Abstract: A defocus amount is corrected according to the difference between the focus state of an imaging optical system that corresponds to the accumulation period of multiple image signals used to generate an added image signal and the focus state of the imaging optical system when the focal point is adjusted. Here, when calculating the focus state of the imaging optical system that corresponds to the accumulation period of the image signals used to generate the added image signal, the focus state of the imaging optical system that corresponds to the accumulation period of an image signal used to generate the added image signal is weighted higher the higher the sharpness of that image signal is.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging element having pixel portions each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion units for each microlens. The imaging element can output a pixel signal depending on a pupil-divided light flux. An image processing LSI processes a video signal based on the pixel signal output from the imaging element. An imaging element control unit controls the operation of the imaging element. An exposure control unit performs exposure control for an optical lens unit and an imaging element. In the first mode, the operation for reading pixel signals from all of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units constituting the pixel portion of the imaging element is performed. In the second mode, the control for reading pixel signals from a part of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and for stopping a circuit relating to the unused photoelectric conversion units by reading no pixel signal is performed.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises: an image sensing unit including photoelectric conversion elements for each microlens, with the microlenses being two-dimensionally arranged; a generation unit configured to generate a first signal pair having a first resolution from signals of a first area of the image sensing unit which corresponds to a predetermined focus detection area and generate a second signal pair having a second resolution lower than the first resolution from signals of a second area which corresponds to the predetermined focus detection area and is wider than the first area; a focus detection unit configured to perform phase difference focus detection processing based on at least one of the first and second signal pairs; and a recording image generation unit configured to generate a recording image from a signal output from the image sensing unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device for performing imaging, including a camera means for creating image data (ID) from an imaging target (IT), the imaging target (IT) including at least one primary image object (I1) and at least one secondary image object (I2), an image-processing chain arranged in connection with the camera, for processing the image data created from the imaging target, and a focussing unit for focussing the camera on at least the primary image object. In addition, a blurring unit is arranged in the image-processing chain, to blur at least some of the said secondary image objects in the image data, and arranged to use the information produced by the focussing unit.

Abstract: The image pickup apparatus includes a memory storing first tracking data indicating a positional relationship of a magnification-varying lens and a correction lens and second tracking data indicating a positional relationship of the magnification-varying lens and an image sensor. A controller moves the correction lens and the image sensor using the first and second tracking data. An in-focus position detector detects an in-focus position using an output from the image sensor. A tracking adjuster obtains an adjustment value for adjusting the first tracking data, by using a difference between the detected in-focus position in a state where the magnification-varying lens is located at a first zoom position and the image sensor is located at a position in the second tracking data corresponding to the first zoom position and a position of the correction lens in the first tracking data corresponding to the first zoom position.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor including a photoelectric conversion portion configured to receive light beams having passed through a portion of a pupil area of an imaging lens and output an image signal, a control unit configured to output, from the photoelectric conversion portion, a plurality of image signals captured by shifting a focus position of the imaging lens, an acquisition unit configured to acquire an image shift amount on an image sensing plane of the image sensor, which corresponds to a shift amount when shifting the focus position of the imaging lens; and a calculation unit configured to calculate a correction coefficient for shading on the image sensing plane based on the image shift amount by comparing signals corresponding to the same object among the plurality of image signals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for obtaining spatial information using an active array lens. In order to obtain spatial information in the apparatus for obtaining spatial information including the active microlens, at least one active pattern for varying a microlens' focus is determined by controlling voltage applied to a pattern of the active microlens, and at least one projection image captured by the at least one active pattern is obtained in a time-division unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus, includes a computing section which computes a defocus amount which has been estimated, a calculating section which calculates an accuracy of defocus detection, a setting section which sets a correction value from a result of the calculating section, a correcting section which corrects the correction value obtained from the result of the setting section, to reduce an absolute value of the defocus amount which has been estimated, a lens-drive amount calculating section which calculates a lens-drive amount based on a result from the correcting section, and a control section which, at the time of video photography, carries out focusing successively by using the defocus amount and the lens drive amount obtained from the computing section, the calculating section, the setting section, and the correcting section.

