Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for scheduling computation resources for generating feature maps for video. The method comprises determining runtime for generating feature maps of a reference picture and a predicted picture, determining available computation resources for generating the feature maps, and allocating, based on the runtime, one or more computation resources among the available computation resources for generating the feature maps such that the feature maps are generated at regular time intervals.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first device identifies a region of interest in video in which a light source of a second device is present by: using a current frame of the video and a prior frame of the video to compute a difference frame, performing thresholding on the current frame to form a threshold frame, and performing pixel-wise conjunction operations between the difference frame and the threshold frame, to identify a centroid of the light source of the second device. The first device detects a message within the region of interest transmitted by the second device via its light source. The device provides the message for review by a user.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a lens apparatus to be detachably attached to an image pickup apparatus and including first and second focus lenses that are independently movable during focusing includes an acquisition unit for acquiring optical data that include information on a focus sensitivity of the first focus lens, and information on a focus sensitivity of the second focus lens, and a calculation unit for calculating a moving speed of the first focus lens using a target image plane speed acquired from the image pickup apparatus, target positions of the first and second focus lenses, current positions of the first and second focus lenses, and the optical data, and to calculate a moving speed of the second focus lens using the target positions of the first and second focus lenses, and the current positions of the first and second focus lenses.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system determines pixel data from a pair of regions of an image generated by an imaging device, the pair of regions includes a first region and a second region, where the first region includes a first plurality of pixels and the second region includes a second plurality of pixels. The system determines a plurality of pixel pairs of the image, where a pixel pair includes a first pixel from the first plurality of pixels and a second pixel from the second plurality of pixels. The system calculates a plurality of contrasts based on the plurality of pixel pairs, where a contrast is calculated between the first pixel and the second pixel. The system determines a contrast distribution based on the plurality of contrasts. The system calculates a value representative of a capability of the imaging device to detect contrast based on the contrast distribution.

Abstract: A lens barrel of the invention includes: an imaging optical system including a focus adjustment lens; a driver that drives the focus adjustment lens in a direction of an optical axis; a transceiver that transmits and receives a signal to and from a camera body; and a controller that controls the transceiver to repeatedly transmit a first image plane transfer coefficient which is determined in correspondence with a position of the focus adjustment lens included in the imaging optical system and a second image plane transfer coefficient which does not depend on the position of the focus adjustment lens to the camera body at a predetermined interval, and, when the controller repeatedly transmits the second image plane transfer coefficient to the camera body, the controller varies the second image plane transfer coefficient over time.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate a plurality of respective focus detection signals corresponding to different pupil areas by using pixel signals acquired by pixels, and a detection unit configured to calculate an image deviation amount based on the plurality of focus detection signals and detect a defocus amount from the image deviation amount and a conversion coefficient. The detection unit calculates the conversion coefficient based on a pupil eccentric amount of an image sensor, an incident pupil distance of the image sensor, and opening information about a plurality of frames in an imaging optical system.

Abstract: Video coding systems and methods are described using an enhanced motion compensated picture. In exemplary embodiments, an enhanced motion compensated picture is generated by applying at least one high-pass filter to the motion compensated picture and adding the output of the filter to the motion compensated picture. Coefficients of the high-pass filter are selected by comparing the enhanced motion compensated picture to an original picture. The selected coefficients may be quantized and entropy coded into a bit stream. The high-pass filter may be a cross-plane filter, in which a luma component, which may be an enhanced luma component, is high-pass filtered and the output of the filter is added to at least one of the chroma components to generate an enhanced chroma component.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a lens and a circuit configured to control the lens to move in a first direction along an optical axis of the lens, control capture of a plurality of first images via the lens when the lens is positioned at a plurality of first positions, respectively, control the lens to move in a second direction opposite to the first direction, control capture of one or more second images via the lens when the lens is positioned at one or more second positions, respectively, and determine a focus position based on one or more of a plurality of first evaluation values calculated from the plurality of first images and one or more second evaluation values calculated from the one or more second images. Each of the plurality of first evaluation values and the one or more second evaluation values indicates a corresponding focus state.

