Abstract: A focus detection device, comprising a processor having a brightness value detection section, an evaluation value calculation section, a parameter calculation section, a reliability determination section and a control section, wherein the brightness value detection section detects brightness values of pixels within a given evaluation region based on the image data, the evaluation value calculation section calculates evaluation values based on the brightness values, the parameter calculation section calculates parameters representing degree of symmetry of the evaluation values for positions of the focus, the reliability determination section determines reliability based on the parameters, and the control section performs focus detection based on extreme values that are calculated based on the parameters, and the reliability.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device, comprising a processor having a focus region setting section, a focus detection section, a determination section and a control section, wherein the focus detection region setting section sets a first focus detection region, and a second focus detection region, that is contained in the first focus detection region and that is narrower than the first focus detection region, in an imaging region, the control section, when it is determined that that there is not a periodicity-containing subject for the first focus detection region, and it is determined that there is a periodicity-containing subject for the second focus detection region, performs a focus adjustment operation by selecting a phase difference that is closest to a phase difference that has been detected for the first focus detection region, among a plurality of phase differences that have been detected for the second focus detection region.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device, comprising a processor having a focus region setting section, a focus detection section, a determination section and a control section, wherein the focus detection region setting section sets a first focus detection region, and a second focus detection region, that is contained in the first focus detection region and that is narrower than the first focus detection region, in an imaging region, the control section, when it is determined that that there is not a periodicity-containing subject for the first focus detection region, and it is determined that there is a periodicity-containing subject for the second focus detection region, performs a focus adjustment operation by selecting a phase difference that is closest to a phase difference that has been detected for the first focus detection region, among a plurality of phase differences that have been detected for the second focus detection region.

Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus includes a circuit. The circuit is configured to determine a defocus value based on an output of an image sensor to calculate a position where the focus lens attains focus as a target position; detect a focal distance of the photographing lens; store the target position, which is calculated based on an output from a detection operation by the image sensor, in association with the focal distance at the time of the detection operation; determine a reference focal distance and calculate a corrected target position by correcting the stored target position so as to correspond to the reference focal distance; calculate a predicted position by performing moving object prediction calculation based on the corrected target position; and move the focus lens based on the predicted position.

Abstract: An imaging device comprises an image sensor on which phase difference detection pixels are formed, a rapid shooting controller that carries out rapid shooting of still pictures by causing operation of the image sensor, and generates and stores image data based on image signals output by the image sensor, and a controller for focusing control that carries out the rapid shooting and causes operation of the image sensor between one exposure of the rapid shooting and the next to carry out first focus detection based on focus detection signals generated by the phase difference detection pixels, carries out second focus detection based on focus detection signals generated by the phase difference detection pixels as a result of the rapid shooting, and carries out focus adjustment based on results of the first focus detection and results of the second focus detection.

Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus includes a circuit. The circuit is configured to determine a defocus value based on an output of an image sensor to calculate a position where the focus lens attains focus as a target position; detect a focal distance of the photographing lens; store the target position, which is calculated based on an output from a detection operation by the image sensor, in association with the focal distance at the time of the detection operation; determine a reference focal distance and calculate a corrected target position by correcting the stored target position so as to correspond to the reference focal distance; calculate a predicted position by performing moving object prediction calculation based on the corrected target position; and move the focus lens based on the predicted position.

Abstract: An imaging device comprises an image sensor on which phase difference detection pixels are formed, a rapid shooting controller that carries out rapid shooting of still pictures by causing operation of the image sensor, and generates and stores image data based on image signals output by the image sensor, and a controller for focusing control that carries out the rapid shooting and causes operation of the image sensor between one exposure of the rapid shooting and the next to carry out first focus detection based on focus detection signals generated by the phase difference detection pixels, carries out second focus detection based on focus detection signals generated by the phase difference detection pixels as a result of the rapid shooting, and carries out focus adjustment based on results of the first focus detection and results of the second focus detection.

Abstract: A focal point detection device comprising: an image sensor having a focal point detection pixel, a pixel data generation section to generate pixel data of a basis part and a reference part corresponding to a predetermined AF area using an output of the focal point detection pixel, a plurality of filter sections having different frequency characteristics to perform filter processing on the pixel data, a detection section to detect contrast of subject image data configured with a plurality of pieces of pixel data of the basis part and the reference part, and a calculation section to select a filter section from among the plurality of filter sections depending on the contrast output by the detection section, to perform correlation calculation using pixel data on which the filter processing is performed by the selected filter section to calculate a defocus amount.

Abstract: A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera main body. The interchangeable lens includes a lens side storage unit that stores pupil related data according to an image height. The camera main body includes an image sensor including focus detection pixels, a main body side storage unit that stores correction data, and a correction unit corrects non-uniformity in illumination distribution of outputs of the focus detection pixels. The pupil related data is data regarding an F-number and an exit pupil position. The data regarding the F-number indicates a range of luminous flux to be applied to the focus detection pixels at a predetermined image height. The data regarding the exit pupil position relates to a position of intersection of a center of luminous flux applied to the focus detection pixels at a predetermined image height and an optical axis of the imaging optical system.

