With Zoom Position Detection Or Interrelated Iris Control Patents (Class 348/347)
  • Publication number: 20140022439
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a capturing lens; an imaging element in which a pair of horizontal light receiving units receiving a pair of split light of a horizontal direction and a pair of vertical light receiving units receiving a pair of split light of a vertical direction are two-dimensionally arranged; a movement unit that moves the imaging lens in the optical axis direction; a specifying unit that specifies one of the pair horizontal light receiving units or the pair vertical light receiving units, of which the calculated absolute value of the signal amount difference is smaller; and a control unit that performs correlation computation based on the signal amount of the plural photoelectric conversion elements aligned in a direction of the specified one of the pair of horizontal light receiving units or the pair of vertical light receiving units and controls the movement unit based on the correlation computation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi AOKI
  • Patent number: 8634017
    Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes first-type and second-type pixels and an image-formation-state detector. Each first-type pixel includes a photoelectric converter that receives light from an image-pickup optical system and first and second optical members arranged on an optical path from the optical system to the photoelectric converter and having different refractive indices, and outputs a first charge signal corresponding to an amount of light received by the photoelectric converter. Each second-type pixel includes the photoelectric converter and the first and second optical members arranged such that a positional relationship relative to the photoelectric converter differs from that in each first-type pixel, and outputs a second charge signal corresponding to an amount of light received by the photoelectric converter. The detector detects an image formation state of the image-pickup optical system on the basis of the first and second charge signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Komuro
  • Publication number: 20140016018
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a controller configured to perform an autofocus processing and an image pickup processing, the image pickup processing including a display of a live-view image, an exposure for recording of the image pickup element and a generation of a recording image from an image signal acquired by the exposure. The controller moves the image pickup element to a specific position closer to a center of the predetermined movable range of the image pickup element than the position of the image pickup element detected by the position detector, and subsequently performs a correction movement in which the focus lens moves so as to decrease generation of defocus for the image pickup element due to the movement of the image pickup element to the specific position after the exposure for recording before the display of the live-view image in the image pickup processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideyuki Hamano
  • Patent number: 8625009
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a main body and an image capturing device positioned on the main body. The image capturing device includes a fixing pole, a rotating plate, two lens modules, and an image sensor. The fixing pole is fixed on the main body. The rotating plate is sleeved over the fixing pole and rotates around the fixing pole. The two lens modules are mounted on the rotating plate and symmetrical with the fixing pole. The image sensor is arranged on the main body. The rotating plate is rotated to make the two lens modules be alternated to align with the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shih-Chieh Yen
  • Publication number: 20140002717
    Abstract: An encoder includes a cylinder configured to be rotatable in a circumferential direction, a scale attached to the cylinder, and a detector configured to detect a position of the cylinder by using the scale, and the cylinder includes a fixed holder holding the scale, a scale holder configured to be movable in the circumferential direction of the cylinder and holding the scale, and a scale biasing portion configured to bias the scale via the scale holder toward a side of the fixed holder so that the scale is attached to an inner wall of the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventor: Kazuhiro NOGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8614762
    Abstract: An auto-focusing apparatus controls backlash compensation driving of a focus lens during exposure preparation when focusing is performed by moving the focus lens to a target position of the focus lens. A shutter release time lag can be reduced, and in particular, the auto-focusing apparatus can be usefully applied to the case where a moving subject is photographed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masataka Hamada
  • Patent number: 8605204
    Abstract: The method includes a first adjusting step of adjusting a first tracking curve which has been set so as to keep an in-focus state between a position of a magnification-varying lens and a position of an image sensor, and a second adjusting step of adjusting a second tracking curve which has been set so as to keep the in-focus state between the position of the magnification-varying lens and a position of the focus lens for an object distance. The magnification-varying lens is moved in an optical axis direction during a variation of magnification. The image sensor generates an image signal by photoelectrically converting an optical image formed by an image-pickup optical system. The image-pickup optical system including the magnification-varying lens and a focus lens moved in the optical axis direction during focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8605202
