Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a memory configured to acquire a plurality of visual point images; a visual point change processing unit configured to perform image processing on image data based on the plurality of visual point images to generate a combination image; an area designation unit configured to designate an area subjected to the image processing using the visual point change processing unit; and an adjustment unit configured to set an adjustable range of the image processing for each area designated by the area designation unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of viewpoint images having different viewpoint; a calculation unit configured to calculate associated information associated with parallax from the plurality of viewpoint images; an image processing unit configured to generate an output image by performing an image process on image data based on the plurality of viewpoint images; a setting unit configured to set the image process using the image processing unit; and a determination unit configured to acquire the associated information, determine an effect of the image process for each area in the output image, and output the determination result.

Abstract: Provided is an image pickup apparatus including pixels each divided into subpixels that receive respective rays of a pencil having passed through different pupil subregions in an optical system, the apparatus having a viewpoint image generation unit that generates viewpoint images based on pixel signals outputted by the subpixels, an image deviation amount calculation unit that calculates an image deviation amount from the viewpoint images, a conversion factor calculation unit that calculates a conversion factor for use in conversion of the image deviation amount into a defocus amount, and a recording unit that records at least two of the conversion factor, the image deviation amount, and the defocus amount in a storage medium as metadata in association with the viewpoint images or an image obtained from the viewpoint images.

Abstract: An imaging element of an imaging apparatus includes a plurality of microlenses and a plurality of photoelectric conversion units corresponding to the microlenses. A parallax picture having a parallax is generated by acquiring signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion units. A CPU performs defective pixel detection by calculating an evaluation value from a first output value which is an output value of a detection pixel and a second output value determined from a pixel adjacent to the pixel and comparing the evaluation value with a predetermined threshold value. The CPU calculates a second evaluation value using the second output value and a first evaluation value derived from the first output value and the second output value and detects the pixel as a defective pixel if the second evaluation value is greater than the threshold value.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image pickup device with a plurality of pixels each of which includes at least two photoelectric conversion portions, a readout unit configured to read out a first image signal and an added signal obtained by adding the first image signal and a second image signal, a subtraction unit configured to subtract the first image signal from the added signal, a focus detection unit configured to detect a focus state based on the first and the second image signal, and a limiter unit configured to suppress an output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and an output of the second photoelectric conversion portion not to exceed a predetermined threshold, wherein the limiter unit suppresses the output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion for different color filters.

Abstract: A focusing device that is capable of shortening focusing time even when contrast AR is started for an object in a defocus state. A first computation unit computes a contrast determination index that indicates contrast of an object based on an image obtained through an image pickup optical system. A second computation unit computes a focusing degree that indicates a degree of a focusing state to the object based on the image. A first setting unit sets up a contrast determination threshold according to the focusing degree. A second setting unit sets up an image pickup cycle for picking up the object according to the contrast determination index and the contrast determination threshold. A focusing unit focuses on the object by driving a focusing lens of the image pickup optical system along an optical axis based on the contrast determination index and the focusing degree.

Abstract: An imaging element includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units which photoelectrically convert an optical image of a subject imaged by an imaging optical system into an electrical signal. A first photoelectric conversion unit receives light passing through a first pupil area of the imaging optical system and a second photoelectric conversion unit receives light passing through a second pupil area of the imaging optical system. An imaging processing unit acquires a first image signal obtained from the first photoelectric conversion unit and a third image signal obtained from the first and the second photoelectric conversion units, and generates a second image signal by subtracting the first image signal from the third image signal.

Abstract: The trimming range of a reference current is extended larger than that of the related art. A semiconductor device includes a reference current generating circuit that generates a reference current. The reference current includes a first base current, a second base current base current, a second base current, a temperature compensating current, and a voltage compensating current. The first base current can be trimmed. The second base current flowing opposite to the first base current can be trimmed. The temperature compensating current flows in the same direction as the first base current and has higher temperature dependence than the first and second base currents. The voltage compensating current flows in the same direction as the first base current and depends on power supply voltages more than the base currents.

Abstract: A focusing device that is capable of shortening focusing time even when contrast AR is started for an object in a defocus state. A first computation unit computes a contrast determination index that indicates contrast of an object based on an image obtained through an image pickup optical system. A second computation unit computes a focusing degree that indicates a degree of a focusing state to the object based on the image. A first setting unit sets up a contrast determination threshold according to the focusing degree. A second setting unit sets up an image pickup cycle for picking up the object according to the contrast determination index and the contrast determination threshold. A focusing unit focuses on the object by driving a focusing lens of the image pickup optical system along an optical axis based on the contrast determination index and the focusing degree.