Abstract: A method for rendering an image from a light-field camera, which generates a raw light-field image, includes: generating feature data, which includes feature elements associated with position information and obtained based on the raw light-field image and a preset threshold condition; generating a raw focused image from the raw light-field image; obtaining a virtual focus position that is designated on the raw focused image; and refocusing the raw focused image according to the virtual focus position by updating pixel values of pixels of the raw focused image that correspond respectively in position to the feature elements of the feature data, so as to generate a refocused image.

Abstract: A focus detector for detecting a defocus amount of an image pickup optical system based on a displacement amount between two images formed by two beams divided from the image pickup optical system and passed through two pupil areas, the focus detector including: two lenses; two phase difference sensors for photoelectrically converting two subject images formed by the two lenses into two image signals; a correlation computing unit for dividing the two image signals based on a reference number-of-pixels to compute an image displacement amount for each divided area; a waveform coincidence computing unit for computing a coincidence degree of the two image signals in the each divided area in which the image displacement amount is computed by the correlation computing unit; and a defocus computing unit for computing a defocus amount based on the coincidence degree of the two image signals computed by the waveform coincidence computing unit.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a first focus detection unit that performs focus detection by a phase difference method based on an image signal obtained from an image pickup element, a second focus detection unit that performs focus detection by a contrast method, and a control unit that performs focusing, the control unit performs the focusing, in a first mode, by using a detection result of the first focus detection unit, and performs the focusing, in a second mode, by selectively using one of the detection result of the first focus detection unit and a detection result of the second focus detection unit according to lens information, and the first mode is a mode in which the focusing is repeated, and the second mode is a mode in which a lens is stopped after the focusing.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a prism for separating a first luminous flux into a plurality of second luminous fluxes, a plurality of imaging sensors disposed corresponding to the second luminous fluxes, an image generator for generating image data based on output image signals, and focus controller for executing a focusing operation based on focus detection image signals. The imaging sensors each have a plurality of imaging pixels and a plurality of phase difference pixels disposed in a specific pattern. An arrangement of a first imaging sensor, which is one of the plurality of imaging sensors, is different from an arrangement of a second imaging sensor, which is another one of the plurality of imaging sensors. The specific pattern is such that a position of a phase difference pixel of the first imaging sensor does not overlap with a position of a phase difference pixel of the second imaging sensor.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is arranged to perform live view to display enlarged image by deciding a Tv value, an Av value, and an ISO value based on a program diagram for deciding an exposure amount from brightness of an object, when a change instruction of an AF adjustment value used for a live view is provided, while when an operation to start the live view is provided and the change instruction of the AF adjustment value used for the live view is not provided, the apparatus performs live view by deciding the Tv value, Av value, and ISO value based on the program diagram if a photographing mode is not a manual mode, but performs the live view by using the Tv value, Av value, and ISO value set by the user, if the photographing mode is the manual mode.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an imaging unit that includes imaging pixels that are arranged in a two-dimensional array and focus detection pixels arranged in part of the array of the imaging pixels, and a control unit that controls to read out pixel signals of imaging lines including the imaging pixels each configured to output a signal used for image generation, and pixel signals of focus detection lines including the focus detection pixels, wherein the control unit changes one of a thinning method and an addition method between the imaging lines and the focus detection lines.

Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to an imaging device and method. One example of such an imaging device includes a focus imaging unit and a camera imaging unit. The camera imaging unit is separate from the focus imaging unit and is configured to record an image. The imaging device additionally includes a focusing unit coupled to the focus imaging unit and the camera imaging unit. This focusing unit is configured to adjust a focus position of the focus imaging unit and the camera imaging unit. The imaging device further includes a control unit that is configured to actuate the focusing unit to adjust the focus position of the focus imaging unit and to thereby determine an optimal focus position, and to actuate the focusing unit to adjust the focus position of the camera imaging unit based on the determined optimal focus position.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprising an image sensor including image forming pixels each of which generates a signal for image generation, and focus detection pixels each of which generates a signal for phase difference detection, readout means for reading out the signal of each pixel of the image sensor, focus detection means for detecting a focus by a phase-difference detection method using the signals for phase difference detection from the focus detection pixels, and switching means for switching a combination of the focus detection pixels to be used for focus detection by the focus detection means between a case in which the readout means reads out the signals of the pixels of the image sensor after thinning-out and a case in which the readout means reads out the signals of the pixels of the image sensor without thinning-out.