    Abstract: A camera and system comprising a camera in which, during exposure, the ratio of the distance between the lens and the sensor and the focal length is changed. The rate of change is set such that motion invariant imaging is achievable for practical speed ranges, i.e. speed of up to at least 5 km/hour at 2 meter distance of the lens, by deconvoluting the compound image. Preferably the achievable speed range is at least twice as high. A linear motion of the sensor is preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Remco Theodorus Johannes Muijs, Dmitry Nikolaevich Znamenskiy, Harold Agnes Wilhelmus Schmeitz, Ruud Vlutters, Franciscus Hendrikus Van Heesch
  • Publication number: 20130278816
    Abstract: The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller to control drive speed of a focus actuator moving a focus lens by using speed control data. The image pickup apparatus includes a focus controller to acquire focus information by using an image pickup signal from an image sensor. The lens controller receives, from the focus controller, timing information showing a timing relating to acquisition of the focus information, performs a reachability determination for determining, by using the timing information and the speed control data, whether or not the focus lens is able to reach a target focus information acquisition position by a scheduled focus information acquisition timing and performs, when determining that the focus lens is not able to reach target focus information acquisition position by scheduled focus information acquisition timing, calculation of a predictive focus position at scheduled focus information acquisition timing by using speed control data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoaki YAMANAKA
  • Patent number: 8558941
    Abstract: A camera for recording an image captured using image-capturing element in a recording medium is provided with a focal point detection device for detecting a focal point adjustment state of a photographic lens in each focal point detection region of a plurality of focal point detection regions set inside an photographic field. When electronic zoom shooting is carried out, part of an imaged picture is trimmed and an image for recording in the recording medium is created. For a plurality of focal point detection regions the focal point detection regions are changed according to the trimming range of the imaged picture. Focal point adjustment of the photographic lens is carried out based on focal point detection results for focal point detection regions that have been changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotake Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20130250163
    Abstract: A document camera has an automatic focus function, and performs the automatic focus process for automatically adjusting the focus lens to the focal position in accordance with the subject distance when the document camera is started up, or when the focus key of the input operation section is operated. Further, when performing the automatic focus process, the document camera is arranged to detect the focal position in the state in which the zoom lens is temporarily moved to the telephoto end with shallow depth of field, and then restore the position of the zoom lens to the original position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8542314
    Abstract: In a camera system including an interchangeable lens and a camera body, a lens controller performs control to detect a position of a focus lens in synchronous with a predetermined timing received from the camera body, store it in a storage unit, and transmit it to the camera body when receiving a position information request signal for requesting transmission of position information stored in the storage unit. The body controller performs control so that a timing of transmission of the position information request signal does not overlap a timing of transmission of the timing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Shibuno, Junji Takahata, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Naotake Kitahira
  • Patent number: 8531586
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of being downsized and being power-saved, and is capable of following the focal plane and controlling the exposure during the variably-magnifying operation. There is stored information on a position of a focus lens corresponding to a position of a zoom lens, which is dependent on an object distance. The focus lens is moved based on the stored information when the zoom lens is moved. When a moving direction of the zoom lens is switched, the focus lens is stopped, and then the moving direction of the zoom lens is switched. The focus lens is moved based on the stored information after the switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruhiko Ueyama
  • Patent number: 8525918
    Abstract: A portable electronic device and an autofocus control method of a camera of the portable electronic device are disclosed. The portable electronic device provides a G-sensor to detect the orientation of the portable electronic device, and provides a storage unit to store autofocus lookup tables for different orientations of the portable electronic device, respectively. According to orientation information from the G-sensor, the central processing unit of the portable electronic device selects one autofocus lookup table from the storage unit and thereby generates an actuating signal for a focus model. The focus model of the portable electronic device is actuated by the actuating signal to adjust an image distance between a lens module and an image sensor of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Li-Yin Chen, Chun-Ta Lin, Yi-Tsung Cheng
  • Publication number: 20130208177
    Abstract: In an electronic apparatus of the present invention, a torsion spring includes a coil portion and paired arm portions. An operation member is provided with paired engagement target portions with which the tip portions of the paired arm portions of the torsion spring engage. A housing is provided with paired receiving portions on both sides of the tip portions of the paired arm portions of the torsion spring. The operation member is provided with a seat portion where the coil portion of the torsion spring is to be installed. In connection with the seat portion, the installation face of the coil portion has a height difference, so as to allow the coil portion to be inclined in the direction uniformizing the engagement amount of the paired arm portions with respect to the paired engagement target portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130188092
