Abstract: The capacitance of a charge-accumulating layer of an imaging pixel is made different from that of a charge-accumulating layer of a focusing pixel, thereby reducing the difference in saturation capacitance due to the difference between the light-reception efficiencies of the imaging pixel and the focusing pixel. The ratio between the capacitance of the charge-accumulating layer of the imaging pixel and that of the charge-accumulating layer of the focusing pixel is determined in consideration of a variation in ratio between the light-reception efficiencies of the imaging pixel and the focusing pixel with a change in at least one of the exit pupil distance and the aperture value.

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: The solid-state image sensor includes image sensing pixels, first and second focus detection pixels configured to respectively detect lights passing through different regions of a pupil of an image sensing lens. The sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including photoelectric converters of the image sensing pixels, a photoelectric converter and a first well contact region of the first focus detection pixel, and a photoelectric converter and a second well contact region of the second focus detection pixel, a first contact plug electrically connected to the first well contact region, and a second contact plug electrically connected to the second well contact region. The relative position of the first well contact region in the first focus detection pixel differs from a relative position of the second well contact region in the second focus detection pixel.

Abstract: The focus detection apparatus includes an image pickup part 107 including first and second pupil division pixels SHA and SHB to produce first and second image signals, a processor 121 performing a restoration process on the first and second image signals to produce first and second restored image signals, and a calculating part calculating a provisional value of a defocus amount of an image-forming optical system by using the first and second image signals. When the provisional value is smaller than a predetermined value, the restoration process is performed to produce pluralities of the first and second restored image signals by using a greater number of image restoration filters than when the provisional value is greater than the predetermined value, and the defocus amount is calculated by using the pluralities of the first and second image signals.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for controlling operation of an electronic device, such as a TV. The system includes a first sensor located at or near the electronic device and a second sensor spaced apart from the first sensor, wherein the first and second sensors are configured to detect motion of a user within an operating zone associated with the electronic device. A processor is coupled to the electronic device and the first and second sensors, the processor being configured to input a signal from the first and second sensors. Memory is coupled to the processor, the memory comprising a sensing algorithm configured to process the input signal from the first and second sensors and determine the location of the user with respect to the operating zone. The processor is configured to send a control command to the electronic device based on an output of the sensing algorithm.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an optical system that forms an image corresponding to subject light incident through a lens; an imaging device that produces a signal corresponding to the subject light incident through the lens and outputs the signal as a captured image; acquisition means for acquiring the distance to the subject; and correction means for correcting blur in the captured image outputted from the imaging device based on an imaging characteristic of the optical system specific to the subject distance acquired by the acquisition means.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises an image sensor including at least three focus detecting pixels, an optical axis displacement unit which displaces an optical axis of an imaging optical system by driving at least part of the imaging optical system, and a focus adjustment unit which performs focus adjustment by a phase-difference detection method using a pair of images detected in the at least three focus detecting pixels, wherein if the optical axis displacement unit moves the at least part of the imaging optical system, the focus adjustment unit performs focus adjustment using detection results of a pair of focus detecting pixels, among the at least three focus detecting pixels, other than a focus detecting pixel in which a common part of an exit pupil area and the light-receiving area of the focus detecting pixel is smallest.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a solid-state imaging device including focus detecting pixels which are arranged together in a region in which imaging pixels are arranged in a form of a two-dimensional (2D) matrix, a separating unit configured to separate imaging signals and focus detection signals from pixel signals output from the solid-state imaging device, to output horizontal direction focus detection signals output from a horizontal direction focus detecting pixel set including two focus detecting signals in a row direction and vertical direction focus detection signals output from a vertical direction focus detecting pixel set including two focus detecting signals in a column direction, a horizontal direction focus detection processing unit configured to convert a format in which the horizontal direction focus detection signals are output to a predetermined format.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image pickup device, a focus detection sensor including a first pixel group in which pixels configured to receive light beams passing through a partial area of a pupil of an imaging optical system are arranged and a second pixel group in which pixels configured to receive light beams passing through another partial area are arranged, and a correlation calculation unit configured to perform correlation calculation by using signals from pixels of the first pixel group and signals from pixels of the second pixel group, wherein the correlation calculation unit samples pixels, of the first pixel group, which have a positional shift amount of an integer multiple of a value obtained by dividing the predetermined interval, and performs correlation calculation by using signals from the sampled pixels of the second pixel group.

