Abstract: A focus control method is provided that performs focus control by sensing a plurality of images of an object while moving a position of a focusing lens and determining in-focus positions in auto focusing areas located at a plurality of positions. The focus control method calculates an in-focus position of the focusing lens based on the focusing lens position at the time of reading an image signal of each of the auto focusing areas and a degree of focused state of each of the auto focusing area that is based on the image signal of each of the auto focusing areas.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for computing focus information prior to scanning digital microscope slides with a line scan camera. The methods include a point-focus procedure that works by moving the slide to the desired measurement location, moving the objective lens through a predefined set of height values, acquiring imagery data at each height, and determining the height of maximum contrast. The methods also include a ribbon-focus procedure whereby imagery data are acquired continuously, while the slide and objective lens are in motion. Both methods may be applied with either a static or a dynamic implementation.

Abstract: This is generally directed to auto-focusing techniques based on statistical blur estimation. An image can be captured at two or more candidate lens positions. The amount of blur of each image can then be determined, and the image containing the least amount of blur can be chosen as the “in-focus” image. In some embodiments, the amount of blur of an image can be determined by identifying how “Gaussian” an image is. Characteristics that are more Gaussian in nature can indicate that the image is more blurry. The Gaussianity of an image can be determined by estimating a generalized Gaussian shape parameter for that image. A smaller shape parameter can indicate the image is less Gaussian in nature. The shape parameter can be estimated in any suitable manner such as, for example, through a 2-d discrete wavelet transform, through a 1-d discrete wavelet transform, or through any other suitable manner.

Abstract: A tilt lens system includes a focus lens unit movable during focusing; a diaphragm sharing a primary optical axis with the focus lens unit; and a tilt lens unit, arranged on an image side of the focus lens unit and the diaphragm, having a negative refractive power and an optical axis tiltable with respect to the primary optical axis. Conditional Expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied as follows, 1.3<?t<1.7??(1) 0<P<H1??(2) where ?t is a lateral magnification of the tilt lens unit in a not tilted state, P is a distance from a most object side surface of the tilt lens unit to a rotating center of the tilt lens unit in a tilted state, and H1 is a distance from the most object side surface of the tilt lens unit to a first principal point of the tilt lens unit.

Abstract: A driving device and an image pickup apparatus including the driving device capable of reliably detecting a vibration state of a vibrated member even when a piezoelectric element including as a control circuit an H-bridge circuit which contributes miniaturization of the circuit is employed are provided. In this driving device, a single piezoelectric member including a first driving electrode and a vibration detection electrode on a first side and a second driving electrode and a ground electrode on a second side is attached to an optical low-pass filter serving as the vibrated member so as to vibrate the optical low-pass filter. Furthermore, the vibration detection electrode is used to detect the vibration status of the optical low-pass filter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an imaging unit including an image sensor configured to photoelectrically convert an object image formed by a photographic lens, a light-blocking member configured to adjust an exposure time of the image sensor by mechanically closing an aperture thereof to block a light flux from the photographic lens from entering the image sensor through the aperture, and a driving unit configured to drive the imaging unit along an optical axis within a range including a position where at least a part of the imaging unit is inside the aperture of the light-blocking member.

Abstract: A novel imaging apparatus capable of correcting a focus state by an AF detection value both simply and surely has been disclosed. The imaging apparatus comprises an auto-focus drive section for moving a lens, an AF processing section for calculating an AF detection value indicating the focus state from imaging data, a luminance processing section for calculating a luminance value from the imaging data, a correction section for calculating a corrected AF detection value by correcting the calculated AF detection value by the calculated luminance value, and a control section for controlling the auto-focus drive section based on the calculated corrected AF detection value. The imaging data is data not having been subjected to auto-exposure processing.