Abstract: A dual-core focusing image sensor is disclosed. The dual-core focusing image sensor includes a photosensitive cell array including a plurality of focus photosensitive units, each of which including a first half and a second half and a plurality of dual-core focusing photosensitive pixels; a filter cell array disposed above the photosensitive cell array and including a plurality of white filter cells; and a micro-lens array disposed above the filter cell array and including a plurality of first micro-lenses, each of which having an elliptical shape and a plurality of second micro-lenses. The first half is covered by one of the white filter cells and the second half is covered by a plurality of the second micro-lenses, each of the white filter cells is covered by one of the first micro-lenses. Each of the dual-core focusing photosensitive pixels is covered by one of the second micro-lenses.

Abstract: A phase-detection auto focus method includes: dividing a focus region into a plurality of sub-regions, and respectively calculating a phase difference and a confidence level of each sub-region; performing dynamic matching in a corresponding weight table according to the phase difference and the confidence level of each sub-region, and performing a table lookup to obtain a corresponding weight value; calculating a phase difference and a confidence level of the focus region in conjunction with the weight value; and performing auto focusing according to the phase difference and the confidence level of the focus region.

Abstract: An optical imaging module including a circuit assembly and a lens assembly is provided. The circuit assembly includes holding base, two circuit substrates, image sensor elements, conductive lines, and a multi-lens frame. The image sensor elements are disposed on the holding base. The circuit substrates are disposed on the carrier and surround the image sensor elements. The conductive lines are disposed between the circuit contacts of the circuit substrates and image contacts of the image sensor elements. The multi-lens frame is integrally formed and covered on the circuit substrate and the image sensor elements. The lens assembly may include lens base, two auto lens assemblies, and two drive assemblies. The lens bases can be disposed on the multi-lens frame. The auto lens assembly may have at least two lenses having refractive power. The driving assembly can be electrically connected to the circuit substrate.

Abstract: A focusing control device includes: a focusing position determination unit that determines a focusing position of a focus lens based on captured image signals acquired through imaging using a setting area selected among a plurality of setting areas set for an imaging surface of an imaging element that images a subject through an imaging optical system including the focus lens capable of moving in an optical axis direction; a subject distance information calculation unit as defined herein; a first evaluation unit as defined herein; and a second evaluation unit as defined herein, and the focusing position determination unit selects a setting area to be used in the determination of the focusing position, among the plurality of setting areas, based on an evaluation result using the first evaluation unit and an evaluation result using the second evaluation unit.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus including: an image pickup device to obtain a picked-up image, the image pickup device being provided with divided pixels for receiving light on respective optical paths from the object divided in left and right directions; a recording medium recording the picked-up image; a display displaying the picked-up image; and a processor comprising a focus judging section judging a state of focus of using a phase difference on an image pickup surface between image signals based on optical images respectively entering the divided pixels, the focus judging section judges whether or not the phase difference of each area of the picked-up image to be recorded immediately before photographing is equal to or has not increased in comparison with the phase difference of the recorded picked-up image in the same area, to determine a candidate area for an enlarged display.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a method and device for camera rapid automatic focusing. The method comprises: driving a lens to move to multiple different focus positions to acquire image data of a object, and calculating a corresponding estimated focus value in a first high frequency and a corresponding determined focus value in a second high frequency for each image data; calculating a rate of change between a current determined focus value and a previous determined focus value, and determining a direction of movement of the lens on the basis of the rate of change being either positive or negative; comparing the rate of change with a preset focus change threshold, and determining a speed of movement of the lens on the basis of a comparison result; and repeating said steps until the lens moves to a focus position corresponding to a maximum of the estimated focus values.

Abstract: An exchangeable lens mountable on a camera body includes: a selection unit configured to select a first state wherein a movement range of a focusing optical system changing the exchangeable lens' focal position is limited and a second state which is different from the first state, and a transmission unit configured to transmit a first and second value which is equal to or smaller than the first value to the camera body in the second state, the first value indicating a relationship between the focusing optical system's moving amount and an image plane's moving amount at a position wherein the focusing optical system has moved, the second value indicating a relationship between the moving amount of the focusing optical system and the moving amount of the image plane, and transmit a value which changes depending on the focusing optical system's position as the second value in the first state.