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprising: a lens apparatus having: an image pickup optical system including a focus lens unit and a zoom lens unit; a zoom state detector; and a controller; a camera apparatus having: a light receiving unit; and an image display unit; an AF frame operation unit; and a distance measuring unit installed with a parallax with respect to an optical axis of the image pickup optical system, in which the controller is configured to: select, from among measured distances obtained by the distance measuring unit, a measured distance obtained in an angle of field of the AF frame, based on a position of the zoom lens unit detected by the zoom state detector and a position of the AF frame set in the display; and perform the focusing by driving the focus lens unit based on the selected measured distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Publication number: 20130148009
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes, from the object side, a positionally-fixed first lens group having a positive refracting power, a second lens group having a negative refracting power and movable in an optical axis direction for zooming, a third lens group having a positive refracting power, and a fourth lens group movable in the optical axis direction. The first lens group includes a negative lens, a positive lens and another positive lens disposed in order from the object side and satisfies 15.0<ft/fw<31.0??(1) 7.0<f1/fw<13.0??(2) ?8.5<fL1/fw<?4.0??(3) where fw and ft are the focal lengths of the entire lens system in a wide angle end state and a telephoto end state, respectively, f1 is the focal length of the first lens group, and fL1 is the focal length of the negative lens of the first lens group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sony Corporation
  • Patent number: 8462259
    Abstract: A focusing image display device is equipped with an autofocus processor, a spatial frequency detector, a magnification determiner and a focusing image display processor. The autofocus processor performs an autofocus operation using an image within a partial area of an effective pixel area. The spatial frequency detector calculates a spatial frequency of a focusing image within the partial area after the autofocus operation is completed. The magnification determiner determines the magnification of the focusing image in accordance to the spatial frequency. The focusing image display processor modifies the resolution of the focusing image with respect to the magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8451369
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to photoelectrically convert light of an object image formed by an imaging optical system to generate a signal, a first detection unit configured to detect a focusing state of the imaging optical system based on the signal generated by the imaging unit, a sensor configured to generate a signal different from the signal generated by the imaging unit without using the imaging optical system, and a second detection unit configured to detect an in-focus position of the imaging optical system based on the signal generated by the sensor. The sensor is located such that an amount of overlap between a detection range of the first detection unit and a detection range of the second detection unit at a first object distance is equal to an amount of overlap between those at a second object distance that is close to an infinite distance side compared to the first object distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Okawara
  • Patent number: 8446517
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and method capable of improving operability regarding a zooming operation and suppressing the photographing of an unstably focused image. A zoom information acquisition section 201 acquires the information specifying both a zoom direction of zoom-in or zoom-out and a zoom speed. A subject information acquisition section 202 acquires the information, which specifies the coordinate position of the upper left corner of an AF tracking frame and the area of the AF tracking frame, regarding a detected subject. A threshold value setting section 203 sets the value of a predetermined zoom speed as a threshold value for determining whether or not to release a subject tracking AF function. A switching determination section 204 determines whether or not to release the subject tracking AF function on the basis of the zoom speed acquired by the zoom information acquisition section 201 and the threshold value set by the threshold value setting section 203.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20130113985
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a zoom lens, a focus lens, a focus driver for moving the focus lens, a zoom position detector for detecting a position of the zoom lens, a focus position detector for detecting a position of the focus lens, a storing unit for storing the positions of the zoom lens and the focus lens, and a controller. When powering off, the controller stores detected positions of the zoom lens and the focus lens in the storing unit. When powering on, the controller compares a current position of the zoom lens which is detected at the power-on of the imaging apparatus with the stored position of the zoom lens, and controls the focus driver not to move the focus lens to a predetermined initial position of the focus lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Panasonic Corporation
  • Patent number: 8436934
    Abstract: A method for assisting in focal length detection is applicable to a digital camera having the flash. The method includes the following steps. First, the flash of the digital camera is actuated and a first image is captured. Afterwards, a characteristic exposure value of the first image is calculated. A focus range comparison table is looked up according to the characteristic exposure value to obtain an initial focus position. Then, a focus procedure is performed according to the initial focus position to obtain a target focal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventors: Chan-Min Chou, Chia-Lun Tsai, Tsung-Pin Lu, Tzu-Huang Huang, Chih-Pin Yen
