Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
348353000 | By detecting contrast | 66 |
20090009653 | AUTO FOCUS SYSTEM AND AUTO FOCUS METHOD FOR USE IN VIDEO CAMERAS - An exemplary auto focus method for use in video cameras including a focus lens includes: focusing the pickup lens and capturing a current image and a prior image; calculating two contrast estimation values of the current image and the prior image; and judging whether a difference between the contrast estimation value of the current image and that of the prior image exceeds a predetermined threshold, if yes, refocusing the pickup lens, if no, keeping focus status of the pickup lens unchanged and capturing a subsequent image. | 01-08-2009 |
20090051807 | IMAGING DEVICE, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device, comprising a photographing lens having a manual focus mechanism, an imaging unit for receiving subject light flux, that has been made incident by the photographing lens, on an imaging surface, a display unit for carrying out a live view display operation using image data acquired by the imaging unit, a contrast AF unit for obtaining contrast information of the subject information from image data acquired by the imaging unit and guiding the photographing lens into a specified focus permissible range based on the contrast information, and a control unit for, when a manual focus operation is carried out after executing a focus adjustment operation using the contrast AF unit during the live view display, carrying out control so that there is a transition to a shooting operation without again executing the focus adjustment operation. | 02-26-2009 |
20090135293 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND LENS UNIT - An imaging apparatus includes a control unit configured to control a focus position of a lens by causing a communication unit to acquire a plurality of lens position information stored in a first storage unit without any synchronization with acquisition of an evaluation value by a contrast detection unit and associating the acquired plurality of lens position information with evaluation values stored in a second storage unit. | 05-28-2009 |
20100321557 | IMAGER THAT PHOTOGRAPHS AN IMAGE USING A ROLLING SHUTTER - An imager is provided having an imaging sensor and a focusing detector. The imaging sensor outputs image signals that have charges stored in one line of pixels. The focusing detector detects whether a subject image is in focus on said imaging sensor based on contrast values of frame image data for one image frame formed by the image signals. The imaging sensor changes a charge-storing period that is a time period for storing charges in a pixel, and lengthens the charge-storing period in the case of taking pictures under photographing conditions in which movement of a subject is expected. | 12-23-2010 |
20110050983 | Apparatus, method, and program product for autofocus - An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is an autofocus method that includes moving a focus lens according to an image signal generated from an image of a subject formed by an imaging optical system with a focus lens, obtaining a focus contrast of each of multiple image signals generated in a case of moving a position of the focus lens; and determining a moving direction of the focus lens according to the multiple obtained focus contrasts in response to a focus instruction. | 03-03-2011 |
20110234887 | IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE - The present invention provides an image capture device that can cut down power dissipation and reduce noise at the same time. The image capture device includes: an imager; at least one lens for producing a subject image on the imager; an actuator for driving the at least one lens in accordance with a control signal; and a driver for outputting the control signal. The driver changes, according to a condition of a subject being shot, the control signals to output from an analog control signal into a digital control signal, or vice versa. | 09-29-2011 |
20120133823 | IMAGING DEVICE - A digital camera has an optical system, an image capturing unit, an aperture adjuster, a focal point adjuster, and a body microcomputer. The aperture adjuster has an aperture included in the optical system and is capable of adjusting the state of the aperture. The focal point adjuster has a focus lens included in the optical system and is capable adjusting the focal state of the optical system by using the focus lens by contrast detection method. The body microcomputer controls the operation of the aperture adjuster so that the aperture value of the optical system will be at or below a set aperture value before the focal state is adjusted by the focal point adjuster. | 05-31-2012 |
20120154670 | Photographing Apparatus and Method to Reduce Auto-Focus Time - Photographing apparatus and method to reduce auto-focus time are disclosed. A photographing apparatus is provided that includes two imaging optical systems; an imaging device that converts images of subjects formed by the imaging optical systems into respective image signals; a subject distance calculation unit that calculates subject distances between the imaging device and the subject based on two images generated by the imaging device; and an in-focus position detection unit that detects an in-focus position based on contrast evaluation values of the image signals obtained for a plurality of focusing positions, performs preparatory focusing driving by moving the focusing positions close to the in-focus position based on the calculated subject distances, and scans the focusing positions from the position close to the in-focus position to the in-focus position. | 06-21-2012 |