Abstract: A focusing control device includes: a plurality of signal detection sections that receives luminous fluxes passing through an imaging optical system including a focus lens capable of moving in an optical axis direction in a first range and detects signals corresponding to light reception amounts; a movement allowable range control unit that controls a movement allowable range in which movement of the focus lens set in the first range is allowed; and a lens driving control unit that moves the focus lens within the movement allowable range controlled by the movement allowable range control unit based on a signal group output from the plurality of signal detection sections.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus capable of determining an object area with high accuracy. An object area determination unit of the information processing apparatus acquires defocus information of positions in a captured image and information of a position specified as an object in the captured image, and determines, based on a difference between a defocus value at each of the positions and a defocus value at the specified position, an estimated area of the object specified in the captured image. Further, the object area determination unit determines an object area from the captured image based on an evaluation value calculated from each of a plurality of evaluation areas set for the specified position.

Abstract: The luminance atmosphere that the creator intends is excellently reproduced on the receiving end. The transmission video data is obtained by applying a predetermined opto-electrical transfer function to the input video data. The transmission video data is transmitted together with the luminance conversion acceptable range information about a set region in the screen. For example, a transmitting unit transmits a video stream obtained by encoding the transmission video data while inserting the luminance conversion acceptable range information into a layer of the video stream. The receiving end obtains display video data by applying an electro-optical transfer function corresponding to the predetermined opto-electrical transfer function to the transmission video data, and performing a luminance conversion process in each of the set regions independently in accordance with the luminance conversion acceptable range information.

Abstract: A focus adjusting apparatus detects a first area of a subject and reliability of a tracking position from an image signal output from an image sensor on which a subject image is formed by an optical system, detects focus states of focus detection areas based on the image signal, determines an in-focus area for which focus adjustment of the optical system is to be performed, predicts a focus state in next focus detection based on a history of focus states of the in-focus area, and selects a second area from the focus detection areas. The first area is determined as the in-focus area in a case where a state in which the reliability is higher than a predetermined first threshold continues for a predetermined time period or longer, and the second area is determined as in-focus area otherwise.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a first focus detection circuit configured to calculate an evaluation value indicative of a contrast based on an image pickup signal output by an image pickup device, a second focus detection circuit configured to perform focus detection based on phase difference detection to output a defocus amount of an image-acquiring optical system including a focus lens, and a control circuit configured to control a focusing operation of detecting a position of the focus lens where the evaluation value is indicative of an extreme value based on an output from the first focus detection circuit. Based on the defocus amount output by the second focus detection circuit, the control circuit controls initial position driving of the focus lens executed before the focusing operation is performed.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus that performs interval shooting to acquire a plurality of captured images photographed with a predetermined photographing interval includes: an image capture unit; an image capture condition determination unit; and an interval shooting processing unit. The image capture unit is configured so as to be able to control focus. The image capture condition determination unit determines a photographing condition of an apparatus. The interval shooting processing unit controls focus of the image capture unit so as to change a focus control method for each photography in the interval shooting according to a photographing condition of the apparatus determined by the image capture condition determination unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a complex region of an image are disclosed. In one example, the method may involve calculating complexity values for a current block, a next block, and a previous block. The method may involve: (i) detecting that the previous complexity value is less than a first threshold value, and that the next complexity value is greater than a second threshold value; and (ii) determining that neither a transition to the current block nor a transition to the previous block is a flat-to-complex region transition. The method may involve detecting a flat-to-complex region transition when transitioning to the next block in response to (i) and (ii).

Abstract: A high definition (HD) camera and a method for implementing the HD camera is described. A CMOS sensor of high frame rate captures frame images and provides light to N consecutive frame images with an interval of M consecutive frame images in the captured frame images using an auxiliary light source when the auxiliary light source is on. The auxiliary light source turns on and off according to a duty cycle. The M is 0 or a positive integer. The N is a positive integer. The mechanism has good light performances, reduced deformation of moving objects, and reduced costs.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including a distance information acquisition unit that acquires distance information on a distance up to an object imaged by an image sensor, a pixel value information acquisition unit that acquires pixel value information of an image corresponding to the object, and a tracking unit that tracks the object that moves, based on the acquired distance information and the acquired pixel value information.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for using imaging pixels (that is, non-phase detection pixels) in addition to phase detection pixels for calculating autofocus information. Imaging pixel values can be used to interpolate a value at a phase detection pixel location. The interpolated value and a value received from the phase difference detection pixel can be used to obtain a virtual phase detection pixel value. The interpolated value, value received from the phase difference detection pixel, and the virtual phase detection pixel value can be used to obtain a phase difference detection signal indicating a shift direction (defocus direction) and a shift amount (defocus amount) of image focus.

