Abstract: An image sensor includes: image capturing pixels and focus detection pixels disposed together on a single substrate; and adjacent pixels that are not equipped with a photoelectric conversion unit and are disposed adjacent to the focus detection pixels.

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: A used viewfinder determination section determines whether an optical viewfinder is being used or if a liquid crystal monitor is being used, based upon signals from an eye approach detection section. A blur correction operation changing section changes a blur correction operation by a blur correction lens in accordance with determination results from the used viewfinder determination section. When it is determined that the optical viewfinder is not being used, a blur correction operation using the blur correction lens is not carried out.

Abstract: An image sensor comprises a photoelectric conversion element group and a charge storage element group connected through a plurality of charge transfer routes by achieving a multiplexed relationship. A hand movement detection unit detects a hand movement during an exposure period at the image sensor and generates an unsteady hand movement signal. A sensor control unit selects charge transfer routes so that the electrical charge corresponding to a single position of the subject image is stored at a single charge storage element in correspondence to the extent and the direction of the displacement of the subject image indicated by the hand movement signal.

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 used viewfinder determination section determines whether an optical viewfinder is being used or if a liquid crystal monitor is being used, based upon signals from an eye approach detection section. A blur correction operation changing section changes a blur correction operation by a blur correction lens in accordance with determination results from the used viewfinder determination section. When it is determined that the optical viewfinder is not being used, a blur correction operation using the blur correction lens is not carried out.

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 electronic camera 100 automatically transmits captured image data and user identification information to a gateway server 160 over a wireless portable telephone link 130. The gateway server 160 manages image albums created on a per-user basis on multiple image servers on the Internet 170, automatically selects one of the multiple image servers based on the user identification information received from the electronic camera 100, and stores the image data received from the electronic camera 100 in an image album corresponding to the user identification information on the selected image server.

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.

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: An image sensor comprises a photoelectric conversion element group and a charge storage element group connected through a plurality of charge transfer routes by achieving a multiplexed relationship. A hand movement detection unit detects a hand movement during an exposure period at the image sensor and generates an unsteady hand movement signal. A sensor control unit selects charge transfer routes so that the electrical charge corresponding to a single position of the subject image is stored at a single charge storage element in correspondence to the extent and the direction of the displacement of the subject image indicated by the hand movement signal.

Abstract: The area in which focus detection is performed is selected from among a plurality of focus detection areas provided on a photography screen. In the pair of photoelectric converters corresponding to the selected focus detection area, charge accumulation is repeatedly performed based on at least one of the image signals from the pair of image signals output from this pair of photoelectric converters. The focus adjustment condition of the photograph optical system is computed based on this pair of image signals. In the pair of photoelectric converters corresponding to the non-selected focus detection areas, charge accumulation is repeatedly performed over a period longer than the period of charge accumulation in the pair of photoelectric converters corresponding to the selected focus detection area based on at least one of the image signals from the pair of image signals output from this pair of photoelectric converters.

Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus is provided that tracks the direction of movement of an object from a plurality of focus detection areas disposed within the photographic screen of a camera in an efficient order. The focus adjustment apparatus includes a focus detection device that individually detects focus detection information of a plurality of focus detection areas; a memory that records a selection order of focus detection areas used in focus control; a focus estimation device that extends a trend of the focus detection information and calculates estimated values of the focus detection information regarding the focus detection areas used in the focus control; a tracking device that tracks the focus detection areas matching the estimated values computed by the focus estimation device by following the selection order during the past focus control operation recorded by the memory; and a focus controller that performs focus control regarding the focus detection areas tracked by the tracking device.

Abstract: A device and a method for focus detection that increases the amount of light projected on an object to capture the object without fail. Light rays are projected onto an object by a projection optical system using a projection pattern film that contains transparent and non-transparent parts, or semi-transparent parts with different light transmission rates. A pair of light rays from the object pass through the shooting lens and are guided onto a photo-electric converter by a focus detection optical system to compose a pair of object images. The focus adjustment state of the shooting lens is detected based on the image defocus amount of the pair of the object images.

Abstract: A camera having a line of sight detecting device, includes a line of sight detection portion for detecting the line of sight position of a photographer, a portion of selection of a line of sight mode for selecting one of a single mode for locking a line of sight position obtained when a plurality of previous detection results of the line of sight detection portion satisfy a predetermined eye-gazing condition and a continuous mode for renewing the line of sight position on the basis of the latest line of sight position from the line of sight detection portion, a control mode setting portion for selecting a control mode for setting a camera phototaking condition, and a phototaking control for setting the camera phototaking condition in accordance with the line of sight position of the photographer when the control mode is selected, wherein when the control mode is selected by the control mode setting portion, the continuous mode is selected by the portion of selection of a line of sight mode, and the camera pho

Abstract: An image sensor system transfers all correction data from a non-volatile memory to RAM. The image sensor system includes an analog-to-digital converter, a non-volatile memory, a RAM, a ROM, an IO port, a CPU and a serial communication device. The image sensor system stores correction data from the non-volatile memory in the RAM and uses the correction data in the RAM thereafter.

Abstract: The area in which focus detection is performed is selected from among a plurality of focus detection areas provided on a photography screen. In the pair of photoelectric converters corresponding to the selected focus detection area, charge accumulation is repeatedly performed based on at least one of the image signals from the pair of image signals output from this pair of photoelectric converters. The focus adjustment condition of the photograph optical system is computed based on this pair of image signals. In the pair of photoelectric converters corresponding to the non-selected focus detection areas, charge accumulation is repeatedly performed over a period longer than the period of charge accumulation in the pair of photoelectric converters corresponding to the selected focus detection area based on at least one of the image signals from the pair of image signals output from this pair of photoelectric converters.

Abstract: An image sensor and a focus detection device or distance detection device using the image sensor, wherein the accumulation time of the image sensor is controlled by a characteristic value of the subject image signals without all subject image signals produced by the image sensor having to undergo analog-to-digital conversion. The image sensor includes a light receiving unit having a light receiving element. The image sensor produces electric charges corresponding to light incident on the light receiving element, accumulates the corresponding electric charges, produces a charge signal corresponding to the accumulated electric charges and outputs the charge signal so that the charge signal can be provided to a device which is external to the image sensor.

Abstract: In a camera and an autofocus controlling method thereof, displacement amounts between intensity distributions of light at corresponding first and second areas of an image sensing device are detected, and a plurality of displacement detection signals are generated. A high contrast area of an object to be photographed is also detected, and a contrast detection signal corresponding to that area is produced. A focus detection signal is produced based on one of the plurality of displacement detection signals corresponding to the contrast detection signal.

Abstract: An optical device system includes a lock member that locks the posture of a variable member relative to an anchoring member of a supporting device (e.g., a tripod), and a controller in the optical device that controls the state (locked or released) of the lock member. The lock member can be controlled in accordance with the operational state of the optical device so that it becomes possible to change the setup of the device through a simple operation and without letting go of the optical device.