Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a memory device that stores a set of instructions, and at least one processor that executes the set of instructions to function as, a first detection unit configured to detect a position of a gazing point in an image based on a line-of-sight of a user, a first setting unit configured to set an object detection range based on the position of the gazing point and an image capturing condition, a second detection unit configured to detect a feature area from the image, and a second setting unit configured to set a focus detection area based on a position of the feature area included in the object detection range.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, an acquiring unit, and at least one processor. The image sensor is capable of acquiring, from an imaging surface that captures an object image formed by an optical system, first and second paired signals which are respectively acquired by pupil division in first and second directions different from each other. The acquiring unit acquires first and second defocus amounts from phase differences between the first paired signals and between the second paired signals, respectively. The at least one processor functions as a detecting unit and a deciding unit. The detecting unit detects an imaging object in an imaging frame. The deciding unit decides, based on the detected imaging object, at least one defocus amount to be used in focus control for the optical system from the first and second defocus amounts.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes a selection unit configured to select as the focus detection area a first focus detection area and a second focus detection area including the first focus detection area and its periphery, and an information acquiring unit configured to acquire first information on whether or not the object moving within the imaging screen can be continuously captured in the first focus detection area. The selection unit selects the first focus detection area when the first information indicates that the object can be continuously captured in the first focus detection area, and the selection unit selects the second focus detection area when the first information indicates that the object cannot be continuously captured.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a memory device that stores a set of instructions, and at least one processor that executes the set of instructions to function as, a first detection unit configured to detect a position of a gazing point in an image based on a line-of-sight of a user, a first setting unit configured to set an object detection range based on the position of the gazing point and an image capturing condition, a second detection unit configured to detect a feature area from the image, and a second setting unit configured to set a focus detection area based on a position of the feature area included in the object detection range.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes a selection unit configured to select as the focus detection area a first focus detection area and a second focus detection area including the first focus detection area and its periphery, and an information acquiring unit configured to acquire first information on whether or not the object moving within the imaging screen can be continuously captured in the first focus detection area. The selection unit selects the first focus detection area when the first information indicates that the object can be continuously captured in the first focus detection area, and the selection unit selects the second focus detection area when the first information indicates that the object cannot be continuously captured.

Abstract: Unit pixels that perform photoelectric conversion of light from an object are arrayed in a matrix manner. An image sensor having the unit pixels outputs a first signal for image generation based on an electric charge generated in each of the unit pixels and a second signal for phase difference detection based on an electric charge generated in a partial region of each of the unit pixels. A scanner controls scanning for reading out the first signal and the second signal for each row. The scanner performs first scanning by which the first signal is read out by being thinned out in a first period, and second scanning by which the second signal is read out in a row, in which the first signal is not read out in the first scanning, by being thinned out in each second period with a predetermined thinning rate.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Unit pixels that perform photoelectric conversion of light from an object are arrayed in a matrix manner. An image sensor having the unit pixels outputs a first signal for image generation based on an electric charge generated in each of the unit pixels and a second signal for phase difference detection based on an electric charge generated in a partial region of each of the unit pixels. A scanner controls scanning for reading out the first signal and the second signal for each row. The scanner performs first scanning by which the first signal is read out by being thinned out in a first period, and second scanning by which the second signal is read out in a row, in which the first signal is not read out in the first scanning, by being thinned out in each second period with a predetermined thinning rate.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor constructed by replacing some of a plurality of image forming pixels of the image sensor with focus detecting pixels, a comparison unit configured to compare outputs of the image forming pixels as a plurality of correction targets adjacent to the focus detecting pixel with outputs of a plurality of reference image forming pixels of the same color as the plurality of image forming pixels arranged in the vicinity of the plurality of image forming pixels adjacent to the focus detecting pixel, and a correction unit configured to execute correction processing of the outputs of the image forming pixels as the plurality of correction targets in accordance with a comparison result of the comparison unit.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus is provided with an image sensor that has a first pixel group and a second pixel group, a focus adjustment unit that executes focus adjustment of an imaging lens based on the signal from the second pixel group, a readout unit that has a first thinning and readout mode that thins and reads out signals from the plurality of pixels at a predetermined thinning ratio and thinning phase, and a second thinning and readout mode that thins and reads out signals from the plurality of pixels with a difference in at least one of the thinning ratio and the thinning phase from the first thinning and readout mode, and a selecting unit that selects in which mode to operate the readout means from among the first and second thinning and readout modes in accordance with the state of the image capturing apparatus.

Abstract: This invention includes an image sensor in which image forming pixels and focus detecting pixels which receive light beams from the exit pupil of the imaging lens which is partly light-shielded are arranged, the first vertical output line which outputs a signal from the image forming pixel in the vertical direction of the image sensor, a second vertical output line which outputs a signal from the focus detecting pixel in the vertical direction of the image sensor, a vertical addition unit which adds signals from a plurality of image forming pixels in the vertical direction, and a control unit which controls the vertical addition unit to add only signals from image forming pixels excluding focus detecting pixels, when the focus detecting pixels are included in targets for addition in the addition readout mode of making the vertical addition unit add signals from a plurality of image forming pixels.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An image pickup device which makes it possible to expand the dynamic range of photometry. The image pickup device comprises a pixel array, a pixel reader, a row selector, a column selector, a gain circuit, a gain selector. The pixel array comprises a plurality of pixels including photoelectric conversion elements and arranged in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction. The pixel reader reads out selected pixel signals from the pixel array. The gain circuit is capable of having at least two gains set therein, and amplifies and outputs the pixel signals read out from the pixel array by the pixel reader. The gain selector sets different gains in the gain circuit such that pixel signals amplified by the different gains can be obtained for one-time read-out from the pixel array by the pixel reader.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor constructed by replacing some of a plurality of image forming pixels of the image sensor with focus detecting pixels, a comparison unit configured to compare outputs of the image forming pixels as a plurality of correction targets adjacent to the focus detecting pixel with outputs of a plurality of reference image forming pixels of the same color as the plurality of image forming pixels arranged in the vicinity of the plurality of image forming pixels adjacent to the focus detecting pixel, and a correction unit configured to execute correction processing of the outputs of the image forming pixels as the plurality of correction targets in accordance with a comparison result of the comparison unit.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor on which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, and which has a plurality of image forming pixels and a plurality of types of focus detecting pixels that are discretely arranged among the plurality of image forming pixels and respectively have different distributions of received light, and selection means for, when the plurality of pixels are read out from the image sensor while thinning out the plurality of pixels, selecting one thinning-out read-out mode from a plurality of thinning-out read-out modes having different thinning-out phases of the plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of types of focus detecting pixels are arranged so that in each thinning-out read-out mode, only signals of the focus detecting pixels of one type of focus detecting pixels are read out, and signals of the focus detecting pixels of other types are not read out.