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: An image-pickup apparatus has an image sensor in which an image-pickup pixel and a focus detecting pixel are arrayed; a focus detection unit which detects a defocus amount of the imaging lens by a phase difference detection method using an output signal from the focus detecting pixel; and acquisition unit which acquires the ray vignetting information of the imaging lens. When the focus lens in the imaging lens is positioned within a position range in which the position of the focus lens cannot be detected, the focus detection unit detects the defocus amount of the imaging lens using the ray vignetting information in a position of the focus lens in which the amount of ray vignetting is the smallest within the position range.

Abstract: An image sensor (810) comprises a plurality of image pixels (R, G, B) and a plurality of focus-pixels (F), each focus-pixel comprising a light shield (51a, 51b) for partly shielding the focus-pixel from incident light so as to obtain a focus-related signal in a first mode of operation. The image sensor further comprises additional circuitry for processing the focus-related signal, which additional circuitry is conveniently located underneath the light shields. The additional circuitry may be adapted for accumulating the charge of two focus-pixels (F1a, F2a), e.g. by charge binning, and for providing the accumulated charge in a second mode of operation.

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 imaging device includes a micro lens that collects light from a subject, a light sensing element that generates a signal for performing focusing determination through phase difference detection by sensing subject light collected by the micro lens, and a light blocking portion that is disposed between the micro lens and the light sensing element and performs pupil division for the subject light by blocking a part of the subject light, wherein the light blocking portion is set such that a position of an image forming point of subject light passing through the micro lens and a position of an end portion of the light blocking portion on an entrance side become distant from each other according to a variation in image height.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor on which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, and which has a plurality of image forming pixels and a plurality of types of focus detecting pixels that are discretely arranged among the plurality of image forming pixels and respectively have different distributions of received light, and selection means for, when the plurality of pixels are read out from the image sensor while thinning out the plurality of pixels, selecting one thinning-out read-out mode from a plurality of thinning-out read-out modes having different thinning-out phases of the plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of types of focus detecting pixels are arranged so that in each thinning-out read-out mode, only signals of the focus detecting pixels of one type of focus detecting pixels are read out, and signals of the focus detecting pixels of other types are not read out.

Abstract: A stereo image capturing device includes two image capturing modules, an image processing unit, a memory and a processor for respectively storing and executing the image processing unit. Each image capturing module includes a liquid crystal lens, a voltage drive chip, and an image sensor. The image processing unit includes a WDF module, a focus control module, and an image synthesize module. The WDF module determines the sharpness of the colors of images, and acquires object distance of the images according to the sharpness. When the object distance is bigger than a predetermined distance, the WDF module modifies the sharpness of the images, otherwise the focus control module drives the voltage drive chip to change focal distance of the liquid crystal lens according to the object distance. The image synthesize module synthesizes the images to stereo images.

Abstract: The imaging device includes an imaging optical system that includes a movable lens that simultaneously adjusts the angle of view and the in-focus object distance, an image sensor, a plurality of phase sensors, an acquisition section (A/D conversion section) that acquires phase information from the plurality of phase sensors, a lens control section that controls the position of the movable lens, and a moving amount calculation section that calculates the moving amount of the movable lens necessary for implementing an in-focus state of an image formed on the image sensor due to light beams that have passed through the imaging optical system, based on a phase difference that is based on the phase information, the lens control section controlling the position of the movable lens based on the moving amount calculated by the moving amount calculation section.