Abstract: A digital single-lens reflex camera that can reduce deterioration in image quality due to a camera shake or an object movement and easily pick up an image with a good image quality. In the digital single-lens reflex camera, when a body microprocessor judges that an object speed detected based on a detected object movement is smaller than a threshold value, a conversion lens camera shake correcting device in a conversion lens or a camera body shake correcting device in a camera body is controlled to carry out camera shake correction. If the object speed is equal to or more than the threshold value, the body microprocessor makes a digital signal gain setting unit high in gain so as to increase the ISO sensitivity or makes a shatter speed faster to set a shorter exposure time and has a plurality of images continuously picked up under different exposure conditions.

Abstract: In an imaging device having an objective and a stage for holding a sample to be imaged, a method for autofocusing is presented. The method includes determining a measured focus value corresponding to at least a first of a plurality of logical image segments. Further, the method includes imaging the first logical image segment using the measured focus value. The method also includes determining a predicted focus value for a second of the plurality of logical image segments using the measured focus value and a stored focus variation parameter. In addition, the method includes imaging the second logical image segment using the predicted focus value.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a first image generator 3 that generates a first unit image based on a signal read from the image pickup device with each read cycle of the signal, a detector 5 that detects a luminance of the first unit image and detects a luminance variation in a plurality of the first unit images, a second image generator 6 that amplifies the first unit image in accordance with the luminance to generate a second unit image if the luminance variation exists, and a controller 8 or 9 that generates a focus evaluation signal based on the second unit image to perform a focus control using the focus evaluation signal.

Abstract: With respect to a charged particle beam device, the step size of focal point measure for executing autofocusing is optimized to a value that is optimal with respect to the spread of an approximation curve for a focal point measure distribution. The step size of focal point measure for executing autofocusing is corrected using an image feature obtained based on a layout image derived from an image obtained at a first magnification or from design data. Autofocusing is executed based on the obtained step size to carry out observation, measurement, or to image the sample under inspection.

Abstract: The autofocus function included in general digital cameras and video cameras cannot set the camera to an in-focus state for a scene including a point light source depending on cases. This difficulty is removed by an image signal processing device including an area setting unit to set an area as a target area to calculate a focus evaluation value, a detection unit to judge presence or absence of a point light source in the area set as a target area, and a calculation unit to identify, by use of information obtained from the detection unit, an area in which a point light source exists and to calculate a focus evaluation value by removing the identified area from the target area. Once the detection unit detects a point light source, it conducts the operation only after a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An image sensor has multiple pixel units in correspondence with each microlens, and focus detection is performed with a phase-difference detection method using output from the image sensor. The signals to be used in the focus detection can be combined, and a larger signal combining amount is set in the case of output from the image sensor with a first thinning amount than in the case of output from the image sensor with a second thinning amount.

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: The focus detection apparatus includes an image pickup part (101-107) including first and second pixels photoelectrically converting first and second images formed by light fluxes passing through different pupil area of an image-forming optical system to produce first and second image signals, a first signal processor (121) performing a first process to smooth the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters, a second signal processor (121) performing a second process to sharpen the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters. A calculating part (121) calculates a defocus amount by using the first and second image signals subjected to the first process when a contrast value is higher than a predetermined value, and calculates the defocus amount by using the first and second image signals subjected to the second process when the contrast value is lower than the predetermined value.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens including a focus lens for collecting subject light, an imaging sensor operable to generate an image signal based on the subject light, a shutter device that is arranged between the interchangeable lens and the imaging sensor and includes a first curtain and a second curtain, a pulse counter operable to detect positions of the first curtain and the second curtain, and a body controller operable to start capturing of a signal from the imaging sensor based on the positions of the first curtain and the second curtain detected by the pulse counter are provided.

Abstract: Image data is processed to facilitate focusing and/or optical correction. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an imaging arrangement collects light data corresponding to light passing through a particular focal plane. The light data is collected using an approach that facilitates the determination of the direction from which various portions of the light incident upon a portion of the focal plane emanate from. Using this directional information in connection with value of the light as detected by photosensors, an image represented by the light is selectively focused and/or corrected.