20120218462 | CAMERA SYSTEM AND CAMERA BODY - A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The interchangeable lens has a focal adjuster including a focus lens group, an absolute position detector configured to detect the position of the focus lens group with respect to a movable range, and a relative position detector configured to detect the movement amount of the focus lens group. The camera body has a first focal detector configured to detect the focal state on the basis of a contrast value and a second focal detector configured to detect the focal state by phase difference detection method on the basis of the optical image. When the first focal detector is used for focal adjustment, a detection of the focal state is performed on the basis of only the information obtained by the relative position detector. | 08-30-2012 |
20120327291 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS - A pixel selection unit sets an area based on a detection result of a contrast detection unit, in a case where it is determined that reliability of a focusing state detected by a phase difference detection unit is low. | 12-27-2012 |
20130010179 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT DEVICE AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A focus adjustment device comprising: a first detector | 01-10-2013 |
20130016277 | CAMERA WITH FOCUS DETECTION UNITAANM ITO; SatoruAACI Komae-shiAACO JPAAGP ITO; Satoru Komae-shi JP - A camera of the present invention comprises a contrast detection section for detecting a contrast value, an assist light section for irradiating a subject by emitting light at a first luminance amount or a second luminance amount that is dimmer than the first luminance amount, and a control section for moving the photographing lens and detecting a focus position of the photographing lens based on contrast values detected by the contrast detection section, wherein the control section causes the assist light section to emit assist light in a first luminance amount or a second luminance amount, and detects a focus position of the photographing lens based on one of a first contrast value detected in a state where the assist light section emits light in the first luminance amount, or a second contrast value detected in a state where the assist light section emits light in the second luminance amount. | 01-17-2013 |
20130063651 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, FOCUS ADJUSTING METHOD, AND CAMERA MODULE - According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus has a focus control unit. The focus control unit retrieves a focusing point by setting a cutback threshold as a first value. The focus control unit executes a driving operation of an image pickup lens depending on a contrast evaluation value in the case in which the cutback threshold is set to be a second value. The second value is smaller than the first value. The focus control unit executes a driving operation of the image pickup lens depending on a contrast evaluation value in the case in which the cutback threshold is changed from the second value to the first value. | 03-14-2013 |
20130100338 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device of an aspect of the invention, when reading, as voltage signals, signal charges output from a first pixel receiving a light on a partial area biased to a predetermined direction from a light axis of a light flux passing an exit pupil of an imaging optical system and a second pixel arranged so as to be adjacent to the first pixel and receiving a light on a partial area biased to an opposite direction to the predetermined direction from the light axis, combines and reads the signal charges of adjacent first-number pixels with respect to the first pixel and the second pixel, and calculates an arithmetic mean of adjacent second-number voltage signals with respect to the combined and read voltage signals of the first pixel and the second pixel. | 04-25-2013 |
20130120645 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to sequentially acquire an imaging signal while a focus lens is moving, a generation unit configured to generate a focus signal by using the imaging signal, and a control unit configured to control movement of the focus lens. The control unit performs a first operation for driving the focus lens in one direction in a range including a first area and a second area which is farther from a peak position of the focus signal than the first area. In the first operation, the control unit sets a focusing speed to a first speed when the focus lens is in the first area. When a predetermined condition is satisfied in the first operation, the control unit sets a focusing speed to a second speed faster than the first speed when the focus lens is in the second area. | 05-16-2013 |
20130141632 | IMAGING DEVICE AND CAMERA BODY - A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body to which the interchangeable lens can be mounted, either directly or via an adapter. A lens microcomputer of the interchangeable lens is configured to hold lens information including information related to a focal point detection method. A body microcomputer of the camera body is configured to select a focal point detection method on the basis of lens information. The body microcomputer is configured to select a contrast detection method as the focal point detection method if the interchangeable lens is compatible with a contrast detection method. The body microcomputer is configured to select a phase difference detection method as the focal point detection method if the interchangeable lens is not compatible with a contrast detection method, and the adapter is compatible with a phase difference detection method. | 06-06-2013 |
