Abstract: A focus detection device comprises a micro lens array disposed near an estimated focal plane of an image forming optical system and formed by arraying a plurality of micro lenses, a light receiving device provided in correspondence to each of the plurality of micro lenses, which includes three or more light receiving portions disposed along a direction in which the plurality of micro lenses are arrayed, and a focus detection circuit that detects a focal adjustment state with the image forming optical system based upon a signal output from the light receiving device.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes a pixel unit which has first pixels and second pixels. A first photoelectric conversion unit is configured to generate charges corresponding to light incident upon each of the first pixels. A first control unit is connected to the first photoelectric conversion unit and configured to control the first photoelectric conversion unit. A second photoelectric conversion unit is configured to generate charges corresponding to light incident upon each of the second pixels. The second photoelectric conversion unit is smaller than the first photoelectric conversion unit. A second control unit is connected to the second photoelectric conversion unit and configured to control the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second control unit is arranged in a space which is generated due to a size difference between the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit.

Abstract: A focus detection device comprises: an image shift detection unit that detects a relative shift amount of a pair of images formed by a pair of light fluxes having passed through an optical system; and a conversion unit that converts the shift amount to a defocus amount based upon dimensional information of an exit pupil corresponding to an aperture restricting light flux in the optical system and distance information of the exit pupil indicating distance to the exit pupil from a predetermined imaging plane of the optical system.

Abstract: A focus detection device comprises: focus detection elements including light-receiving elements that generate a pair of signals corresponding to a pair of light fluxes each passing through an imaging optical system that includes a lens and an aperture stop; and a focus detector including a processor that determines a focus adjustment state of the imaging optical system with an f-number slower than a full-aperture of the imaging optical system when a specific condition is fulfilled.

Abstract: In an electronic apparatus having a user identification function or in a user identification method, an electronic apparatus and an electronic instrument having stored therein user personal information communicate in wireless with each other so as to enable the electronic apparatus to automatically identify the electronic apparatus user. If the electronic apparatus identifies a plurality of possible users, the electronic apparatus automatically selects the user by executing specific user identification processing.

Abstract: An image sensor equipped with imaging pixels disposed in a two-dimensional array, which converts an image formed through an optical system to an electrical signal, includes: first focus detection pixel groups each formed by disposing in the array of the imaging pixels a plurality of first pixels adopting a split pupil method; and second focus detection pixel groups each formed by disposing in the array of the imaging pixels a plurality of second pixels adopting a split pupil method different from the split pupil method adopted in the first pixels, and a relationship between a number of the first focus detection pixel groups and a number of the second focus detection pixel groups is determined in correspondence to directions of positions assumed by the first focus detection pixel groups and the second focus detection pixel groups relative to a center of the image sensor.

Abstract: In an electronic apparatus having a user identification function or in a user identification method, an electronic apparatus and an electronic instrument having stored therein user personal information communicate in wireless with each other so as to enable the electronic apparatus to automatically identify the electronic apparatus user. If the electronic apparatus identifies a plurality of possible users, the electronic apparatus automatically selects the user by executing specific user identification processing.

Abstract: A correlation operation method includes: first processing executed to match a signal level of an AC component contained in a first signal data string made up with a plurality of sets of first signal data with a signal level of an AC component contained in a second signal data string made up with a plurality of sets of second signal data; and correlation degree calculation processing executed to calculate a correlation degree indicating a degree of correlation between the first signal data string and the second signal data string having undergone the first processing.

Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a destructive read-type image sensor that executes photoelectric conversion of a light flux from an optical system at a plurality of pixels, stores electrical charges resulting from the photoelectric conversion at the plurality of pixels, and outputs a signal corresponding to each of the stored electrical charges; a read unit that reads out the signal from the image sensor over a specific cycle; a display unit at which display is brought up based upon the signal read out by the read unit each time the read unit reads out the signal; a storage unit that individually stores signals read out by the read unit, each in correspondence to a read operation; an adding unit that adds up a plurality of signals obtained sequentially over time among the signals stored in the storage unit; and a focus detection unit that detects a focus adjustment state of the optical system based upon adding results provided by the adding unit.

Abstract: An image sensor includes: image-capturing pixels that generate first image signals with a charge storage time controlled by a first storage control signal; and focus detection pixels that generate second image signals with a charge storage time controlled by a second storage control signal generated independently of the first storage control signal.