  • Publication number: 20130107106
    Abstract: Determination is made whether or not a cross point coordinate of a zoom value and a degree of luminance belongs to the continuous imaging area of a two-dimensional coordinate plane. When the cross point coordinate is in a single imaging area, since the provability of shake occurrence is low, a first imaging processing is operated. In contrast, when the cross point coordinate is in the continuous imaging area, a shake correction flag representing the execution of the shake correction is set. A multiplane addition composition imaging is not performed uselessly under an imaging condition where the provability of shake occurrence is low. As a result, since the multiplane addition composition imaging is not performed without inevitability, it is possible to avoid a disadvantage that a useless addition processing is executed to thereby generate noise in a shot image stored in an image memory medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8421905
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an image pickup apparatus, comprising: an image pickup optical system which forms an image of a subject; an imaging device which obtains an image by picking up the image of the subject via the image pickup optical system; a target detection device which detects a size of a target in the image; a first control device which controls a focus position of the image pickup optical system according to the size of the target detected by the target detection device; and a second control device which performs continuous AF that detects a focusing position where a contrast in the image reaches a local maximum by moving the focus position of the image pickup optical system, moves the focus position of the image pickup optical system to the focusing position and keeps an in-focus state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8391609
    Abstract: A method of pattern and image recognition and identification includes building a data store of known patterns or images having known attributes and comparing those patterns to unknown patterns. The data store and comparison processing may be distributed across processors. A digital pattern recognition engine on each of the processors has the ability to compare a known pattern from the data store and an unknown pattern and compare the two patterns to determine whether the patterns constitute a match based on match criteria. If the comparison indicates a match, the match may be communicated to the data store and added as a known pattern with detected attributes to the data store. If the comparison does not indicate a match, the pattern may be flagged, transmitted to manual recognition, or further processed using character thresholding or cutting or slicing the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen G. Huntington, Bevan Rowley, E Derek Rowley
  • Patent number: 8379137
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to photoelectrically convert an object image projected on an imaging region and to output a photoelectrically converted electrical signal starting with a selected one of a plurality of predetermined reading start positions; an electronic zooming processing unit configured to perform an electronic zooming process based on an electrical signal output from the imaging unit; a focus adjustment processing unit configured to detect a signal for focus adjustment based on an electrical signal output from the imaging unit at timing different from that of outputting of the electrical signal used in the electronic zooming process; and a control unit configured to set at least one of the plurality of predetermined reading start positions as a reading start position common to the electrical signal used in the electronic zooming process and the electrical signal used in the focus adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8363155
    Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus for performing focus adjustment of an object image includes an image pickup portion, an evaluating portion, a focus motor for driving a focus lens, and drive controlling portion. The image pickup portion converts an optical signal of an object image into an electric video signal. The evaluating portion calculates an evaluation value from the video signal obtained by the image pickup portion. The drive controlling portion controls an acceleration/deceleration drive of the focus motor according to a acceleration/deceleration function. The drive controlling portion accelerates the drive of the focus motor up to a target velocity, and decelerates the drive of the focus motor from the target velocity after the target velocity is reached, in synchronization with a synchronization signal for generating a timing of starting exposure for the optical signal of the image pickup portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Tsubusaki
  • Patent number: 8363120
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing portion having a first mode in which one piece of pixel information is output per m-square light receiving portion(s) among light receiving portions in a first region and a second mode in which one piece of pixel information is output per light receiving portions as many as a number calculated by multiplying a square of m by a square of n among light receiving portions in a second region which is a similar figure to the first region at a scaling factor of n times. The apparatus accepts an operation to switch between wide-angle and telephoto, switches the processing portion to the second mode when an operation to switch to wide-angle is accepted and the processing portion to the first mode when an operation to switch to telephoto is accepted, and outputs image information based on the pixel information output from the processing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Shioji
  • Patent number: 8363127