20130250165 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING MULTI-AUTOFOCUSING (AF) USING CONTRAST AF - A method applies fast and accurate autofocusing (AF) by using a contrast AF method in a digital photographing apparatus. In the digital photographing apparatus, when AF peaks of a subject of a central multi-point and a subject of a nearest multi-point are detected, further scanning is not performed. In addition, scanning is not performed on a region from which it is difficult to detect a peak, so that fast and accurate AF may be performed. | 09-26-2013 |
20130258171 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT UNIT AND CAMERA SYSTEM - A focus adjustment unit of the present invention comprises a lens drive section for driving the focusing lens, an image sensor for acquiring imaged data for a subject image, a control section for executing imaging operations using the image sensor by causing movement of the focusing lens, and carrying out scan operations for detecting position of the focusing lens at which a peak of image contrast occurs, a continuous shooting speed setting section for setting a speed for continuously executing exposure operations for shooting, and a limit time setting section for setting an effective limit time effective for carrying out the scan operation in accordance with a continuous shooting speed that has been set by the continuous shooting speed setting section, wherein the control section controls the scan operation so that the time that has been set up by the limit time setting section is not exceeded. | 10-03-2013 |
20130308040 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image capturing apparatus includes: an imaging element including a first photoelectric conversion cell that outputs a first signal for phase difference detection obtained by detecting a plurality of light fluxes transmitted through different exit pupils of a photographing optical system using a plurality of focus detection pixels and a second photoelectric conversion cell that outputs a second signal for image generation obtained by detecting an object image transmitted through the photographing optical system using an imaging pixel. A contrast calculating unit calculates contrast information on the object image based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal; a focus detecting unit performs focus detection using a phase difference method on the basis of the first signal, and outputs an estimate for focus adjustment; a reliability estimating unit estimates reliability of a result obtained by the focus detecting unit. | 11-21-2013 |
20130342754 | AUTOFOCUS DEVICE AND DIGITAL CAMERA - An autofocus device is provided that includes a lens drive system, an imager, a contrast detector, first and second peak detectors, and a backlash detector. The lens drive system translates a lens. The imager captures an image through the lens. The contrast detector detects the contrast of an image captured by the imager. The first peak detector detects a first contrast peak of images captured at different lens positions when the lens is translated in a forward direction. The second peak detector detects a second contrast peak of images captured at different lens positions when the lens is translated in a backward direction. The detection of the second peak is carried out after detection of the first contrast peak. The backlash detector detects the backlash in the lens drive system according to the positions of the first and second contrast peaks. | 12-26-2013 |
20140016020 | VIDEO SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS - A video signal processing apparatus, comprises: an image pickup unit, having a focus lens; an evaluation value calculator unit, specifying a region, in which brightness higher than a predetermined value lies, from within a region to be a target, for which a focal point estimation value is calculated to be used for moving the focus lens to a focal point, and to calculate the focal point estimation value by excluding the region, in which the brightness higher than the predetermined value lies, from a focal point estimation value calculation target; and a system controller unit, to be focused upon basis of the focal point estimation value calculated by the evaluation value calculator unit, wherein the system controller unit controls the focus lens to move to a position, which is determined in advance. | 01-16-2014 |
20140016021 | IMAGING DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IMAGING DEVICE, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - During a period before focusing is instructed, contrast detection is used to detect positions at which focus evaluation values reach a peak in regard to detection regions obtained by dividing a region containing a region in which phase-difference detection pixels of an imaging element are disposed; when focusing is instructed, focus evaluation value peak positions of each of the detection regions are acquired; if an optical system is in a focused state, the number of detection regions whose deviation in focus evaluation value peak position is within a threshold value is counted; if the number of applicable detection regions is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, focus position detection and focus control are performed by phase-difference detection, and if the number of detection regions is less than the predetermined value, focus position detection and focus control are performed by contrast detection. | 01-16-2014 |