Abstract: When the mode is set to a pan focus mode, the imaging apparatus according to the present invention displays types of a shooting scene in an image display section 15 (S1), judges whether or not the user has designated the shooting scene (S2), acquires two focus positions corresponding to the thus designated shooting scene when it judges that the shooting scene is designated, and moves the CCD 6 and the CCD 7 to the thus acquired two focus positions (S3). Next, the imaging apparatus synthesizes image data picked up by the CCD 6 and the CCD 7, displays the thus synthesized image data as through image (S4), and acquires two focus positions corresponding to the lens position of the zoom lens every time a zoom operation is performed, and moves the CCD 6 and the CCD 7 (S5 to S8).

Abstract: A digital still camera includes an image-capturing unit capturing a subject image via an image-capturing lens to create an image, a focus detecting unit detecting focus in accordance with the image created by the image-capturing unit, an image-capturing lens driving unit driving the image-capturing lens in accordance with a result of the focus detection provided by the focus detecting unit, and a receiving unit receiving an instruction to initiate image capture by the image-capturing unit. When the receiving unit receives the instruction to initiate image capture, the image-capturing unit captures the subject image successively to create a plurality of images, while the image-capturing lens driving unit drives the image-capturing lens successively. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an image in a high in-focus state while shortening the time required until an image is actually captured after an instruction is provided to initiate the capture of the image.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing having an integrated camera. A panel is positioned in front of at least a portion of the camera and is operable to selectively switch between at least a substantially transparent state and at least a substantially opaque state.

Abstract: An improved approach to focusing a camera is provided. In one embodiment, a method of adjusting a focus of a camera includes translating a lens to a first position. The lens is vibrated relative to the first position, and a first image is captured on an image sensor while the lens is vibrated relative to the first position. A first sharpness score associated with the first image is calculated. The method also includes translating the lens to a second position. The lens is vibrated relative to the second position, and a second image is captured on the image sensor while the lens is vibrated relative to the second position. A second sharpness score associated with the second image is calculated. The first and second sharpness scores may be compared, and one of the first or second positions may be selected based on the comparison.

Abstract: An overall in-focus position is calculated based on an in-focus position of each clip image, an image size of each clip image, and an image size of each output image. Focus control for an imaging apparatus is performed based on the calculated overall in-focus position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for computing focus information prior to scanning digital microscope slides with a line scan camera. The methods include a point-focus procedure that works by moving the slide to the desired measurement location, moving the objective lens through a predefined set of height values, acquiring imagery data at each height, and determining the height of maximum contrast. The methods also include a ribbon-focus procedure whereby imagery data are acquired continuously, while the slide and objective lens are in motion. Both methods may be applied with either a static or a dynamic implementation.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for mitigating and/or minimizing effects of hand jitter or shaking during an auto-focusing process of an image-capturing device. In order to more accurately focus a lens for capturing a digital image, the lens is moved between a minimum and maximum position (along an axis) while capturing sample image frames using a focus window at various lens positions. Improved auto-focusing is achieved by dynamically adjusting the relative position of the focus window for each image frame to cover substantially the same image portion of the target image. By adjusting the focus window for each image frame to cover substantially the same image portion of the target image, variations from shaking may be minimized, thereby improving auto-focusing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for focusing an image on a pixel array. The method includes the steps of continuously changing the distance between a lens and a pixel array between a first distance and a second distance and obtaining an image projected onto the pixel array through the distance is changing. The apparatus includes a lens and an electromechanical structure to continuously change the distance between the lens and the pixel array between the first distance and the second distance.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic camera adapted to perform an accurate auto focus control operation at high speed. The electronic camera comprises a wobbling control section for generating a wobbling control signal for auto focus control of the electronic camera. The wobbling control section is adapted to generate the wobbling control signal for synchronizing exposure to light of a central pixel of the predetermined range in the image with the central timing of a near side stop operation and that of the period of a far side stop operation.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an image detector for producing a continuous image signal from an image received thereat; oscillation means coupled to the image detector for inducing a spatial oscillation in the image relative to the image detector; and a spatio-temporally matching filter in communication with the image detector and the oscillation means. The matching filter is configured to filter out aspects of the image signal not associated with the induced oscillation, to thereby provide enhanced image processing of the image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increasing the quality of digital images produced by systems using uncorrected lenses where in-focus elements in the image space of the lens are detected and recorded as directed by data in a lookup table that specifies where light from addresses in the lens specimen plane come to focus in the lens image space.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to prevent a conventional problem in that the focal point position cannot be determined before and after an in-focus point, even in a slow shutter mode. To this end, a camera control microcomputer of a video camera determines the drive amount of a focus lens for one field in accordance with the rotation angle of a manual focus dial when the shutter speed is 1/60 sec, 1/30 sec, or 1/15 sec, and controls a focus compensation lens driver and focus compensation lens motor to drive the focus lens by the determined drive amount in a direction corresponding to the detected rotation direction of the manual focus dial.