Abstract: The focus detection accuracy of a focus detection device that employs an external AF sensor unit having a pair of line sensors that are each comprised of multiple unit line sensors is improved. The individual line sensors are arranged so that the center of the field of view of an imaging optical system at a predetermined subject distance, at which field-of-view adjustment for causing the field of view of the imaging optical system and the field of view of a focus-detection optical system to match has been carried out, corresponds to the center of one of the multiple unit line sensors included in the individual line sensors.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate having a principal surface, and three or more pixel regions formed in at least one direction of two different directions along the principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. Each pixel region includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions having different sensitivities. The photoelectric conversion region having the highest sensitivity in peripheral pixel regions of the pixel regions has a higher sensitivity than the photoelectric conversion region having the highest sensitivity in a central pixel region of the pixel regions.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an imaging unit which captures an image, and a focal range control unit which changes a focal position and a depth of field of a captured image by controlling an imaging device or a focus lens in the imaging unit. Further, the image processing apparatus includes a distance measurement unit which measures a distance to a subject, from a degree of blur in each of n images (where n ?2) captured by the imaging unit controlled by the focal range control unit and having focal ranges different from each other.

Abstract: Pixel values of focus detection pixels are suitably corrected according to reducing occurrence of a residual error of correction. A digital camera ii includes a CCD, an AF detection circuit, a specific pixel correction unit and the like. The CCD has standard pixels and phase difference pixels arranged in a predetermined pattern on an imaging surface, and outputs an image signal of one frame. The AF detection circuit evaluates an in-focus state by referring to a pixel value of the phase difference pixels from the image signal. The specific pixel correction unit determines a first correction value by multiplying the pixel value of the phase difference pixels by a predetermined gain, and compares the first correction value with the pixel value of the standard pixels around the phase difference pixels.

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: The image pickup apparatus includes: a first imaging sensor in which pixels including photoelectric conversion units are arranged two-dimensionally; a second imaging sensor in which pixels including photoelectric conversion units are arranged two-dimensionally, each pixel including one micro lens, and a first and a second photoelectric conversion units; a light beam splitting unit for splitting a flux of light entering an optical system into fluxes of light entering the first and the second imaging sensors separately; a first image processing unit for processing signals from the first imaging sensor, the first image processing unit generating a still image based on signals from the first imaging sensor; and a second image processing unit for processing signals from the second imaging sensor, the second image processing unit generating signals usable for focal point detection of a phase difference method and generating a moving image based on signals from the second imaging sensor.

Abstract: Photographing apparatus and method to reduce auto-focus time are disclosed. A photographing apparatus is provided that includes two imaging optical systems; an imaging device that converts images of subjects formed by the imaging optical systems into respective image signals; a subject distance calculation unit that calculates subject distances between the imaging device and the subject based on two images generated by the imaging device; and an in-focus position detection unit that detects an in-focus position based on contrast evaluation values of the image signals obtained for a plurality of focusing positions, performs preparatory focusing driving by moving the focusing positions close to the in-focus position based on the calculated subject distances, and scans the focusing positions from the position close to the in-focus position to the in-focus position.

Abstract: A focus correction setting application is connected to an imaging apparatus such that the focus correction setting application can communicate with the imaging apparatus. The focus correction setting application holds, in a focus position correction amount table with respect to various light sources, focus position correction amounts for correcting a shift in a focus position caused by inserting or removing an optical filter into or from an optical path of a lens group of the imaging apparatus, selects a light source in a window, acquires a focus position correction amount corresponding to the selected light source among the held focus position correction amounts, and controls the imaging apparatus to correct the focus position by the acquired focus position correction amount when inserting or removing the optical filter.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture for generating frames and changing lens positions based on the analysis of the frames. In one example, a controller coupled to a first camera and a second camera is to change a lens position of the first camera for a second frame based on the identification of a focal target in a frame generated by the second camera.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a pair of sensor units each of which includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a signal holding unit and a transfer unit, and outputs a signal held by the signal holding unit, comprising a control unit including a detector unit, wherein when one of the pair of sensor units operates in a first mode, the other operates in a second mode, the detector unit detects that the output has reached a predetermined value after the one starting a signal transfer, the one ends the signal transfer in response to the detection and determines the held signal, the control unit generates a control signal after that, and the other in the second mode accumulates generated charges and starts a signal transfer in accordance with the control signal, then ends the signal transfer and determines the held signal.