20140022445 | COLOR IMAGING ELEMENT, IMAGING DEVICE, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING AN IMAGING PROGRAM - An image capturing element is provided with: a color filter in which a basic arrangement pattern having first and second arrangement patterns arranged to be symmetrical about a point is repeated. The first arrangement pattern comprises first filters arranged on pixels in 2×2 arrangement located at the upper-left portion and a pixel located at the lower-right in a 3×3 pixel square arrangement, second filters arranged on the center and lower end lines in the vertical direction of the square arrangement, and third filters arranged on the center and right lines in the horizontal direction of the square arrangement. The second arrangement pattern comprises the first filters having the same arrangement as in the first arrangement pattern, and the second filters and the third filters having the arrangements interchanged with each other compared to the arrangements in the first arrangement pattern. | 01-23-2014 |
20140022446 | COLOR IMAGING ELEMENT, IMAGING DEVICE, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING AN IMAGING PROGRAM - Interpolation precision of phase difference detection pixels is raised. An image sensor ( | 01-23-2014 |
20140036139 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS - A digital photographing apparatus includes: an image pickup lens; an image pickup device that generates an image signal; an iris that controls an amount of the light transmitted through the image pickup lens; a shutter that controls exposure; a focus detector that detects focus using light transmitted through a predetermined exit pupil region of the lens; and a timing unit that controls a time period for shielding the shutter, when the image pickup device outputs image information, where regardless of the time period for shielding the shutter, the focus detector detects a focus when the iris has an iris value for ensuring transmission of a light flux used to detect the focus, after the exposure is finished. To precisely perform auto focus (AF), the digital photographing apparatus performs continuous AF or simultaneously displays a live view in consideration of timing for adjusting the iris and timing for controlling the shutter. | 02-06-2014 |
20140146220 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, AND FOCUS DETECTION METHOD - A focus detection apparatus includes an image pickup element including first and second pixels that detect light beams passing through different exit pupils in an image pickup optical system, an estimating unit that estimates a moving charge amount between the first and second pixels using first and second luminance signals, a correcting unit that corrects the first and second luminance signals based on an estimation result, a defocus amount calculating unit that obtains a defocus amount by using correction values of the first and second luminance signals, and a focus detecting unit that performs focus detection of a phase difference method using the defocus amount, and the moving charge amount is a charge amount which moves from one to the other of the first and second pixels as a charge amount accumulated in the one of the pixels comes close to a saturated charge amount. | 05-29-2014 |
20140146221 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND PROGRAM - An image pickup apparatus which can perform an AF of a high speed and a high focusing precision by simultaneously realizing a phase difference AF and a contrast AF, decides arrange where a contrast evaluation can be performed on the basis of a correspondence relation between each pixel of an image pickup element which is restricted by pupil division means provided for restricting light of an optical image of an object which enters each pixel of the image pickup element to light from a specific exit pupil area of a photographing lens and the specific exit pupil area of the photographing lens, and decides a focus evaluation value of the object in accordance with the decided range from a contrast focus position or a correlation focus position. | 05-29-2014 |
20140184889 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An imaging apparatus control method includes acquiring an image signal by photoelectrically converting an object image and performing control in such a way as to execute a first continuous shooting mode and a second continuous shooting mode based on the image signal, wherein an image capturing condition in the first continuous shooting mode is different from an image capturing condition in the second continuous shooting mode. | 07-03-2014 |
20140198246 | IMAGING DEVICE - The present invention is to correctly perform auto focus operation with various subjects. An imaging device ( | 07-17-2014 |
20140211079 | IMAGING DEVICE AND FOCUSING CONTROL METHOD - An imaging element with rolling shutter drive has pixels that each receive one or the other of a pair of light bundles passing through an aperture area for an imaging lens. The pixels are disposed on a first line arranged in the X direction, and the pixels are disposed on a second line in the X direction, alternating in the Y direction. A control unit uses a signal group from the pixels on a line in FIG. | 07-31-2014 |
20140218595 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURE METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image capture apparatus includes an image capture unit, a first focus detection unit configured to perform phase difference type focus detection for detecting a deviation amount between a pair of object images acquired from output signals output from the image capture unit, a second focus detection unit configured to perform contrast type focus detection for detecting contrast information of an object image acquired from an output signal output from the image capture unit, a contrast information generation unit configured to generate the contrast information in a plurality of distance measurement areas subjected to focus detection by the second focus detection unit, and an area determination unit configured to determine, based on the contrast information, a distance measurement area to be subjected to focus detection by the first focus detection unit. | 08-07-2014 |