Abstract: A focusing apparatus including a focus signal detection circuit that generates a focus signal indicating the degree of focusing, an in-focus direction decision circuit that generates an in-focus direction signal indicating whether a focusing lens moved for focusing is on a far side or near side viewed from the in-focus position using the generated focus signal at predetermined time intervals, in-focus direction memory for storing the in-focus direction signal generated at predetermined time intervals, and a lens control amount calculation circuit and an in-focus vicinity decision circuit that controls the movement of the focusing lens based on a stored immediately preceding predetermined number of in-focus direction signals according to a predetermined rule.

Abstract: A digital camera is provided with a photographing lens, an image capturing element, which is configured to capture an optical image of an object formed by the photographing lens, a coarse movement control system configured to control a position of the photographing lens in a direction of an optical axis by a motor, and a fine movement control system configured to control a position of an image receiving area of the image capturing element in the direction of the optical axis is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image capturing device for applying auto-focus processing triggered in response to an operation of half-pressing a shutter button, and initiating image capturing triggered in response to an operation of full-pressing the shutter button. In the image capturing device, an image capturing mode control section detects an operational interval T between the half-pressing operation to the full-pressing operation, and, when the operational interval is longer than a predetermined threshold interval T0, selects a focus priority mode in which auto-focus processing is continued and image capturing is initiated after completion of the auto-focus processing, and, when the operational interval T is shorter than the threshold interval T0, selects a shutter chance priority mode in which the auto-focus processing is stopped and image capturing is instantly initiated.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus, information of a distance to an object is acquired according to an image pickup direction such as panning or tilting under a condition where focusing can be conducted, an image pickup direction is detected at a present position due to a panning angle and a tilting angle in the case where focusing cannot be conducted at a low illumination level, the information of distance to an object corresponding to the detected image pickup direction is read out from the memory, and a focus lens is driven at the read position, thereby making it possible to take a photograph even under a condition where the object cannot be focused.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a first clock generating unit that generates a first clock for sampling a video signal using a first crystal oscillator, a second clock generating unit that generates a second clock for sampling an audio signal using a second crystal oscillator, a calculating unit that calculates a correction value for adjusting a shift between the first clock and the second clock, and an adjusting unit that adjusts a driving timing of a capturing unit according to the correction value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for computing focus information prior to scanning microscope slides with a line scan camera. The methods include a point-focus procedure that works by moving the slide to the desired measurement location, moving the objective lens through a predefined set of height values, acquiring imagery data at each height, and determining the height of maximum contrast. The methods also include a ribbon-focus procedure whereby imagery data are acquired continuously, while the slide and objective lens are in motion. Both methods may be applied with either a static or a dynamic implementation.

