Abstract: A focus control device that has an image sensor that receives light flux that has passed through a photographing lens and is capable of generating a phase difference detection signal, and that executes focus adjustment based on the phase difference detection signal, the focus control device comprising a focus detection circuit that detects ranging data representing defocus amount based on phase difference detection signals of a plurality of focus detection regions that have been set in a region of the image sensor where the light flux is received, and a processor that, with ranging data corresponding to a plurality of focus detection regions being arranged in order of short distance, performs focus adjustment based on ranging data remaining after excluding ranging data in a specified range from ranging data representing a closest range.

Abstract: A focus control device, comprising an image sensor capable of generating a phase difference detection signal, a focus detection region setting circuit that sets a plurality of focus detection regions having at least some parts in common, in a region of the image sensor that receives the light flux, an AF control circuit comprising a first calculation section that calculates a first focus direction based on a phase difference detection signal from a first focus detection region, and a second calculation section that is capable of detecting a larger focus deviation amount than a focus deviation amount that can be detected by the first calculation section, and calculates a second focus direction based on a phase difference detection signal from a second focus detection region, and a controller that determines focus direction in which to perform focus adjustment based on the first focus direction and the second focus direction.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image sensor and a controller. The controller sets a focus detection area and a motion detection area, determines an instability of a subject for a motion based on an imaging signal corresponding to an inside of the motion detection area, determines a degree of focusing based on the imaging signal corresponding to an inside of the focus detection area. The controller makes an operation parameter of a focus adjustment operation different, when the subject is determined to be unstable once and then determined to be stable. The controller determines the degree of focusing by a focus adjustment operation using minute driving. The operation parameter is an amplitude or an amount of a movement of the focus lens.

Abstract: A focus control device that has an image sensor that receives light flux that has passed through a photographing lens and is capable of generating a phase difference detection signal, and that executes focus adjustment based on the phase difference detection signal, the focus control device comprising a focus detection circuit that detects ranging data representing defocus amount based on phase difference detection signals of a plurality of focus detection regions that have been set in a region of the image sensor where the light flux is received, and a processor that, with ranging data corresponding to a plurality of focus detection regions being arranged in order of short distance, performs focus adjustment based on ranging data remaining after excluding ranging data in a specified range from ranging data representing a closest range.

Abstract: A focus control device, comprising an image sensor capable of generating a phase difference detection signal, a focus detection region setting circuit that sets a plurality of focus detection regions having at least some parts in common, in a region of the image sensor that receives the light flux, an AF control circuit comprising a first calculation section that calculates a first focus direction based on a phase difference detection signal from a first focus detection region, and a second calculation section that is capable of detecting a larger focus deviation amount than a focus deviation amount that can be detected by the first calculation section, and calculates a second focus direction based on a phase difference detection signal from a second focus detection region, and a controller that determines focus direction in which to perform focus adjustment based on the first focus direction and the second focus direction.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image sensor and a controller. The controller sets a focus detection area and a motion detection area, determines an instability of a subject for a motion based on an imaging signal corresponding to an inside of the motion detection area, determines a degree of focusing based on the imaging signal corresponding to an inside of the focus detection area. The controller makes an operation parameter of a focus adjustment operation different, when the subject is determined to be unstable once and then determined to be stable. The controller determines the degree of focusing by a focus adjustment operation using minute driving. The operation parameter is an amplitude or an amount of a movement of the focus lens.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device includes a focus detection region setting section, a direction determination section and control section. The focus detection region setting section sets focus detection regions which are different in size from one another. The direction determination section determines a movement direction of a focus lens to be in focus based on a change of the contrast caused by the movement of the focus lens. The control section repetitively determines whether determination results of the movement direction obtained in the respective focus detection regions are different. The control section inhibits a switchover of a focus adjustment operation when it is consecutively determined a predetermined number of times or more that the determination results of the movement direction are different, otherwise the control section does not inhibit the switchover.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device includes a direction judgment unit and a control unit. A direction judgment unit calculates an evaluation value based on an image signal of a focus detection region, thereby judging a drive direction of a focus lens. The control unit controls a focus adjustment operation on the basis of the drive direction. The control unit causes the direction judgment unit to repeatedly judge the drive direction, and when the focus lens is slightly driven in a first direction judged on the basis of a first evaluation value and then the focus lens is slightly driven in a second direction judged on the basis of a subsequently calculated second evaluation value, the control unit forbids the slight driving of the focus lens in the first direction even though a drive direction judged on the basis of a further subsequently calculated third evaluation value is the first direction.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging section, an image capture optical system, and a controller. The controller sets in an image a first focus adjustment region, which is a target of adjustment of focusing conditions, and a second focus adjustment region, which has a lower priority of adjustment of focusing than the first focus adjustment region. The controller performs focus adjustment based on the image data in the second focus adjustment region, if focus adjustment based on the image data in the first focus adjustment region is difficult. If the focus adjustment based on the image data in the first focus adjustment region is not difficult, while performing the focus adjustment based on the image data in the second focus adjustment region, the controller performs the focus adjustment based on the image data in the first focus adjustment region.