    Abstract: A movement signal generation apparatus is disclosed which can convert an analog position signal of an optical adjustment unit into digital signals representing a movement amount and a movement direction of the optical adjustment unit and output the digital signals. The movement signal generation apparatus includes an analog signal output section which outputs an analog signal in accordance with the position of the optical adjustment unit, and a digital signal generation section which generates two digital signals in accordance with a movement amount and a movement direction of the optical adjustment unit based on the analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20120320255
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The digital photographing apparatus includes a body unit and an exchangeable lens installed to the body unit, wherein the exchangeable lens includes: a power zoom performer for performing a power zoom operation; and an iris for adjusting an amount light penetrating through an imaging lens, the body unit includes: an image pickup device for generating an image signal by capturing the light; a shutter for controlling light exposure of the image pickup device; and a release controller for controlling operations of the shutter and the iris, and the power zoom operation is prohibited when the release controller starts to drive the shutter or the iris. Accordingly, the power zoom operation is stably controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ishibashi, Masataka Hamada
  • Publication number: 20120320256
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus includes an exchangeable lens and a body unit to which the exchangeable lens is installed. The exchangeable lens includes a plurality of actuators and a storage unit that stores power consumption information related to driving of the plurality of actuators. The body unit includes an actuator controller that controls the driving of the plurality of actuators based on the power consumption information. Accordingly, the plurality of actuators included in the exchangeable lens may be stably controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji ISHIBASHI
  • Patent number: 8319884
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, or method is provided for imaging and for capturing visuals to provide image manipulation options for increasing resolution of subject images. A system, apparatus or method for increasing resolution of subject images using a camera to deliver unexposed photographic emulsion or a digital image and to generate images of greater resolution by modifying digital images or modifying digital and emulsion images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mediapod LLC
    Inventor: Craig Mowry
  • Patent number: 8279324
    Abstract: A control method of detecting an object image to be focused from a sensed image, setting a focus detection area in detecting an in-focus state of a photographing optical system, and exercising control such that the photographing optical system is moved based on a signal output in the focus detection area to carry out focus control, wherein, in the setting of the focus detection area, a first focus detection area corresponding to an object to be focused detected from the sensed image and a second focus detection area which is larger than the first focus detection area are set, and in the focus control, control is exercised such that the photographing optical system is moved based on output signals in the set first and second focus detection areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8269879
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an image pickup apparatus, comprising: an image pickup optical system which forms an image of a subject; an imaging device which obtains an image by picking up the image of the subject via the image pickup optical system; a target detection device which detects a size of a target in the image; a first control device which controls a focus position of the image pickup optical system according to the size of the target detected by the target detection device; and a second control device which performs continuous AF that detects a focusing position where a contrast in the image reaches a local maximum by moving the focus position of the image pickup optical system, moves the focus position of the image pickup optical system to the focusing position and keeps an in-focus state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8248508
    Abstract: In a preparation operation of a distortion correcting method, actual measured lens position information obtained by an optical system at a time of shooting an image, an error range in the lens position information, and a relational expression between a distortion pattern and the lens position information, are respectively obtained. In a correcting operation, actual measured data of the lens position information is fit to the relational expression to estimate the distortion pattern of the image shot by the optical system, and a temporary corrected image is obtained. In a selection operation, a distortion correcting pattern to be applied in main correcting performed on the image is selected based on the temporary corrected image. In a repeating operation, when the distortion correcting pattern is not selected, a value of the actual measured data is adjusted within the error range and the correcting operation is repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Tsukasa Murata, Sadami Okada
  • Patent number: 8243124
    Abstract: Provided are a face detection apparatus and a distance measurement method using the same. The face detection apparatus detects a face using left and right images which are acquired from a stereo camera. The face detection apparatus measures distance from the stereo camera to the face using an image frame which is provided from the stereo camera without a stereo matching process. Accordingly, the face detection apparatus simultaneously performs face detection and distance measurement even in a low-performance system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Seung Min Choi, Ji Ho Chang, Jae Il Cho, Dae Hwan Hwang
  • Patent number: 8203645
    Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup element including first pixels photoelectrically converting an object image formed by a light flux from an image-pickup optical system and second pixels including plural focus detection pixels photoelectrically converting a light flux divided from the light flux from the image-pickup optical system, a focus detector detecting a focus state of the image-pickup optical system based on outputs from the second pixels, a frequency component detector detecting a spatial frequency component of the object image formed on the first pixels, an image generator generating, based on outputs from the first pixels, a partial image corresponding to the second pixels of an image obtained by an output from the image-pickup element. The apparatus includes a controller switching whether or not to cause the image generator to generate the partial image according to the spatial frequency component detected by the frequency component detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kawarada
  • Patent number: 8203644
    Abstract: An image capturing device may include a detector including a plurality of sensing pixels, and an optical system adapted to project a distorted image of an object within a field of view onto the sensing pixels, wherein the optical system expands the image in a center of the field of view and compresses the image in a periphery of the field of view, wherein a first number of sensing pixels required to realize a maximal zoom magnification {circumflex over (Z)} at a minimum resolution of the image capturing device is less than a square of the maximal zoom magnification times a second number of sensing pixels required for the minimum resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Digitaloptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg
  • Patent number: 8203628
    Abstract: A camera system that can maintain a good focus state regardless of the speed of zooming during variable proportion zooming is provided. The camera system has a control portion that, based on information on the speed of the change in the focal length, determines whether to control a focus lens drive portion in either a first control mode or a second control mode. If it determines that control is to be performed in the first control mode, then the control portion controls the focus lens drive portion so that it drives a focus lens in the direction that brings a predetermined captured object into focus based on estimated values for auto focusing that have been calculated from the image data at various positions by controlling the focus lens drive portion so that the captured object distance is moved forward and backward in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Honjo, Koji Shibuno, Masato Murayama
  • Publication number: 20120133822
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and method capable of improving operability regarding a zooming operation and suppressing the photographing of an unstably focused image. A zoom information acquisition section 201 acquires the information specifying both a zoom direction of zoom-in or zoom-out and a zoom speed. A subject information acquisition section 202 acquires the information, which specifies the coordinate position of the upper left corner of an AF tracking frame and the area of the AF tracking frame, regarding a detected subject. A threshold value setting section 203 sets the value of a predetermined zoom speed as a threshold value for determining whether or not to release a subject tracking AF function. A switching determination section 204 determines whether or not to release the subject tracking AF function on the basis of the zoom speed acquired by the zoom information acquisition section 201 and the threshold value set by the threshold value setting section 203.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventor: Takashi Kawai
  • Patent number: 8186835
    Abstract: A method of measuring a zoom ratio of a projection optical system adapted to project image light representing an original image on a projection screen, the method includes: (a) projecting and displaying a measuring image including a measurement point on the projection screen so that the measurement point is displayed at a position with an offset from an optical axis of the projection optical system; (b) detecting a projected measurement point, which is the measurement point projected and displayed on the projection screen, from a measurement point detection position having a fixed position relative to the projection optical system; and (c) determining the zoom ratio using position information of the detected projected measurement point and correspondence between the position information and the zoom ratio, the correspondence being prepared previously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shiki Furui
  • Patent number: 8184381
    Abstract: A lens driving-control device including a plurality of lens groups having variable magnification function, a plurality of lens driving devices each of which being configured to adjustably drive a driving speed of each of the plurality of lens groups, a control device configured to control each of the plurality of lens driving devices to adjust the driving speed of each of the plurality of lens groups, and a plurality of lens position-detecting devices each of which being configured to detect a position of each of the plurality of lens groups, when the plurality of lens driving devices drive the plurality of lens groups simultaneously, the control device being configured to control the lens driving devices to switch driving speeds of the plurality of lens groups to a driving speed of a lens group to be adjusted depending on a positional relationship among the plurality of lens groups, the positional relationship being detected by the lens position-detecting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20120120303
    Abstract: The method includes a first adjusting step of adjusting a first tracking curve which has been set so as to keep an in-focus state between a position of a magnification-varying lens and a position of an image sensor, and a second adjusting step of adjusting a second tracking curve which has been set so as to keep the in-focus state between the position of the magnification-varying lens and a position of the focus lens for an object distance. The magnification-varying lens is moved in an optical axis direction during a variation of magnification. The image sensor generates an image signal by photoelectrically converting an optical image formed by an image-pickup optical system. The image-pickup optical system including the magnification-varying lens and a focus lens moved in the optical axis direction during focusing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8169530