Abstract: Provided are a lens apparatus and an optical apparatus having the same, the lens apparatus including a lens holding member holding a lens, a supporting member for supporting the lens holding member movably in the direction of the optical axis of the lens, a first drive mechanism for moving the supporting member in the direction of the optical axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the lens holding member in the direction of the optical axis, wherein a focusing lens can be moved to an in-focus position within a short time and highly accurately by an AF system.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a driver driving an optical element of an image pickup device to adjust a focus position of the image pickup device in the capturing of an image of a subject, includes a focus position control process startup unit for managing a startup of a focus position control process, a focus position control process executing unit for executing the focus position control process that is started under the control of the focus position control process startup unit, and a startup condition adjusting unit for adjusting a startup condition of the focus position control process, based on a change in a saturated luminance count contained in the image captured in the focus position control process.

Abstract: There is provided an image-taking apparatus which sets a proper exposure time with repressing camera shake in accordance with a situation of an object. This image-taking apparatus comprises an image-pickup element which converts an object image into an image signal and a controller which determines an exposure time of the image-pickup element, wherein the controller sets a maximum value of an exposure time of the image-pickup element in accordance with a size of an area which satisfies a predetermined condition for a distance of the object.

Abstract: A half-mirror is interposed between a photographing lens and a photographing CCD, and a focusing CCD is movably inserted in the light splitting path of the half-mirror. In photographing, particularly in photographing of a motion image, the focusing CCD is moved to search for an in-focus position. A position to which the photographing lens is to be moved is decided from the positions of the focusing CCD and photographing lens after search. The photographing lens is directly moved to the decided position. The lens need not be moved for searching for an in-focus position during photographing, and in-focus image data can be recorded.

Abstract: A storage unit is configured to store beforehand a table that shows a relation between spread parameters and command values supplied to a control unit to acquire a focused image of an object, and information that designates a command value corresponding to an inflection point on an approximated curve showing the relation that the spread parameters have with the command values, the control unit being configured to control a state of an optical system in accordance with an input command value. The luminance information about the object that lies at a distance falling within a range over which focusing should be detected is acquired, at the position of the optical system, which is obtained by the command value corresponding to the inflection point shown in the table.

Abstract: A method for adjusting relative position of a lens module by using a uniform light source is provided. The lens module includes a bottom board, an image sensor, an adjusting module and a lens apparatus. The image sensor is disposed on the bottom board and perpendicular to the optical axis of the uniform light source. The lens apparatus is moveably disposed in front of the image sensor. The adjusting module connects the lens apparatus to the bottom board. The image sensor electrically connects to a testing module, and the testing module electrically connects to the adjusting module. The method includes: (a) receiving specific signals from the corresponding specific areas respectively; (b) processing the specific signals to determine an adjustment quantity; (c) selectively adjusting the relative position between the image sensor and the lens apparatus by adjusting the module according to the adjustment quantity.

Abstract: A method of automatically focusing a camera determines a position of a focus lens where an amount of a high frequency in an image signal is a maximum. The amount of a high frequency included in an image signal is measured at intervals of multiple focus motor steps. Three of the measured positions (x1, x2, x3) and their corresponding measured high frequency amounts (y1, y2, y3) are identified, where y2 is the largest of the measured high frequency amounts, and x1 and x3 are the nearest measured positions on either side of x2. A quadratic function f(x) is determined for the high frequency amount with respect to the focus lens position x. A position at which a derivative ? f ? ( x ) ? x of the quadratic function f(x) is zero, is determined to be the position corresponding to maximum high frequency amount. Thus, the driving time of the focus motor can be reduced.

Abstract: A camera system has a camera with a photosensitive member that records optical images; and a lens apparatus removably mounted on the camera and forming an optical image with an image taking optical system including a focus lens. Focus control of the focus lens is changed in accordance the photosensitive member. A control circuit controls a lens driving unit and sets a driving pattern in accordance with information stored in a photosensitive member information storage circuit, and controls the lens driving unit based on focus adjustment state detected by a focus detection unit. An in-focus state can be achieved with focus accuracy suited for a photosensitive member in a combination of different cameras provided with different photosensitive members and interchangeable lenses common to these cameras.