Abstract: A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera main body. The interchangeable lens includes a lens side storage unit that stores pupil related data according to an image height. The camera main body includes an image sensor including focus detection pixels, a main body side storage unit that stores correction data, and a correction unit corrects non-uniformity in illumination distribution of outputs of the focus detection pixels. The pupil related data is data regarding an F-number and an exit pupil position. The data regarding the F-number indicates a range of luminous flux to be applied to the focus detection pixels at a predetermined image height. The data regarding the exit pupil position relates to a position of intersection of a center of luminous flux applied to the focus detection pixels at a predetermined image height and an optical axis of the imaging optical system.

Abstract: A focal point detection device comprising: an image sensor having a focal point detection pixel, a pixel data generation section to generate pixel data of a basis part and a reference part corresponding to a predetermined AF area using an output of the focal point detection pixel, a plurality of filter sections having different frequency characteristics to perform filter processing on the pixel data, a detection section to detect contrast of subject image data configured with a plurality of pieces of pixel data of the basis part and the reference part, and a calculation section to select a filter section from among the plurality of filter sections depending on the contrast output by the detection section, to perform correlation calculation using pixel data on which the filter processing is performed by the selected filter section to calculate a defocus amount.

Abstract: An imaging device which includes an imaging element having a phase difference detection pixel, and which performs autofocus using AF areas each including a plurality of sub-areas, the imaging device comprising: a calculation section configured to perform correlation calculation based on a focus detection signal corresponding to each of the plurality of sub-areas and output a degree of reliability; an AF area selection section configured to select an AF area including a large number of sub-areas in each of which the degree of reliability calculated corresponding to the plurality of sub-areas is higher; a moving body prediction calculation section configured to perform moving body prediction calculation using distance measurement data that is calculated by the correlation calculation based on a focus detection signal of the selected AF area; and a focus control section configured to perform focus adjustment based on a result of the moving body prediction calculation.

Abstract: An imaging device which includes an imaging element having a phase difference detection pixel, and which performs autofocus using AF areas each including a plurality of sub-areas, the imaging device comprising: a calculation section configured to perform correlation calculation based on a focus detection signal corresponding to each of the plurality of sub-areas and output a degree of reliability; an AF area selection section configured to select an AF area including a large number of sub-areas in each of which the degree of reliability calculated corresponding to the plurality of sub-areas is higher; a moving body prediction calculation section configured to perform moving body prediction calculation using distance measurement data that is calculated by the correlation calculation based on a focus detection signal of the selected AF area; and a focus control section configured to perform focus adjustment based on a result of the moving body prediction calculation.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is characterized by executing radius-of-rotation calculation operation for calculating a radius of rotation from a velocity change found by time integration of acceleration, and an angular velocity; velocity calculation operation in which during a given time from a start of exposure, velocity is calculated based on the angular velocity and the radius of rotation calculated before the start of exposure, and after a lapse of the given time, the acceleration is cumulatively added to the velocity detected during the given time to calculate the velocity, and amount-of-movement calculation operation for time-integrating the velocity calculated in the velocity calculation operation to calculate the amount of movement.

Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention comprises a focus detection section using phase difference detection based on output of the focus detection pixels, a pixel adding section, for creating respective first addition outputs by adding outputs of a first number of focus detection pixels, and creating respective second addition outputs by dividing the first number of arrays into a plurality, and adding outputs of focus detection pixels of the divided array, and a determination section for determining whether or not to correct an angle error, wherein the focus detection section executes a focus detection operation on the basis of the first addition outputs, the determination section determines whether or not to correct angle error on the basis of the plurality of second addition outputs, and in the event that the determination section has determined to correct angle error, the focus detection section corrects angle error based on a result of a focus detection operation.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is characterized by executing first integration operation for time-integrating the first acceleration to calculate a first velocity, second integration operation for time-integrating the first velocity to calculate an amount of movement in the first axial direction, estimation operation for calculating an estimated first velocity in the first axial direction based on a first velocity change found by time integration of the first acceleration from a first timing at which the third angular velocity becomes zero to a second timing at which the third angular velocity again becomes zero, the second angular velocity at the first timing, and the second angular velocity at the second timing, and update operation for updating the first velocity calculated in the first integration operation to the estimated first velocity estimated in the estimation operation.

Abstract: A lens drive unit drives a focus lens. An imaging element obtains an image signal. An evaluation value calculation unit calculates an AF evaluation value from the image signal read out based on an interlace system. A determination unit determines whether the continuous AF evaluation values have a distribution of continuous increases and decreases. If the AF evaluation values are determined to have the distribution of continuous increases and decreases, an in-focus position calculation unit calculates an in-focus position by obtaining an interpolation curve from an intermediate value of the AF evaluation values adjacent to each other, otherwise, calculates the in-focus position by obtaining an interpolation curve of the AF evaluation value. A control unit drives the focus lens to the in-focus position.

Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention comprises a focus detection section using phase difference detection based on output of the focus detection pixels, a pixel adding section, for creating respective first addition outputs by adding outputs of a first number of focus detection pixels, and creating respective second addition outputs by dividing the first number of arrays into a plurality, and adding outputs of focus detection pixels of the divided array, and a determination section for determining whether or not to correct an angle error, wherein the focus detection section executes a focus detection operation on the basis of the first addition outputs, the determination section determines whether or not to correct angle error on the basis of the plurality of second addition outputs, and in the event that the determination section has determined to correct angle error, the focus detection section corrects angle error based on a result of a focus detection operation.