Abstract: The trimming range of a reference current is extended larger than that of the related art. A semiconductor device includes a reference current generating circuit that generates a reference current. The reference current includes a first base current, a second base current base current, a second base current, a temperature compensating current, and a voltage compensating current. The first base current can be trimmed. The second base current flowing opposite to the first base current can be trimmed. The temperature compensating current flows in the same direction as the first base current and has higher temperature dependence than the first and second base currents. The voltage compensating current flows in the same direction as the first base current and depends on power supply voltages more than the base currents.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image pickup device with a plurality of pixels each of which includes at least two photoelectric conversion portions, a readout unit configured to read out a first image signal and an added signal obtained by adding the first image signal and a second image signal, a subtraction unit configured to subtract the first image signal from the added signal, a focus detection unit configured to detect a focus state based on the first and the second image signal, and a limiter unit configured to suppress an output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and an output of the second photoelectric conversion portion not to exceed a predetermined threshold, wherein the limiter unit suppresses the output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion for different color filters.

Abstract: There is provided a focus control apparatus. A first extraction unit extracts frequency components of a first band from a predetermined evaluation area of image data generated by an image capturing unit. A change unit changes the evaluation area based on the frequency components extracted by the first extraction unit, so that the evaluation area after the change is narrower than the evaluation area before the change. A second extraction unit extracts, from the evaluation area after the change, frequency components of a second band that includes a higher band than the first band. A calculation unit calculates a focus evaluation value for performing focus control of the image capturing unit based on the frequency components extracted by the second extraction unit.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image pickup device with a plurality of pixels each of which includes at least two photoelectric conversion portions, a readout unit configured to read out a first image signal and an added signal obtained by adding the first image signal and a second image signal, a subtraction unit configured to subtract the first image signal from the added signal, a focus detection unit configured to detect a focus state based on the first and the second image signal, and a limiter unit configured to suppress an output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and an output of the second photoelectric conversion portion not to exceed a predetermined threshold, wherein the limiter unit suppresses the output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion for different color filters.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image pickup device with a plurality of pixels each of which includes at least two photoelectric conversion portions, a readout unit configured to read out a first image signal and an added signal obtained by adding the first image signal and a second image signal, a subtraction unit configured to subtract the first image signal from the added signal, a focus detection unit configured to detect a focus state based on the first and the second image signal, and a limiter unit configured to suppress an output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and an output of the second photoelectric conversion portion not to exceed a predetermined threshold, wherein the limiter unit suppresses the output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion for different color filters.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A light amount adjustment device capable of operating shutter blades and a light amount adjustment member by a common drive source, while preventing light incident through an aperture from being momentarily interrupted by the shutter blades when the light amount adjustment member advances to and retreats from the aperture. After a drive member's cam shaft is moved by an energized actuator to a position where an ND filter advances to the aperture, the actuator is deenergized and the cam shaft is moved by a spring force to a position where the ND filter advances to the aperture. After the cam shaft is moved to a final position by the energized actuator, the actuator is deenergized and the cam shaft is moved by the spring force to a position where the ND filter retreats from the aperture. During this time, the shutter blades open and close on outside of the aperture.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which decreases the number of components to reduce man-hours for assembly. A base plate, which supports a lens holder in such a manner that the lens holder is movable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, has an engagement portion having an opening disposed in one direction around the optical axis. Movement of the lens holder in the direction of the optical axis is inhibited by engagement between part of the lens holder and the engagement portion. A rotation inhibition plate, which is provided on a subject side of the lens holder, is movable in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis integrally with the lens holder and is inhibited from moving in a second direction perpendicular to both the optical axis and the first direction.

Abstract: A light amount adjustment device capable of operating shutter blades and a light amount adjustment member by a common drive source, while preventing light incident through an aperture from being momentarily interrupted by the shutter blades when the light amount adjustment member advances to and retreats from the aperture. After a drive member's cam shaft is moved by an energized actuator to a position where an ND filter advances to the aperture, the actuator is deenergized and the cam shaft is moved by a spring force to a position where the ND filter advances to the aperture. After the cam shaft is moved to a final position by the energized actuator, the actuator is deenergized and the cam shaft is moved by the spring force to a position where the ND filter retreats from the aperture. During this time, the shutter blades open and close on outside of the aperture.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which decreases the number of components to reduce man-hours for assembly. A base plate, which supports a lens holder in such a manner that the lens holder is movable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, has an engagement portion having an opening disposed in one direction around the optical axis. Movement of the lens holder in the direction of the optical axis is inhibited by engagement between part of the lens holder and the engagement portion. A rotation inhibition plate, which is provided on a subject side of the lens holder, is movable in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis integrally with the lens holder and is inhibited from moving in a second direction perpendicular to both the optical axis and the first direction.