Abstract: A focal position is searched for by contrast evaluation method, the focus lens is stopped once it is detected that the focus lens has passed the focal position, and the defocus amount at the stopping position is found. The defocus amount corresponding to the difference between the focal position and the stopping position is subtracted from this defocus amount to compute a correction value for the defocus amount. Consequently, a correction value for the focus detection result by phase-difference detection method can be obtained accurately in a focus detection apparatus capable of automatic focus detection by phase-difference detection method and contrast evaluation method, as well as a method for controlling this apparatus.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device has normal pixels, first phase difference pixels, and second phase difference pixels. “R”, “G”, and “B” denote colors of color filters provided for the respective pixels. A color dependence characteristic calculator averages output signals from the normal pixels located at the center of a screen, on a color basis, and thereby calculates average output signals. A color determination section determines a main color of a subject, out of three primary colors, based on the average output signals. An AF controller performs focus adjustment of a taking lens based on the output signals of the determined main color, out of the output signals from the first phase difference pixels and the second phase difference pixels.

Abstract: In an image capturing apparatus that carries out TV-AF type autofocus control by setting an AF frame on a predetermined object, for example a person's face, that is detected in an image, in a case in which a in-focus position search direction cannot be determined from an AF evaluation value, changes in the size of the region of the object are detected and focus detection is carried out by determining the in-focus position search direction based on the changes in the size of the region of the object.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: an imaging unit configured to repeat image capturing and output captured images in sequence; a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly transmit the captured images in sequence and wirelessly receive a first information specifying one of the captured images wirelessly transmitted in sequence and a second information indicating a specific position or region in the captured image specified by the first information; a subject detection unit configured to detect a subject present at the position or region indicated by the second information in the captured image specified by the first information, from the captured image newly captured by the imaging unit; and a focus adjustment unit configured to adjust focus so that the subject detected by the subject detection unit is in focus.

Abstract: A photoelectric-conversion device that allows for both of widening the dynamic range and performing an operation to monitor the amount of received light is achieved. A sensor-cell unit that can operate in low-sensitivity mode and high-sensitivity mode, a transfer unit transferring a signal outputted from a unit pixel, and a monitoring unit monitoring a signal transmitted from the sensor-cell unit, the signal being output from the transfer unit, are provided.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus includes a position detecting unit for a focus unit, a driving unit for the focus unit, a focus detecting unit using a phase difference method, a contrast acquiring unit for picking up an image of object, and a focusing determining unit based on a contrast, a cyclic pattern determining unit for an object based on focus information obtained by the focusing detecting unit, a target position setting unit for driving of the focus unit, and a focusing direction determining unit, and, when the object has a cyclic pattern, the apparatus determines a direction of an in-focus point, sets a target position in the determined direction of the in-focus point, drives the focus unit toward the target position, and determines whether or not in-focus state is achieved by using the focusing determining unit.

Abstract: A chromaticity correction device corrects chromaticity of a video signal displayed on a display panel of a display device to correspond to a change in a luminance value of the display panel. The chromaticity correction device includes a luminance detection unit which detects the luminance value, a backlight driving level detection unit which detects a backlight driving level, a temperature detection unit which detects an internal device temperature or an ambient temperature, a reference luminance value calculation unit which estimates a reference luminance value in a characteristic of an initial state, a chromaticity calculation unit which obtains a chromaticity change amount of white point chromaticity and estimated white point chromaticity that is an estimated value of current white point chromaticity, a chromaticity correction value calculation unit which obtains a chromaticity correction value and a chromaticity correction circuit which corrects the chromaticity of the video signal.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus performs focus detection based on a pair of image signals obtained from an image sensor including pixels each having a pair of photoelectric conversion units capable of outputting the pair of image signals obtained by independently receiving a pair of light beams that have passed through different exit pupil regions of an imaging optical system. In the focus detection, an f-number of the imaging optical system is acquired, the pair of image signals undergo filtering using a first filter formed from an summation filter when the f-number is less than a predetermined threshold, or using a second filter formed from the summation filter and a differential filter when the f-number is not less than the threshold, and focus detection is performed by a phase difference method based on the pair of filtered image signals.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: an imaging unit that images a subject image and generates image data; a receiving unit that receives a mode setting to either one of a full AF mode of executing auto focus control by referring to data corresponding to an entire region of an image to be indicated by the image data and a partial AF mode of executing the auto focus control by referring to data corresponding to a partial region of the image to be indicated by the image data; and a controller that, in response to whether the mode is the full AF mode or the partial AF mode, generates first distance image data regarding a depth of the entire region of the image to be indicated by the image data or second distance image data regarding a depth of the partial region of the image to be indicated by the image data.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus is arranged to obtain image data of an object obtained by an imaging unit having a pupil division unit of a photographing optical system for forming an optical image of the object, obtain setting information of a focus detection mode of the photographing optical system, set a focus detection area set into a pixel array area of the imaging unit, by dividing a predetermined area into a plurality of division areas in accordance with the focus detection mode and arranging the plurality of division areas in accordance with a different positional relation, form focus detection information by using the image data of the set focus detection area, and generate a drive signal of the photographing optical system on the basis of the focus detection information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an imaging characteristic acquisition unit that acquires, on the basis of information that designates a depth of field for second image data to be generated, imaging characteristics of a virtual optical system having the designated depth of field; a selection unit that determines, on the basis of the imaging characteristics acquired, an influence range in which an influence exerted onto an image by an object that is spaced apart from the focal position in the optical axis direction is greater than a predetermined condition, and that selects first image data of which focal position is contained within the influence range, from among a plurality of first image data items; and a generation unit that generates the second image data using the first image data selected by the selection unit.