Abstract: A linear motion control device for use in a linear control system is presented. The linear motion control device includes a coil driver to drive a coil that, when driven, effects a linear movement by a motion device having a magnet. The linear motion control device also includes a magnetic field sensor to detect a magnetic field associated with the linear movement and an interface to connect an output of the magnetic field sensor and an input of the coil driver to an external controller. The interface includes a feedback loop to relate the magnetic field sensor output signal to the coil driver input.

Abstract: A focusing device that is capable of shortening focusing time even when contrast AR is started for an object in a defocus state. A first computation unit computes a contrast determination index that indicates contrast of an object based on an image obtained through an image pickup optical system. A second computation unit computes a focusing degree that indicates a degree of a focusing state to the object based on the image. A first setting unit sets up a contrast determination threshold according to the focusing degree. A second setting unit sets up an image pickup cycle for picking up the object according to the contrast determination index and the contrast determination threshold. A focusing unit focuses on the object by driving a focusing lens of the image pickup optical system along an optical axis based on the contrast determination index and the focusing degree.

Abstract: A focus control device includes an acquisition unit that acquires image data of a plurality of first frames, each of the plurality of first frames being captured at each of positions of a lens in an optical axis direction, the positions being different each other; and a movement unit that, when a focusing position of the lens is not determined based on contrast evaluation values for an area to be focused on in the plurality of first frames, determines a direction for moving the area, based on a magnitude of a contrast evaluation value within the area and a position of an area with the contrast evaluation value larger than or equal to a given threshold in each piece of image data of the plurality of first frames or a plurality of second frames newly acquired by the acquisition unit, and moves the area in the determined direction.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media to improve image stabilization operations are described. A novel combination of image quality and commonality metrics are used to identify a reference frame from a set of commonly captured images which, when the set's other images are combined with it, results in a quality stabilized image. The disclosed image quality and commonality metrics may also be used to optimize the use of a limited amount of image buffer memory during image capture sequences that return more images that the memory may accommodate at one time. Image quality and commonality metrics may also be used to effect the combination of multiple relatively long-exposure images which, when combined with a one or more final (relatively) short-exposure images, yields images exhibiting motion-induced blurring in interesting and visually pleasing ways.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an in-focus object plane position switch section that switches an in-focus object plane position of an imaging section, a target in-focus position determination section that calculates an in-focus evaluation value, and determines a target in-focus position based on the in-focus evaluation value, and a change-in-scene detection section that detects whether or not a change in scene has occurred based on a captured image. The target in-focus position determination section determines whether or not the in-focus evaluation value satisfies a determination criterion until the change-in-scene detection section detects that the change in scene has occurred, and selects the first in-focus object plane position or the second in-focus object plane position that is not currently selected by the in-focus object plane position switch section when it has been determined that the in-focus evaluation value does not satisfy the determination criterion.

Abstract: Provided are a focusing apparatus for generating an image signal by converting image light incident through a focus lens to an electrical signal by an image pickup device, storing the image signal in a memory, calculating an AF evaluation value for an image signal read from the memory in a direction different from a reading direction of the image pickup device, and driving the focus lens by deriving a focus lens position corresponding to the calculated AF evaluation value, a focusing method thereof, and a recording medium for recording the focusing method. Accordingly, a focus can be correctly adjusted for various subject images, and a focus can be effectively adjusted for the images even in a high speed capturing mode.

Abstract: The invention provides for an adjustment arrangement (16) for adjusting a camera and a camera arrangement. The adjustment arrangement (16) comprises a turn plate (20), an upper turn plate (24) and a gear wheel (22) adapted to be placed dependent on a lens (28) used.

Abstract: An image of a subject formed optically by a objective lens (concave lens) and an eyepiece lens can be seen by a pupil. A light shielding plate is provided in front of part of the objective lens and a shielded region is formed by the light shielding plate. When the image of a subject is captured on a portion of the display screen of an electronic viewfinder, the image of the subject is reflected by a prism and can be seen superimposed upon the shielded region. If the pupil moves away from the optical axis of the virtual finder unit, the extent of the shielded region also shifts. In order to solve this problem, the light shielding plate is moved in accordance with the position of the pupil so that the extent of the shielded region is rendered constant despite movement of the pupil.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus are provided. The digital photographing apparatus stores an image signal in a memory at the same time with the calculation of a horizontal AF evaluation value with respect to the image signal, and calculates a vertical AF evaluation value by using the stored image signal. Accordingly, exact AF detection may be performed with respect to images of all patterns.