Abstract: In a lens control apparatus for detecting a magnification lens position and a focus compensation lens and controlling a focus compensation position in zooming such that a focused position of the focus compensation lens with respect to a discrete magnification lens position is controlled with reference to a stored table in accordance with an object distance, when the magnification lens position and the focus compensation lens position are not stored in the table, the focus compensation lens position is estimated from the table data and the current lens positions.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a photographic lens that is provided on a camera body of the digital camera so that an optical axis of the photographic lens is stationary with respect to the camera body; an image pick-up element on which an image of an object to be photographed, which is formed through the photographic lens, is impinged; and a tilting/swinging mechanism, provided in the camera body, for tilting and/or swinging the image pick-up element relative to a plane orthogonal to the optical axis.

Abstract: A focus adjusting system includes an optical unit movable to adjust a focus of an object image to an image capture unit for imaging an object to produce a signal representative of the object image, a detection unit for extracting, as a first signal, a high-frequency component of the signal produced by the image capture unit, a moving unit for moving the optical unit a first amount of movement so as to cause the first signal to reach a maximum value, and a changing unit for changing the first amount of movement according to a quantity of image shake of the object image occurring in the image capture unit.

Abstract: A framing aid for a handheld document capture device such as a digital camera, comprising two pattern generators (10,20) generating convergent patterns (14, 24) that are in register on a target object plane. Triangulation between the two pattern generators (10,20) and using superimposed or complementary patterns (14,24) ensures that the hand held device (1) is correctly arranged at a predetermined range and orientation above a document to be captured, such that the document is accurately framed within the field of view of the capture device (1).

Abstract: A lens control apparatus and an image pickup apparatus each of which, during a magnification varying operation in an inner focus type of lens system, predicts a destination position to be reached by a variator lens after a predetermined time period, calculates a speed at which to move a focusing lens to a correction position of a focal plane relative to the predicted position of the variator lens, and controls the focusing lens.

Abstract: Detection information for shake is detected by a shake detection unit, predictive shake information is calculated based on the shake detection information, a start position (center) of a correcting operation on an imaging surface of a shake correction unit is determined, and driving of the shake correction unit at the correcting-operation start position is controlled. Accordingly, it is possible to make effective use of a movable range of the shake correction unit for actual hand shake or the like. Thus, a high degree of correction effect can be obtained, so that imaging failures due to hand shake or the like can be remarkably reduced.

Abstract: In order to be able to reduce power consumption while making possible manual operation in any scene when the photographic situation demands its use, an image pickup apparatus has a ring member arranged concentrically with the optical axis of lenses, a detecting device for detecting the quantity of variation resulting from the rotation of the ring member, a control device for shifting/stopping a group of optical lenses in the direction of their optical axis on the basis of the result of detection by the detecting device, and a power supply control device for changing the state of power supply to the detecting device according to the mode of use. Power supply to the detecting device is prohibited when in the automatic focusing mode, and permitted in a focusing-locked state when in the photo shooting mode. It is also prohibited in the viewing mode.

Abstract: The focusing state determining adapter is detachably mounted between an interchangeable taking lens and a camera body in a camera system. The focusing state determining adapter includes a focus-imaging element and a beam splitter, which divides the subject light entering through the taking lens into light entering the focus-imaging element and light entering the camera body. The focusing state determining adapter determines the focusing state of the taking lens according to an image captured by the focus-imaging element.

Abstract: A digital camera for use in a communication device in which the image sensor is formed on a substrate and is mounted on a micro-electromechanical system for movement relative to the camera lens to provide an autofocus capability. In addition the lens may be mounted on a micro-electromechanical system for movement relative to the image sensor to provide both an autofocus and a zoom capability.