Abstract: An image capturing element is provided with: a color filter in which a basic arrangement pattern having first and second arrangement patterns arranged to be symmetrical about a point is repeated. The first arrangement pattern comprises first filters arranged on pixels in 2×2 arrangement located at the upper-left portion and a pixel located at the lower-right in a 3×3 pixel square arrangement, second filters arranged on the center and lower end lines in the vertical direction of the square arrangement, and third filters arranged on the center and right lines in the horizontal direction of the square arrangement. The second arrangement pattern comprises the first filters having the same arrangement as in the first arrangement pattern, and the second filters and the third filters having the arrangements interchanged with each other compared to the arrangements in the first arrangement pattern.

Abstract: An optical device comprises an image sensor having plural pixels and a detection unit configured to detect a focus state. The pixels include first focus state detection pixel pairs that respectively receive a pair of light fluxes having transmitted different pupil areas of the photographing lens, and second focus state detection pixel pairs that respectively receive a pair of light fluxes having transmitted pupil areas shifted by a predetermined amount from the pupil areas where the pair of light fluxes received by the first focus state detection pixel pairs have transmitted. The detection unit detects the focus state based on signal pairs obtained by adding the signals output from the first and second focus state detection pixel pairs, respectively, if a subject to be photographed is darker than a predetermined brightness, otherwise the detection unit detects the focus state based on signal pairs output from the first and second focus state detection pixel pairs, respectively.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for improving functionalities of a back-end device, e.g., a video encoder, using parameters detected by a front-end device, e.g., a video camera. The techniques may involve detecting a scene change in a captured frame, based on one or more parameters of auto exposure (AE), auto white balance (AWB), and auto focus (AF) functions. If a scene change is detected in a captured frame, a video processing device, which may be a stand-alone device, or may be integrated into one of the front-end or back-end devices, provides an indication of the scene change. The video encoder interprets the signal as a trigger to encode the frame indicated as the frame where a scene change occurred as a reference I frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of auto focusing for a camera based on analysis of the image content in a target window are disclosed. According to the present invention, image content in a target window is analyzed to determine a state, a state change or both associated with the target window. The information associated with the state, the state change or both is provided to update the camera parameters. The state may be size, position, pose, behavior or gesture of one or more objects, or areas associated with one or more regions in the target window. The state may correspond to the motion field or optical flow associated with the target window. The state may correspond to object motion, extracted features or scales of the objects in the target window. The state may correspond to image content description of the segmented regions or deformable object contour in the target window.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises: a sensor unit provided with a plurality of sensor pairs, including a first and second sensor pairs, each of which receives a light beam from an object, accumulates charge, and outputs a pair of image signals for focus detection; a control unit configured to detect a level of a predetermined signal based on the accumulated charge in each sensor pair, and controls charge accumulation time in accordance with the level of the predetermined signal; and a setting unit configured to set a priority of each sensor pair in accordance with the object. The priority of the first sensor pair is set higher than that of the second sensor pair, and the control unit detects the level of the predetermined signal of the first sensor pair in prior to that of the second sensor pair.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element including a plurality of focus detection pixels configured to generate a pair of image signals based on light beams passing through pupil regions different from each other in an image pickup optical system, a detection unit configured to detect a base line length of the plurality of focus detection pixels and a pupil division direction based on position information of a focus detection region in the image pickup element and information relating to the image pickup optical system, and a calculation unit configured to calculate a phase difference in the pupil division direction by using the pair of image signals.