Abstract: [Object] To provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing program, and an image processing method capable of obtaining three-dimensional information of an observation target object. [Solving Means] An image processing apparatus includes a difference calculation unit and a difference distribution generation unit. The difference calculation unit calculates, for each of pixels that constitute a pickup image in each of a plurality of pickup images taken at different focal depths, a difference of a luminance value from an adjacent pixel. A difference image generation unit generates, on the basis of the difference and the focal depth at which the pickup image including the pixel whose difference is calculated is taken, a distribution of the difference with respect to the focal depth.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to sequentially acquire an imaging signal while a focus lens is moving, a generation unit configured to generate a focus signal by using the imaging signal, and a control unit configured to control movement of the focus lens. The control unit performs a first operation for driving the focus lens in one direction in a range including a first area and a second area which is farther from a peak position of the focus signal than the first area. In the first operation, the control unit sets a focusing speed to a first speed when the focus lens is in the first area. When a predetermined condition is satisfied in the first operation, the control unit sets a focusing speed to a second speed faster than the first speed when the focus lens is in the second area.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having a continuous shooting mode in which images are captured for recording in response to an image capture instruction, wherein respective development process for each image is performed before capturing a subsequent image for recording in the continuous shooting mode, includes a focus control unit and a control unit. The focus control unit detects a focal point of a focus lens. The control unit controls movement of the focus lens and controls the capturing of an image. After the control unit controls the movement of the focus lens using the focus control unit and captures an image for recording in the continuous shooting mode, the control unit moves the focus lens to a predetermined position and then moves the focus lens across a predetermined range from the predetermined position to perform the scanning using the focus control unit during the development process of the captured image.

Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus includes an imaging unit, a first detection unit, a second detection unit, and a control unit. The imaging unit receives and photoelectrically converts a light flux passed through a photographing optical system including a focus lens. The first detection unit detects a phase difference between a pair of image signals output from the imaging unit. The second detection unit detects contrast information from a signal output from the imaging unit. The control unit controls driving of the focus lens based on a detection result of at least one of the first detection unit and the second detection unit. If the detection result of the first detection unit satisfies a first condition, the control unit controls driving of the focus lens by using the detection result of the first detection unit, and changes the first condition according to the contrast information detected by the second detection unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which can perform an AF of a high speed and a high focusing precision by simultaneously realizing a phase difference AF and a contrast AF, decides a range where a contrast evaluation can be performed on the basis of a correspondence relation between each pixel of an image pickup element which is restricted by pupil division means provided for restricting light of an optical image of an object which enters each pixel of the image pickup element to light from a specific exit pupil area of a photographing lens and the specific exit pupil area of the photographing lens, and decides a focus evaluation value of the object in accordance with the decided range from a contrast focus position or a correlation focus position.

Abstract: A detection apparatus configured to detect a focus state based on an output signal from an image pickup element capable of outputting an image pickup signal and a phase-difference detection signal includes, a first calculation unit configured to calculate information related to a first phase difference based on the phase-difference detection signal output from the image pickup element, a second calculation unit configured to calculate information related to a second phase difference based on the image pickup signal output from the image pickup element, and a detection unit configured to detect the focus state based on the information related to the first phase difference and the second phase difference.

Abstract: A focus adjustment unit of the present invention comprises a phase difference detection section for detecting extreme values, based on the image data, a periodicity-containing subject determination section for determining a periodicity-containing subject in the case where the phase difference detection section detects many extreme values having a high degree of correlation, and a control section for, when a periodicity-containing subject has been determined, determining whether or not a difference between a position of the focus lens shown by an extreme value corresponding to a position that is closest to a current focus lens position, and the current focus lens position, is outside a specified range, and if it is determined that the difference is outside the specified range, carrying out a focus adjustment operation based on the extreme value corresponding to the position that is closest to the current position of the focus lens.

Abstract: An autofocus method includes acquiring an image of a scene that includes one or more out of focus faces and/or partial faces. The method includes detecting one or more of the out of focus faces and/or partial faces within the digital image by applying one or more sets of classifiers trained on faces that are out of focus. One or more sizes of the one of more respective out of focus faces and/or partial faces is/are determined within the digital image. One or more respective depths is/are determined to the one or more out of focus faces and/or partial faces based on the one or more sizes of the one of more faces and/or partial faces within the digital image. One or more respective focus positions of the lens is/are adjusted to focus approximately at the determined one or more respective depths.