    Abstract: An autofocus camera having a face recognition function, includes a photographing optical system including a focusing lens group; an image pickup device; an autofocusing system which performs a focus search process, and further performs a focusing operation in which the focusing lens group is moved to an in-focus position that is detected by the focus search process; a switch which activates the autofocusing system; a face recognition device for recognizing a face image based on object images; and a controller which makes the autofocusing system set the focus detection area on a face recognition area at which the face image is recognized and makes the autofocusing system perform the focus search process and the focusing operation on the focus detection area regardless of whether the switch is turned ON when the face recognition device recognizes the face image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company
    Inventor: Naoto Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20120050602
    Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising a plurality of lens units, each lens unit comprising at least one lens element, wherein a lens unit located closest to an object side has negative optical power, in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit at the time of image taking, the lens unit located closest to the object side and a lens unit located closest to an image side are fixed relative to an image surface, the lens unit located closest to the object side includes at least one lens element having positive optical power and at least one lens element having negative optical power, and an image blur compensating lens unit is provided, which moves in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, in order to optically compensate image blur; an interchangeable lens apparatus; and a camera system are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Imaoka, Kyoichi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20120050603
    Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising a plurality of lens units, wherein a lens unit located closest to an object side has positive optical power, among lens units located on the image side relative to an aperture diaphragm, a lens unit having negative optical power is at least one focusing lens unit which moves along an optical axis in focusing, an image blur compensating lens unit is provided, which moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, in order to optically compensate image blur, the image blur compensating lens unit and the at least one focusing lens unit are arranged adjacent to each other, and the condition: 0.1<(T1+T2)/H<2.0 (T1 is an axial thickness of the lens unit located closest to the object side, T2 is an axial thickness of a lens unit located having one air space toward the image side from the lens unit located closest to the object side, H is an image height) is satisfied; an interchangeable lens apparatus; and a camera system are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Imaoka, Kyoichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8125542
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an imaging device which includes a detecting unit that detects a first motion vector in an image that is obtained via an imaging system that can perform zooming, and a storage unit that stores in advance a second motion vector caused by performing zooming of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8126287
    Abstract: Imaging apparatus (20, 44) includes an array (22) of optical sensing elements (24), characterized by a pitch, which is adapted to generate a signal in response to optical radiation that is incident on the elements. Objective optics (26, 46), which have an optical axis (134) and are characterized by a cylindrical symmetry about the axis, are arranged to focus the optical radiation from an object onto the array with a point spread function (PSF) having an extent greater than twice the pitch of the array at an optimal focus of the objective optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation International
    Inventors: Alex Alon, Irina Alon
  • Patent number: 8085339
    Abstract: A method for adjusting image capture settings for an image capture device is provided. The method initiates with capturing depth information of a scene at the image capture device. Depth regions are identified based on the captured depth information. Then, an image capture setting is adjusted independently for each of the depth regions. An image of the scene is captured with the image capture device, wherein the image capture setting is applied to each of the depth regions when the image of the scene is captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Marks
  • Patent number: 8081253
    Abstract: A zoom lens has a negative object side lens unit (or first lens unit G1), a positive image side lens unit (or third lens unit G3), a positive intermediate lens unit (or second lens unit G2), and an aperture stop. The distance between the object side lens unit and the intermediate lens unit is smaller at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, the distance between the intermediate lens unit and the image side lens unit is larger at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, the intermediate lens unit moves in such a way that it is located closer to the object side at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, the image side lens unit moves in such a way that it is located closer to the image side at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, the aperture stop moves integrally with the intermediate lens unit. The image side lens unit is composed of two lens component including a front lens component and a positive rear lens component arranged in the mentioned order from the object side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Keisuke Ichikawa