with a lens and methods for making and use the same are provided. When performing a focusing operation, a controller calculates a focus measure value for each lens position of a plurality of lens positions. The focus measure values are calculated based on each of the window evaluation values and a respective weight for image focusing windows within a set of image focusing windows. The controller then compares the calculated focus measure values of the plurality of lens positions in order to select an optimal lens position. The set of image focusing windows can be selected based on one or more sets of image focusing window selection rules derived from statistical data. In addition, the respective weights for image focusing windows can also be calculated based on the statistical data. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160112626 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup device includes a pixel unit which generates pixel signals for image and pixel signals for focus detection, a first memory unit which stores the pixel signals for image, a second memory unit which stores the pixel signals for focus detection, a pixel signal synthesizing unit which synthesizes the pixel signals for image from a plurality of pixel signals, and an image signal outputting unit which outputs the pixel signals for image synthesized by the pixel signal synthesizing unit and the pixel signals for focus detection stored in the second memory. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160134802 | CONTROL APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, LENS APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A control apparatus includes a focus detector configured to perform focus detection based on an image signal obtained via a first optical system, the first optical system having a shallowest depth of field in a plurality of optical systems having focal lengths different from each other, and a controller configured to perform focus control of the plurality of optical systems based on an output signal from the focus detector. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160142616 | DIRECTION AWARE AUTOFOCUS - Methods and imaging devices are disclosed for determining a first direction to move a lens in an autofocus operation. For example, one method includes capturing a plurality of frames depicting a scene, selecting a portion of at least one frame that corresponds to an object in a displayed frame, and tracking the object in the plurality of frames, where tracking the object provides a reference parameter of the object for each of the plurality of frames. The method may further includes detecting a change in the reference parameter of at least a first frame and a second frame of the plurality of frames, determining a focus direction based on the change in the reference parameter, and initiating a focus operation by moving a lens of the imaging device based on the determined focus direction. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160142618 | IMAGING DEVICE - First image information whose depth of field includes a subject in a focus position set by a control section before photo shooting and second image information captured in a position focus different from that of the first image information are included. The focus position of the second image information is determined on the basis of the focus position of the first image information. The first image information is stored together with an image with an extended depth of field. This makes it possible to provide an imaging device which, when obtaining an extended depth of field from a plurality of images of different focus positions, can reduce failures in photo shooting due to a movement of a subject or camera shake. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160165122 | BLOCK-BASED DIGITAL REFOCUSING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A block-based digital refocusing method includes a capturing step, a dividing step, a selecting step, a refocusing step and a combining step. The capturing step is for capturing at least one picture datum. The dividing step is for dividing the picture datum into a plurality of block data. The selecting step is for defining a regional datum according to each of the block data. The refocusing step is for conducting a refocusing computation to obtain a refocused block datum according to each of the regional data. The combining step is for combining each of the refocused block data based on each of the regional data to form a refocused picture datum. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160165124 | IMAGE AUTO-FOCUSING METHOD AND CAMERA USING SAME - The present disclosure provides a method for calculating a focusing evaluation value. The method may be applied in a scene having a dynamic light source and include: dividing an image region of a camera into a plurality of sub-regions; selecting a first sub-region which is affected by a dynamic light source from the plurality of sub-regions; correcting a focusing evaluation value of the first sub-region with the focusing evaluation value of each of sub-regions adjacent to the first sub-region; and calculating a focusing evaluation value of the whole image region based on the focusing evaluation value of each of the sub-regions. The present disclosure improves the performance of auto-focusing in a scene having a dynamic light source. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160173762 | IMAGE-CAPTURING APPARATUS | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160182805 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO CONFIGURE MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE SETTINGS USING REMOTE DATA STORE ANALYTICS | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160182806 | AUTOMATIC FOCUS WITH A CONTROLLABLE PHASE DETECTION MASK | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160182807 | Image Defocus Blur Estimation | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160182808 | DEFOCUS ESTIMATION METHOD INDEPENDENT OF THE SCENE CONTENT AND USE IN AN AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160182809 | HYBRID AUTO-FOCUS MECHANISM | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160191759 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF LENS SHIFT CORRECTION FOR A CAMERA ARRAY - A system, article, and method of lens shift correction for a camera array. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160191786 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF DRIVING IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - Provided is an image pickup apparatus, including a plurality of microlenses, a plurality of image pickup rows being configured to output a signal for generating an image a distance measurement row being configured to output a focus detection signal a plurality of signal processing units, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control the plurality of image pickup rows to perform a first operation of reading signals to the plurality of signal processing units; control, before or after the first operation, the distance measurement row to perform a second operation of reading signals to the plurality of signal processing units; control the plurality of signal processing units to be in an operating state in one of the first and second operations; and control a part of the plurality of signal processing units to be in an operation-restricted state in another of the first and second operations. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160191787 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM - An image pickup apparatus, comprising a point image intensity distribution generating unit configured to generate a point image intensity distribution based on lens light field data and a sensor light-receiving intensity characteristic, the lens light field data including information relating to directions of a plurality of light fluxes emitted from one point of an object position and passing through different regions of an exit pupil of an imaging optical system; and information relating to positions of points on the plurality of light fluxes, the sensor light-receiving intensity characteristic representing light-receiving intensities, which are determined on a light receiving surface of an image pickup element, of light fluxes passing through respective regions of an entrance pupil of a microlens arranged over the image pickup element. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160191788 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus has: a depth map acquiring unit configured to acquire a depth map that records information indicating a depth distance corresponding to each point on a photographed image; an in-focus position acquiring unit configured to acquire an in-focus position on the photographed image; a reference distance determining unit configured to acquire a depth distance corresponding to the in-focus position from the depth map and sets the acquired depth distance as a reference distance; and an image processing unit configured to perform image processing on the photographed image by using the depth map and the reference distance. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160198085 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME | 07-07-2016 |
| 20160205311 | PHASE-DETECT AUTOFOCUS | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160255267 | IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD OF DRIVING IMAGING DEVICE | 09-01-2016 |
| 20160381284 | IMAGING DEVICE AND FOCUSING CONTROL METHOD - A phase difference AF processing unit ( | 12-29-2016 |
| 20190149719 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM | 05-16-2019 |
| 20190149741 | LENS CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR TRACKING MOVING OBJECT | 05-16-2019 |