Abstract: When reliability of a defocus amount which is calculated using a signal from a region 50A is low, a digital camera expands the phase difference detection target region to the regions 50A, 50B, and 50C. Further, the digital camera calculates a defocus amount using a correlation operation result of an output signal group of pixel cells 31R in an odd numbered column and an output signal group of the pixel cells 31L in an odd numbered column and a correlation operation result of an output signal group of pixel cells 31R in an even numbered column and an output signal group of the pixel cells 31L in an even numbered column, in the regions 50A, 50B, and 50C.

Abstract: This invention discloses an image pickup device and an image synthesis method thereof The image pickup device comprises an image-pickup module, an image-synthesis module, a database and a processing module. The image-pickup module captures a plurality of temporary images of a scene. The image-synthesis module extracts a part of each temporary image and combines the parts to form a panorama temporary image, and splits the panorama temporary image into a plurality of zone-areas according to at least one threshold value and a panorama luminosity histogram. The database stores a lookup table for recording a plurality of exposure values. The plurality of the exposure values correspond to luminance values of the zone-areas respectively. The processing module obtains the plurality of exposure values corresponding to the luminance values and obtains a weighting-exposure value by an equation, and controls the image-pickup module to capture the panorama image according to the weighting-exposure value.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for adjusting a focal point using an imaging device including phase difference detection pixels are disclosed. An apparatus is provided that includes an imaging device comprising an optical aperture disposed between a micro lens and a photoelectric conversion unit of each of a plurality of pixels, the optical aperture being eccentric with respect to an optical axis of the respective micro lens, the imaging device configured to output a phase difference signal; and a control unit that detects a focal position from the phase difference signal detected from entire pixels of the imaging device to drive a focus lens and that adjusts a focal point.

Abstract: In a camera unit that is mountable to a lens unit having a focus lens, an AF signal processing unit generates an AF evaluation value from an imaging signal obtained by an imaging element, and a camera control unit generates drive information for moving the focus lens to an in-focus point using the AF evaluation value and transmits the drive information to the mounted lens unit. The camera control unit transmits drive information including a focus lens position served as a reference for micro vibration and an amount of movement of the focus lens indicated by shift amount of an image plane with reference to the focus lens position to a lens unit.

Abstract: Based on a face detection result obtained from a detection unit, if a human face has not been detected, an imaging apparatus adjusts the focus state by selecting either a mountain climbing operation or a minute driving operation according to the state of the focus. If a human face has been detected, the imaging apparatus adjusts the focus state only by the minute driving operation. This achieves stable focus tracking on a target object having a low contrast, such as a human face.

Abstract: The focus control culture observation apparatus enable simple and reliable detection of a focusing position of an objective lens on a subject and with certainty. When a focusing position is detected, an area, which includes an edge portion of the culture medium drop is selected as an AF area which is to be a target of detecting the focusing position of the objective lens on the culture medium drop. The apparatus detects the focusing position on the culture medium drop based on an observation image of the AF area. By detecting the focusing position as a targeting area that is different from an area which is near the edge of the culture container and where illumination unevenness is generated, the detection accuracy can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, an analyzer and a computer program product for focus prediction in a sample arranged on a measuring surface of an analyzer. The method comprises row wise scanning sample positions by means of an optical system of said analyzer, said sample positions being positions in a coordinate system for said measuring surface containing said sample, for the first sample position on each row, determining a focus and storing said focus, and for each subsequent sample position: if a stored difference exists, predicting a focus by adding said stored difference to said stored focus, or if no stored difference exists, determining a focus and storing said focus.

Abstract: The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller to control drive speed of a focus actuator moving a focus lens by using speed control data. The image pickup apparatus includes a focus controller to acquire focus information by using an image pickup signal from an image sensor. The lens controller receives, from the focus controller, timing information showing a timing relating to acquisition of the focus information, performs a reachability determination for determining, by using the timing information and the speed control data, whether or not the focus lens is able to reach a target focus information acquisition position by a scheduled focus information acquisition timing and performs, when determining that the focus lens is not able to reach target focus information acquisition position by scheduled focus information acquisition timing, calculation of a predictive focus position at scheduled focus information acquisition timing by using speed control data.