20140218596 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A focus detection apparatus comprises a sensor unit including a first sensor and a second sensor and configured to output a signal for focus detection, each of the first sensor and the second sensor being configured to receive light that has passed through an imaging optical system and accumulate electric charges, a first signal generation unit configured to generate a first signal based on a contrast of a signal corresponding to the electric charges accumulated in the first sensor, a second signal generation unit configured to generate a second signal based on a contrast of a signal corresponding to the electric charges accumulated in the second sensor; and a control unit configured to control an accumulation time of the electric charges in the first sensor and the second sensor. | 08-07-2014 |
20140253787 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS, FOCUS DETECTION METHOD, AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - A focus detection apparatus comprises: a sensor unit provided with a plurality of sensor pairs, including a first and second sensor pairs, each of which receives a light beam from an object, accumulates charge, and outputs a pair of image signals for focus detection; a control unit configured to detect a level of a predetermined signal based on the accumulated charge in each sensor pair, and controls charge accumulation time in accordance with the level of the predetermined signal; and a setting unit configured to set a priority of each sensor pair in accordance with the object. The priority of the first sensor pair is set higher than that of the second sensor pair, and the control unit detects the level of the predetermined signal of the first sensor pair in prior to that of the second sensor pair. | 09-11-2014 |
20140285707 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - In a configuration in which a non-saturated readout value of a division pixel is subtracted from an addition signal of division pixels, an imaging apparatus capable of performing focus detection with respect to a saturated signal is provided. The imaging apparatus includes a subtraction unit and a suppression unit. The subtraction unit obtains the second image signal by subtracting the first image signal output from the image sensor from an addition signal acquired as a sum of the first image signal and the second image signal output from the image sensor, and the suppression unit suppresses the first image signal to a value equal to or less than a predetermined value. | 09-25-2014 |
20140300801 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, LENS UNIT, AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND LENS UNIT - An image pickup apparatus on which a lens unit is to be removably mounted includes an image pickup element, a first focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a contrast detection method based on a signal output from the image pickup element, a second focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a phase difference detection method based on a pair of image signals output from the image pickup element, and a control unit which performs a focus control based on an in-focus position detected by the first or second focus detection unit, and the control unit receives, from the mounted lens unit, first information related to a displacement of the in-focus position by the phase difference detection method and determines whether to use the second focus detection unit for the focus control according to the first information. | 10-09-2014 |
20140320736 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS AND LENS BARREL - A focus adjustment control apparatus is provided which includes: a focus detection unit that calculates an evaluation value with regard to contrast of an image via an optical system to detect a focus adjustment state of the optical system; an acquisition unit that acquires from a lens barrel at least one of a maximum value and a minimum value of an image plane movement coefficient that represents correspondence relationship between a movement amount of a focus adjustment lens included in the optical system and a movement amount of an image plane; and a control unit that uses at least one of the maximum value and the minimum value of the image plane movement coefficient to determine a drive speed for the focus adjustment lens when the focus detection unit detects the focus adjustment state. | 10-30-2014 |
20140327811 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, 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, and a controller configured to control a drive of a focus lens based on a signal outputted from the image pickup element and control a frame rate to drive the image pickup element, and the controller is configured to detect an in-focus position based on a signal outputted from the image pickup element which is driven at a first frame rate, and to switch the frame rate of the image pickup element to a second frame rate lower than the first frame rate while performing a first operation to drive the focus lens to the in-focus position. | 11-06-2014 |
20140327812 | IMAGING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND PROGRAM - Fast Focus control is to be performed. | 11-06-2014 |