Abstract: This invention includes an imaging device that photographs a subject, a display device that has a display screen displaying image data photographed by the imaging device, a zoom device that varies the display screen, an extraction device that extracts a predetermined feature portion from image data photographed by the imaging device, a directive device that directs the display device so as to display a predetermined feature portion extracted by the extraction device in a predetermined form, and a controller that controls the directive device so as not to direct a display on the display device in accordance with the varying magnification of the zoom device. Namely, an icon of the extraction result is not displayed while the zoom is in action, so that it can avoid an inappropriate display in which the icon display does not correspond to a photographed subject due to the subject's quick movement or a sudden change in its size within a picture frame.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a control unit provided to perform first control or second control on the same type of plural pixel rows as phase difference pixel rows which are arranged in parallel in a column direction at regular intervals, in which pixel rows on which the first control is performed and pixel rows on which the second control is performed are alternately arranged in parallel in the column direction, in the first control, a signal is not read out from each pixel of the pixel rows to be controlled but a signal is read out from each pixel of two pixel rows which are adjacent to the pixel row to be controlled, in the second control, a signal is read out from each pixel of the pixel row to be controlled, and the control unit performs the first control at least on the phase difference pixel rows.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup lens having an aperture stop; an image pickup device obtaining image pickup data based on light detected; one or more microlenses arranged between the image pickup lens and the image pickup device so as to correspond to a plurality of pixels in a partial region of the image pickup device; and an image processing section performing image processing based on the image pickup data obtained from the image pickup device, in which the image processing section includes: a distance measurement section measuring a distance from the image pickup lens to a measurement object based on pixel data in the partial region of the image pickup device, and an interpolation section interpolating pixel data for the partial region of the image pickup device.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus including: an image sensor including a plurality of focus detection pixel pairs that perform photoelectric conversion on each pair of light beams that have passed through different regions of a photographing lens and output an image signal pair; a flash memory that stores shift information on relative shift between an optical axis of the photographing lens and a central axis of the focus detection pixel pairs; a correction unit that corrects a signal level of the image signal pair based on the shift information and exit pupil information of the photographing lens so as to compensate for an unbalanced amount of light that enters each of the focus detection pixel pairs; and a focus detection unit that detects a focus of the photographing lens using the image signal pair corrected by the correction unit.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an optical system, an image sensor having pixels each including a plurality of photoelectric converters capable of outputting image signals independently, a driving unit which controls driving of the image sensor, a focus detection unit, and an addition unit which adds the output image signals on a per-pixel basis. In each pixel, the photoelectric converters are divided into groups each including at least two photoelectric converters and a charge accumulation period for one group is delayed from and partially overlaps a charge accumulation period for another. The driving unit drives the image sensor so that image signals are read from the groups in turn, and the focus detection unit detects a focus state using a phase difference method based on the read image signals independently output from the photoelectric converters.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject to obtain an image signal; a display unit configured to display an image based on the image signal and a specific index; an instruction-receiving unit configured to receive a specific instruction; and a control unit configured to perform control such that, in a case where a specific mode is set, when an auto-focus point is designated using the instruction-receiving unit, it is determined whether the face of a subject is located at the auto-focus point, and then if it is determined that the face of the subject is located at the auto-focus point, auto-focusing, auto-exposure, and auto-white-balance suitable for the position of the face are performed.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensing unit that generates an image signal by performing a photoelectric conversion on an object image, a focus evaluation value calculation unit that calculates a focus evaluation value indicating a contrast of the image signal, a control unit that controls a position of a focus lens based on the focus evaluation value, a focus level calculation unit that calculates a focus level indicating a degree of focus using the focus evaluation value, and a detection unit that detects an exposure condition in taking an image of an object. The control unit determines a condition in terms of driving the focus lens based on the focus level corresponding to the exposure condition.