Abstract: A digital video camera performs a method to improve the image quality of captured images in a video image stream. The method includes capturing a first subset of images, outputting the images of the first subset of images as the video image stream, moving an image sensor and/or a lens of the digital video camera from a respective normal position to a respective test position before capturing an image of a second subset of images. The digital video camera captures a second subset of images interspersed with the first subset of images, compares image quality of the first subset of images with an image of the second subset of images, and determines if the image of the second subset of images exhibits improved image quality as compared with the image of the first subset of images. If so, an image quality improvement operation is initiated.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor having multiple segmental pixels each including multiple photoelectric conversion units arranged two-dimensionally for receiving light beams that have passed through different pupil regions, the photoelectric conversion units being divided for each segmental pixel in a first or second pupil-division direction for addition reading; a determination unit configured to determine an edge direction of an image for each divided area of the image sensor; a decision unit configured to, based on the determined edge direction, decide for each divided area either the first or second pupil-division direction; a reading control unit configured to perform addition reading of the segmental pixels by dividing the photoelectric conversion units in the first or second pupil-division direction decided, and to control the image sensor such that pairs of image signals are outputted; and a focus adjusting unit configured to carry out phase difference focus adjustments.

Abstract: A camera to which a lens unit is exchangeably attached includes a phase difference detection type focus detection unit, a contrast detection type focus detection unit, and a processor configured to acquire correction information used to correct a shift amount between a focus detecting light flux and an image-pickup light flux from the image pickup lens. The contrast detection type focus detection unit performs scanning in a single direction from a focus position detected by the phase difference detection type focus detection unit, the single direction being set based on the correction information.

Abstract: The image pickup apparatus includes a first detector detecting a first in-focus position by a phase difference detection method using paired image signals, a controller controlling position of a focus lens a basis of the first in-focus position to perform focusing, a second detector detecting a second in-focus position by a contrast detection method, a calculating part calculating a correction value for correcting the first in-focus position in image capturing on a basis of difference between the first and second in-focus positions, and a determining part determining a level of reliability of the first in-focus position. The controller calculates the correction value when the level of reliability is a first level, and to restrict the calculation of the correction value when the level of reliability is a second level lower than the first level.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of detecting focusing state with high accuracy even when a subject moves or a defocus condition varies. Focus detection zones are arranged like a lattice in first and second directions with respect to an image pickup device. A contrast focus evaluation value that evaluates image signals of pixels of the image pickup device corresponding to each focus detection zone in the second direction is generated. Focus of an image pickup optical system is adjusted based on the contrast focus evaluation value based on an image signal of a reliable focus detection zone. The focus detection zones are arranged so that one boundary of a first focus detection zone in the second direction is included within an area of a second focus detection zone in the second direction. The first and second focus detection zones are arranged and deviated in the first direction.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a first imaging unit, a second imaging unit, a light measurement calculator, a holding unit, a detection unit, a recognition unit, a selection unit, and a focus adjustment controller. The second imaging unit is configured to acquire first image information, second image information, and third image information. The selection unit is configured to select the at least one of focus detection areas using a recognition result of the recognition unit. The focus adjustment controller is connected to the selection unit and is configured to perform a focus adjustment control using a focus adjustment state in a focus detection area selected by the selection unit. The changing unit is connected to the recognition unit and is configured to change the predetermined range based on the first determination and the second determination.