20140333823 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - A control device acquires a focus detection signal from a pixel portion of the imaging element so as to detect a focus state by phase difference detection. A camera control unit performs focus adjustment control by the drive control of a focus lens constituting an imaging optical system. The camera control unit performs exposure control for adjusting the brightness of an object in the focus area to an appropriate level, and determines whether or not the brightness level of the object in the focus area is saturated based on the focus detection signal. When the exposure state during a focus adjustment operation is not in an appropriate state, the camera control unit calculates an exposure correction value and determines whether or not the exposure correction value falls within the exposure control range. When the exposure correction value falls within the exposure control range, the exposure state is readjusted. | 11-13-2014 |
20140333824 | Method for Automatically Switching Terminal Focus Mode and Terminal - A method for automatically switching a terminal focus mode and a terminal are provided that relate to the terminal field and can more effectively determine a focus mode of a terminal. The method includes: collecting an image data frame; and switching a focus mode of a terminal according to a brightness value of a metering area of the image data frame. The terminal includes: a sensor unit, an imaging unit, and a display unit, where the imaging unit includes: a data frame acquiring module configured to collect an image data frame; and an auto focus control switching module configured to switch a focus mode of the terminal according to a brightness value of a metering area of the image data frame. | 11-13-2014 |
20140340567 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS, FOCUS ADJUSTMENT METHOD AND PROGRAM, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A focus detection apparatus has an obtaining unit for obtaining a first image signal corresponding to object light passing through a first pupil area of a focusing optical system and a second image signal corresponding to object light passing through a pupil area different from the first pupil area of the focusing optical system, a combination unit for generating a combination signal by combining the first and second image signals at least one of which is shifted by a predetermined step, wherein the shift and the generation of the combination signal are performed for a plurality of predetermined steps and a plurality of combination signals are generated, a calculation unit for calculating a contrast evaluation value from the plurality of combination signals, and a focus detection unit for detecting a defocus amount on the basis of the contrast evaluation value and the shift amount of the shift. | 11-20-2014 |
20150022713 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - Based on a face detection result obtained from a detection unit, if a human face has not been detected, an imaging apparatus adjusts the focus state by selecting either a mountain climbing operation or a minute driving operation according to the state of the focus. If a human face has been detected, the imaging apparatus adjusts the focus state only by the minute driving operation. This achieves stable focus tracking on a target object having a low contrast, such as a human face. | 01-22-2015 |
20150055011 | IMAGE DEVICE AND FOCUS CONTROL METHOD - When reliability of a defocus amount which is calculated using a signal from a region | 02-26-2015 |
20150092101 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT UNIT AND FOCUS ADJUSTMENT METHOD - A focus adjustment unit of the present invention comprises a phase difference detection section for detecting extreme values, based on the image data, a periodicity-containing subject determination section for determining a periodicity-containing subject in the case where the phase difference detection section detects many extreme values having a high degree of correlation, and a control section for, when a periodicity-containing subject has been determined, determining whether or not a difference between a position of the focus lens shown by an extreme value corresponding to a position that is closest to a current focus lens position, and the current focus lens position, is outside a specified range, and if it is determined that the difference is outside the specified range, carrying out a focus adjustment operation based on the extreme value corresponding to the position that is closest to the current position of the focus lens. | 04-02-2015 |
20150109518 | DETECTION APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE DETECTION APPARATUS - A detection apparatus configured to detect a focus state based on an output signal from an image pickup element capable of outputting an image pickup signal and a phase-difference detection signal includes, a first calculation unit configured to calculate information related to a first phase difference based on the phase-difference detection signal output from the image pickup element, a second calculation unit configured to calculate information related to a second phase difference based on the image pickup signal output from the image pickup element, and a detection unit configured to detect the focus state based on the information related to the first phase difference and the second phase difference. | 04-23-2015 |
20150124157 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A focus adjustment apparatus includes an imaging unit, a first detection unit, a second detection unit, and a control unit. The imaging unit receives and photoelectrically converts a light flux passed through a photographing optical system including a focus lens. The first detection unit detects a phase difference between a pair of image signals output from the imaging unit. The second detection unit detects contrast information from a signal output from the imaging unit. The control unit controls driving of the focus lens based on a detection result of at least one of the first detection unit and the second detection unit. If the detection result of the first detection unit satisfies a first condition, the control unit controls driving of the focus lens by using the detection result of the first detection unit, and changes the first condition according to the contrast information detected by the second detection unit. | 05-07-2015 |