Abstract: An electronic image pickup apparatus comprises a photographic optical system; solid state image pickup devices disposed on a plant where a subject image formed by subject beams which have passed through the photographic optical system is formed; a main mirror disposed between the photographic optical system and the solid state image pickup devices, wherein a part of the main mirror is formed of a half mirror to divide the subject beams which have passed through the photographic optical system into an observing beam and a focus detecting beam; a sub-mirror for reflecting the subject beam which has passed through the part of the main mirror; a focus detecting optical system for forming an image of the subject beam reflected by the sub-mirror on a partial area of the solid image pickup devices; and an electrical circuit for outputting focus detecting information based on image signals of the partial areas of the solid image pickup devices.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device includes an extracting circuit which extracts a focus signal corresponding to a degree of focus from a picked-up image signal, a focusing lens and a direction deciding circuit which decides the direction of driving the focusing lens on the basis of the output of the extraction circuit when the state of focus deviates from an in-focus state. The extracting circuit is arranged to simultaneously extract a plurality of focus signals having different frequency components from each other. The direction deciding circuit is arranged to perform computing operations on the focus signals separately from each other with respect to the focusing lens driving direction and to decide the focusing lens driving direction when the results of the computing operations come to coincide with each other.

Abstract: This invention provides an inexpensive image pick-up device which can enhance the focus detecting precision and reduce the time lag due to focus adjustment without using an exclusive-use AF sensor different from an image pick-up element. In the image pick-up device of this invention, a light beam which has passed through a photographing lens is electronically image-picked up in an image pick-up area of the image pick-up element. A light beam which is at least part of a light beam of a subject having passed through the photographing lens is guided to a focus detecting optical system by an optical member and focused to re-form an image on a focus detecting area of the image pick-up element. The image pick-up element has microlenses arranged only on the front surface of the image pick-up area. A color filter member is arranged on the front surface of a light receiving section of the image pick-up area.

Abstract: A digital camera for use in a communication device in which the image sensor is formed on a substrate and is mounted on a micro-electromechanical system for movement relative to the camera lens to provide an autofocus capability. In addition the lens may be mounted on a micro-electromechanical system for movement relative to the image sensor to provide both an autofocus and a zoom capability.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to realize stable autofocus operation by reducing the influence of an object which is different from a main object and exists on the periphery of a distance measurement frame on the autofocus operation. In order to achieve this object, an image sensing apparatus includes an image sensing device which generates an image sensing signal by photoelectrically converting light from an object, an extraction unit which extracts a predetermined frequency component from a signal component corresponding to a focus detection area in a frame sensed by the image sensing device, a weighting circuit which weights the predetermined frequency component extracted by the extraction unit, and a driving unit which moves a focusing lens to an in-focus position on the basis of the signal weighted by the weighting circuit.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an image detector for producing a continuous image signal from an image received thereat; oscillation means coupled to the image detector for inducing a spatial oscillation in the image relative to the image detector; and a spatio-temporally matching filter in communication with the image detector and the oscillation means. The matching filter is configured to filter out aspects of the image signal not associated with the induced oscillation, to thereby provide enhanced image processing of the image.

Abstract: A lens control device comprising a variator lens, a compensation lens for compensating for the displacement of the focal plane associated with the movement of the variator lens, a conversion lens disposed in an optical path in a detachable manner for limiting the area of the movement of the variator lens, and correction means for modifying the area of the movement of the compensation lens in response to the mounting of the conversion lens.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus with divers resolution includes a light source, a reflection lens set, a major lens and an image-capture unit. The light source is used to illuminate a document for further generating a document image. The reflection lens set includes a plurality of reflection lenses for forwarding the document image consecutively to the major lens. The major lens is used to receive the document image transported by the reflection lens set and to form the document image at a focal point thereof. The image-capture unit includes a plurality of image-capture elements with various resolution for meeting divers usage requirements. While in usage, a suitable image-capture element with particular resolution can be shifted to the focal point of the major lens for performing the imaging.