Abstract: In a method for correcting shading effects in an image sensor including a plurality of pixels, shading effects on at least one readout pixel of the image sensor are modeled based on a parametric component, and the shading effects on the at least one readout pixel are corrected based on the modeled shading effects. The parametric component is dependent on at least one of a color channel corresponding to the readout pixel and a color correlated temperature of light incident on the at least one readout pixel.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes: an imaging element formed on a semiconductor substrate; a first optical system configured to focus an image of a subject on an imaging plane; a second optical system including a microlens array including a plurality of microlenses corresponding to the pixel blocks, and re-focusing the image of the imaging plane onto the pixel blocks corresponding to the respective microlenses; a first filter placed on the second optical system, and including a plurality of first color filters corresponding to the microlenses; and a second filter placed on the imaging element, and including a plurality of second color filters corresponding to the first color filters of the first filter. The first and second filters are designed so that the first and second color filters deviate to a periphery of the imaging area, the deviation becoming larger toward the periphery of the imaging area.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a micro lens that collects light from a subject, a light sensing element that generates a signal for performing focusing determination through phase difference detection by sensing subject light collected by the micro lens, a first light blocking unit that performs pupil division by blocking a portion of the subject light, and a second light blocking unit that is disposed between the first light blocking unit and the micro lens, and blocks the portion of the subject light which is incident to the first light blocking unit, wherein an aperture area of the second light blocking unit is smaller than an aperture area of an image generation pixel.

Abstract: An external AF focus detecting apparatus capable of achieving both good focus detection accuracy for a subject in a short distance and an appropriate amount of processing for a subject in a long distance is provided. In the case where the distance to the subject is less than a predetermined threshold value, with respect to accumulation pixels SA5 to SA25 selected in one of a pair of line sensors, pixels are selected in the other line sensor so as to include more pixels in the direction of shift of an optical image of a field of view, namely, pixels SB5 to SB29 are selected as accumulation pixels. Alternatively, pixels included in a range obtained by shifting by a predetermined number of pixels from the range of the accumulation pixels that have been selected in the one line sensor are selected as the accumulation pixels in the other line sensor.

Abstract: A focus detector, which detects a defocus amount from a displacement amount between images formed by a pair of light beams split from an image pickup system so as to pass through a pair of pupil regions, includes a pair of lenses and phase difference sensors, a memory unit for storing an image displacement amount between the image signals on the phase difference sensors in an in-focus state, a waveform read out controller for setting pixels to be calculated for the phase difference sensors, respectively, based on the image displacement amount, a correlation calculator for calculating a correlation amount between the image signals from the pixels to be calculated, a waveform degree-of-conformity calculator for calculating a waveform degree-of-conformity based on the image signals obtained from the pixels to be calculated, and a defocus calculator for calculating the defocus amount based on the correlation amount and the waveform degree-of-conformity.

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: Methods and apparatus for providing a position sensor to sense the position of a ferromagnetic target and generate a target position signal, a scaling block to receive the target position signal, and a digital RC filter to generate an output using bit shifting for dividing by some factor of two, wherein all division for computations in the RC filter are performed by bit shifts.

Abstract: In an auto-focusing (AF) sensor, it has been difficult to realize high-speed auto focusing and high-accuracy, auto focusing without increasing the scale of a circuit. In the present invention, a common buffer unit is provided for a plurality of memory cell units that are provided in each unit pixel.