Abstract: A direction judgment unit calculates a first evaluation value based on an image signal of a first focus detection region among focus detection regions to judge a drive direction of a focus lens to be in focus and calculates a second evaluation value based on an image signal of at least one second focus detection region smaller than the first region, the focus detection regions being at least partly the same and being different in size. A control unit determines whether a change of the second evaluation value is a monotonous change when the focus lens is slightly driven a first number of times in a first direction judged on the basis of the first evaluation value and the focus lens is slightly driven a second number of times smaller than the first number of times in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the control unit performs focus adjustment on the basis of the second evaluation value when the change of the second evaluation value is not a monotonous change.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device includes a focus detection region setting section, a direction determination section and control section. The focus detection region setting section sets focus detection regions which are different in size from one another. The direction determination section determines a movement direction of a focus lens to be in focus based on a change of the contrast caused by the movement of the focus lens. The control section repetitively determines whether determination results of the movement direction obtained in the respective focus detection regions are different. The control section inhibits a switchover of a focus adjustment operation when it is consecutively determined a predetermined number of times or more that the determination results of the movement direction are different, otherwise the control section does not inhibit the switchover.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device includes a direction judgment unit and a control unit. A direction judgment unit calculates an evaluation value based on an image signal of a focus detection region, thereby judging a drive direction of a focus lens. The control unit controls a focus adjustment operation on the basis of the drive direction. The control unit causes the direction judgment unit to repeatedly judge the drive direction, and when the focus lens is slightly driven in a first direction judged on the basis of a first evaluation value and then the focus lens is slightly driven in a second direction judged on the basis of a subsequently calculated second evaluation value, the control unit forbids the slight driving of the focus lens in the first direction even though a drive direction judged on the basis of a further subsequently calculated third evaluation value is the first direction.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging section, an image capture optical system, and a controller. The controller sets in an image a first focus adjustment region, which is a target of adjustment of focusing conditions, and a second focus adjustment region, which has a lower priority of adjustment of focusing than the first focus adjustment region. The controller performs focus adjustment based on the image data in the second focus adjustment region, if focus adjustment based on the image data in the first focus adjustment region is difficult. If the focus adjustment based on the image data in the first focus adjustment region is not difficult, while performing the focus adjustment based on the image data in the second focus adjustment region, the controller performs the focus adjustment based on the image data in the first focus adjustment region.

Abstract: A direction judgment unit calculates a first evaluation value based on an image signal of a first focus detection region among focus detection regions to judge a drive direction of a focus lens to be in focus and calculates a second evaluation value based on an image signal of at least one second focus detection region smaller than the first region, the focus detection regions being at least partly the same and being different in size. A control unit determines whether a change of the second evaluation value is a monotonous change when the focus lens is slightly driven a first number of times in a first direction judged on the basis of the first evaluation value and the focus lens is slightly driven a second number of times smaller than the first number of times in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the control unit performs focus adjustment on the basis of the second evaluation value when the change of the second evaluation value is not a monotonous change.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device for carrying out focus adjustment by moving a focus lens, comprises a point light source determination section which determines a point-like light source subject based on the image signals, an orientation stability determination section which determines stability of orientation by detecting orientation of the focus adjustment device, a photometry section which outputs photometric values corresponding to subject brightness based on the image signals, and a focus adjustment section which carries out a focus adjustment operation using the image signals, based on a determination result of the point light source determination section, wherein the point light source determination section, in a state where a point-like light source subject is currently determined, when a determination result of the orientation stability determination section indicates unstable and a photometric value output from the photometry section does not indicate low brightness, determines that the subject is not a po

Abstract: A focus adjustment device has an image sensor for forming a subject image using light flux that has been received through a photographing lens, and generating image signals, and executes focus adjustment based on the image signals. This focus adjustment device comprises a focus detection region setting section for setting a plurality of focus detection regions of differing sizes, within a region in which an image is formed by the image sensor, a determination section, for detecting contrast of image signals within focus detection regions respectively relating to the plurality of focus detection regions, and determining change of a subject based on amount of change of the contrast and temporal change in amount of change of the contrast, and a control section for, in a case where the determination section has determined that there is subject change when a focus adjustment operation is stopped, starting the focus adjustment operation.

Abstract: A focus adjusting process and apparatus are described which can optimize a balance between AF performance and appearance of moving image, regardless of a position or size of an enlarged area to be recorded in a moving image.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device for carrying out focus adjustment by moving a focus lens, comprises a point light source determination section which determines a point-like light source subject based on the image signals, an orientation stability determination section which determines stability of orientation by detecting orientation of the focus adjustment device, a photometry section which outputs photometric values corresponding to subject brightness based on the image signals, and a focus adjustment section which carries out a focus adjustment operation using the image signals, based on a determination result of the point light source determination section, wherein the point light source determination section, in a state where a point-like light source subject is currently determined, when a determination result of the orientation stability determination section indicates unstable and a photometric value output from the photometry section does not indicate low brightness, determines that the subject is not a po

Abstract: A focus adjustment device has an image sensor for forming a subject image using light flux that has been received through a photographing lens, and generating image signals, and executes focus adjustment based on the image signals. This focus adjustment device comprises a focus detection region setting section for setting a plurality of focus detection regions of differing sizes, within a region in which an image is formed by the image sensor, a determination section, for detecting contrast of image signals within focus detection regions respectively relating to the plurality of focus detection regions, and determining change of a subject based on amount of change of the contrast and temporal change in amount of change of the contrast, and a control section for, in a case where the determination section has determined that there is subject change when a focus adjustment operation is stopped, starting the focus adjustment operation.

Abstract: A focus adjusting process and apparatus are described which can optimize a balance between AF performance and appearance of moving image, regardless of a position or size of an enlarged area to be recorded in a moving image.