20150130989 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus having a continuous shooting mode in which images are captured for recording in response to an image capture instruction, wherein respective development process for each image is performed before capturing a subsequent image for recording in the continuous shooting mode, includes a focus control unit and a control unit. The focus control unit detects a focal point of a focus lens. The control unit controls movement of the focus lens and controls the capturing of an image. After the control unit controls the movement of the focus lens using the focus control unit and captures an image for recording in the continuous shooting mode, the control unit moves the focus lens to a predetermined position and then moves the focus lens across a predetermined range from the predetermined position to perform the scanning using the focus control unit during the development process of the captured image. | 05-14-2015 |
20150146081 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - [Object] To provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing program, and an image processing method capable of obtaining three-dimensional information of an observation target object. | 05-28-2015 |
20150296128 | CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - A control apparatus includes a first calculation unit configured to calculate a first defocus amount by a phase-difference detection method using a first signal and a second signal, a second calculation unit configured to calculate a second defocus amount based on a contrast evaluation value of a synthesized signal, an instruction unit configured to give an instruction of focus control, and a control unit configured to perform the focus control in response to the instruction of the focus control by the instruction unit, the synthesized signal is a signal obtained by relatively shifting phases of the first and second signals and synthesizing the first and second signals, and the control unit refers to the second defocus amount prior to the first defocus amount in the focus control. | 10-15-2015 |
20150296130 | AUTOFOCUS DEVICE AND DIGITAL CAMERA - An autofocus device comprising includes a lens drive system for translating a lens, a first in-focus position detector for detecting a first in-focus position while translating the lens in a first direction by the lens drive system and a second in-focus position detector for detecting a second in-focus position while translating the lens in a direction opposite with respect to the first direction by the lens drive system, the second in-focus position detector operating after the first in-focus position is detected. A backlash detector detects a backlash in the lens drive system according to the first and the second in-focus positions. | 10-15-2015 |
20150319359 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image capturing apparatus having an image sensor including focus detection pixels capable of outputting a pair of image signals for focus detection determines whether each line of the pixels of the image sensor is an addition/non-addition line that outputs the image signal suitable/unsuitable for detection of a correlation amount, obtains the correlation amount for each addition line based on the pair of image signals, add the obtained correlation amount of the addition line, counts the number of addition lines, obtains a defocus amount based on the added correlation amount, and drives a focus lens based on the defocus amount when a product of an evaluation value representing reliability of the defocus amount and a predetermined standard number of additions is smaller than the product of the number of addition lines and a standard evaluation value representing a predetermined evaluation value. | 11-05-2015 |
20150334289 | IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device includes an optical system, an image sensor, a lens position control section, and a focus control section, the focus control section including a block setting section, a contrast value calculation section that calculates block contrast value information, a contrast value storage section that stores the block contrast value information about a reference image, a feature quantity calculation section, an effective block determination section that acquires effective block information, an effective block information storage section that stores the effective block information about the reference image, an AF area setting section that sets an AF area from the effective block information about the reference image and the effective block information about the input image, and a contrast value determination section that determines an image contrast value from the AF area. | 11-19-2015 |
20150341543 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes a calculator configured to detect a defocus amount based on a contrast evaluation value of a synthesized signal, wherein the synthesized signal is obtained by relatively shifting phases of passband signals of first and second signals through a predetermined frequency band and by synthesizing the passband signals, and a controller capable of changing the predetermined frequency band. | 11-26-2015 |