Abstract: An imager is provided having an image-capturing sensor, a focusing detector, and a flicker detector. The image-capturing sensor captures a subject image with a rolling shutter and outputs image data. The focusing detector determines whether a subject image is in focus of the image-capturing sensor using the output image data. The flicker detector detects a flicker in the output image data. The focusing detector uses horizontal data without vertical data from the image data so as to determine whether a subject image is in focus, when the flicker detector detects a flicker.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises: an image sensor that receives images that are formed by light that passes through different pupil regions of a photographing optical system including a focus lens, and outputs a pair of image signals; a control unit that controls to acquire a pair of image signals from the image sensor at first and second lens positions of the focus lens; a conversion unit that, by multiplying a shift amount between a pair of images representing the pair of image signals by a conversion coefficient, converts the shift amount to a defocus amount; and a calculation unit that calculates the conversion coefficient based on displacement amounts of respective ones of the pair of images representing the pair of image signals acquired at the first and second lens positions, and a displacement amount of the focus lens from the first lens position to the second lens position.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus has a function of automatically focusing on an object to be photographed. The apparatus includes a first image-obtaining unit that includes a picture-taking lens which includes a focusing lens, and a first imaging sensor to obtain a first image of the object; a second image-obtaining unit that includes a range-finding lens and a second imaging sensor to obtain a second image of the object; a range finder that calculates a distance to the object by using the first image data and the second image data; and a focus control unit that moves the focusing lens according to the distance calculated by the range finder to attain focus on the object. The range finder includes an image-forming-position determining unit which determines a first image forming position and a second image forming position, based on which a distance calculating unit calculates a distance to the object.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus having a solid-state imaging device in which a focus detection pixel (phase difference detection pixel) is mounted on a light receiving surface, when dust is attached on the light receiving surface, a phase difference amount in a dust presence region is calculated from a detection signal of a phase difference detection signal and reliability of the phase difference amount is determined and when the reliability is high, phase difference AF control is performed with the phase difference amount calculated in the dust presence region.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor provided in the neighborhood of an image plane of a photographing optical system for forming the image of a subject; pupil dividing member for forming images of a pair of light beams that have passed through different pupil regions of the photographing optical system; focus detection sensors arranged two-dimensionally for photoelectrically converting images of the pupil dividing member; and a correlation calculation unit which, in order to obtain one focus measurement value from one pair of two-dimensional images generated by the focus detection sensors and extending in the pupil dividing direction of the pupil dividing member and in a direction perpendicular to the pupil dividing direction, calculates the correlation between the pair of two-dimensional images while shifting the pair of two-dimensional images in the pupil dividing direction.

Abstract: When a contrast-system multipoint ranging is performed to detect a main photographic subject in a screen based on a ranging result, a focus area is set at a screen center to perform continuous AF. When focusing is attained or almost attained in the continuous AF, the multipoint ranging is executed, and the main photographic subject in the screen is detected based on the ranging result. In this way, change in an angle of view can be prevented, and the main photographic subject can be accurately recognized.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a sensor cell unit including: a photoelectric conversion unit and a sensor cell unit writing switch connected to the photoelectric conversion unit; a memory cell unit including a memory capacitance and a memory cell unit writing switch connected to the memory capacitance; and a common signal line connected to the sensor cell unit and the memory cell unit, and the memory cell unit holds a signal including voltage fluctuation of the photoelectric conversion unit due to an OFF operation of the sensor cell unit writing switch, a fixed pattern noise of the sensor cell unit, and a fixed pattern noise of the memory cell unit to the memory capacitance before holding a signal of the photoelectric conversion unit to the memory capacitance.

Abstract: A method for focusing a film camera, in which at least one auxiliary camera is provided for producing an auxiliary representation of an object to be recorded, from which the desired focus setting is determined and a focusing signal is delivered to the film camera.

Abstract: A focal point adjusting apparatus comprises: a photoelectric converting unit that photoelectrically converts at least a pair of optical images and outputs at least a pair of image signals; a phase difference detecting unit that detects the phase difference between the pair of image signals that is output by the photoelectric conversion unit; a conversion unit that carries out the conversion of a phase difference that is detected by the phase difference detecting unit into a defocus amount by using a conversion coefficient; a focal point moving unit that moves the focal point position based on the defocus amount resulting of the conversion by the conversion unit; and a calibrating unit that calibrates the conversion coefficient depending on the result of the focal point moving unit moving the focal point position when the operator photographs a subject.