Abstract: A digital image apparatus includes: a storage unit in which digital image information is stored; a display unit that displays the digital image information stored in the storage unit; a setting unit that sets a recipient of the digital image information; and a communication unit that transmits the digital image information stored in the storage unit to a recipient set through the setting unit, and further includes: an updating unit that updates transmission history information including recipient information indicating a recipient of the digital image information each time the digital image information is transmitted by the communication unit and stores the updated transmission history information into the storage unit in correspondence to the digital image information, and when the digital image information stored in the storage unit is displayed, the display unit also displays transmission history information pertaining to the digital image information in correspondence to the digital image information.

Abstract: An image-capturing device according to the present invention includes: an image sensor that captures a subject image and generates image data; a buffer memory that temporarily stores the image data; a connection unit that electrically and detachably connects a portable memory to a main body; a wireless communication circuit capable of wirelessly communicating with an external device; and an image storage control unit that stores the image data temporarily stored at the buffer memory into the portable memory connected at the connection unit and transfers the image data temporarily stored at the buffer memory to the external device via the wireless communication circuit if the portable memory is substantially unusable.

Abstract: A correlation operation method adopted when calculating a degree of correlation manifesting between a first signal data string and a second signal data string, includes: a first information generation step of generating first operation data by calculating a product of first data in the first signal data string and nearby data present near second data in the second signal data string which correspond to the first data; a second information generation step of generating second operation data by calculating a product of the second data in the second signal data string and nearby data present near the first data in the first signal data string; and a correlation degree detection step of calculating a degree of correlation between the first operation data and the second operation data.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image sensor and an estimating circuit. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixel units disposed in a two-dimensional array, each equipped with a plurality of imaging pixels with varying spectral sensitivity characteristics set regularly, and focus detection pixels with sensitivity over a range encompassing the spectral sensitivity of the pixel units. The estimating circuit determines an image output structure corresponding to the position of each focus detection pixel based upon outputs from the imaging pixels present around the focus detection pixel and estimates the image output at the focus detection pixel based upon the image output structure and the output from the focus detection pixel.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image sensor equipped with imaging pixels disposed in a two-dimensional array and focus detection pixels disposed along a specific direction over part of the array of the imaging pixels. The imaging device categorizes an image pattern indicating a pixel output change along a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the focus detection pixels are disposed based upon the outputs from the imaging pixels present around each focus detection pixel. Then, it determines an image output at the focus detection pixel based upon the output from the focus detection pixel and the outputs from the imaging pixels present around the focus detection pixel through an arithmetic operation method corresponding to the categorized image pattern.

Abstract: An image sensor includes imaging pixels that convert an image formed via an optical system to image signals and a first focus detection pixel group and a second focus detection pixel group respectively made up with an array of first focus detection pixels and an array of second focus detection pixels, with the first focus detection pixels and the second focus detection pixels used to receive an image light flux via the optical system to detect a focus adjustment state at the optical system through a pupil division-type method. An image detection pitch of the first focus detection pixel group and an image detection pitch of the second focus detection pixel group are different from each other.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image sensor that includes imaging pixels that are disposed in a two-dimensional array and focus detection pixels disposed in part of the array of the imaging pixels, a coefficient setting circuit that sets a conversion coefficient to be used to convert an output from each focus detection pixel to an image output at the focus detection pixel, in correspondence to an aperture value set at an imaging optical system, and an estimating circuit that estimates the image output at the focus detection pixel based upon the conversion coefficient and the output from the focus detection pixel.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device includes an image sensor that includes imaging pixels for capturing an image formed via an imaging optical system and focus detection pixels for detecting a focus adjustment state at the imaging optical system, a focus detector that detects a focus adjustment state at the imaging optical system, and a focus adjustment controller that executes focus adjustment for the imaging optical system based upon the focus adjustment states detected with the image sensor and the focus detector.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device includes an image sensor that includes imaging pixels for capturing an image formed via an imaging optical system and focus detection pixels for detecting a focus adjustment state at the imaging optical system through a first pupil division-type image shift detection method, a focus detector that detects a focus adjustment state at the imaging optical system through a second pupil division-type image shift detection method different from the first pupil division-type image shift detection method, and a focus adjustment controller that executes focus adjustment for the imaging optical system based upon the focus adjustment states detected by the image sensor and the focus detector.

Abstract: An image-capturing unit generates an image signal corresponding to an image of a subject formed by a photographing optical system. A point spread function generating unit generates varying point spread functions corresponding to various distances based upon two-dimensional distance distribution information indicating the two-dimensional distance distribution of the subject detected by a distance detection unit and an image blur signal indicating an image blur occurring during the exposure period which is detected by a blur detection unit. An image repair unit divides the image signal into partial images based upon the distance distribution information, executes image processing to repair the blur in the individual partial images by using the point spread functions corresponding to the various distances and creates a whole image by synthesizing the partial images in which the blur has been repaired.