20150341544 | FOCUSING DEVICE AND CAMERA - A focusing device comprises: an image capturing unit that captures a subject image formed via an optical system including a lens for executing focus adjustment and outputs an output signal; an edge detection unit that detects an edge signal among the output signal in correspondence to each color component among a plurality of color components contained in an image based upon the output signal; a calculation unit that calculates edge differential values each of which is a differential value of the edge signal in correspondence to the each color component; and a control unit that controls a moving direction along which the lens is to move based upon a comparison of the edge differential values. | 11-26-2015 |
20160006924 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image sensor configured to perform photoelectric conversion on light that enters via an imaging optical system and output an image signal; a focus detection unit configured to detect an in-focus position based on the image signal output from the image sensor; an edge detection unit configured to detect an edge angle and a number of edge of a subject included in an image based on the image signal output from the image sensor; and a correction unit configured to obtain a correction amount for the in-focus position based on the detected edge angle and the number of edge and correct the in-focus position detected by the focus detection unit based on the obtained correction amount. | 01-07-2016 |
20160037052 | Depth-Segmenting Peak Tracking Autofocus - An apparatus, method, and computer readable medium related to autofocusing a camera lens system. An initial image is captured at a first lens position and focus information is extracted with respect to a first plurality of focus windows. A second image is captured at a second lens position and focus information is extracted for a second plurality of focus windows that correspond to the first plurality of focus windows in the initial image. The focus information for corresponding windows is compared to determine whether the focus status in each window is improving or degrading; this determination reveals whether the lens is positioned in a desirable position with respect to the data revealed by the data extracted from the focus windows. | 02-04-2016 |
20160044230 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME, AND IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS - Signals of pixels are acquired from an image sensor in which a first pixel, a second pixel, and an imaging pixel are arranged, the first pixel receiving light flux that is restricted to light flux passing through a first portion of a pupil area of an imaging optical system, the second pixel receiving light flux that is restricted to light flux passing through a second portion that is different from the first portion of the pupil area, and the imaging pixel being different from the first and second pixels. Based on the acquired signals, estimated signals at a position at which the first and second pixel is not arranged are estimated. A defocus amount of the imaging optical system is calculated based on evaluation values obtained based on the estimated signals and the signals from the first and second pixels. | 02-11-2016 |
20160065835 | FOCUS-DETECTION DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS - Disclosed is a focus-detection device capable of performing phase-difference detection type focus detection using outputs of an image sensor, and a method for controlling the same. Phase differences between image signals each of which based on a light beam that has passed through different partial regions of an exit pupil of an imaging optical system, and an image signal based on a light beam that has passed through the entire region of the exit pupil is detected. Then, a defocus amount of the imaging optical system is computed using the sum of the phase differences. | 03-03-2016 |
20160080635 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - The accuracy of focus detection of a phase-difference detection type using a signal obtained from a focus detection pixel is improved. A defocus amount of an imaging optical system is computed based on an image signal obtained from an image sensor. Meanwhile, an evaluation value that is based on contrast information of the image signal is computed, and it is determined based on the evaluation value whether or not to consider a defocus amount computed in the past. If it is determined to consider the defocus amount computed in the past, a final defocus amount is computed based on a plurality of defocus amounts including the defocus amount computed in the past. | 03-17-2016 |
20160150153 | IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE AND FOCUS CONTROL METHOD - Provided are an image capture device and a focus control method capable of performing auto-focus (AF) at high speed by reducing time until a focus control is completed even when a focus control based on a phase difference AF method and a focus control based on a contrast AF method are used in combination. A digital camera performs a correlation operation of two images captured by a pixel pair P | 05-26-2016 |
20160156832 | IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE AND FOCUSING METHOD FOR IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE | 06-02-2016 |
20160173760 | FOCUS CONTROL APPARATUS, OPTICAL APPARATUS, FOCUS CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING FOCUS DETECTION PROGRAM | 06-16-2016 |
20160205309 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND STORAGE MEDIUM | 07-14-2016 |
20160205315 | IMAGING DEVICE AND FOCUSING CONTROL METHOD | 07-14-2016 |
20170237895 | FOCUSING CONTROL DEVICE, FOCUSING CONTROL METHOD, FOCUSING CONTROL PROGRAM, LENS DEVICE, AND IMAGING DEVICE | 08-17-2017 |
20190149742 | FOCUSING POSITION ADJUSTMENT DEVICE, FOCUSING POSITION ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM, PROGRAM, AND FOCUSING POSITION ADJUSTMENT METHOD | 05-16-2019 |