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 un 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: An automatic focusing apparatus includes: a focus lens unit; a focus driver; a first focus detector that detects an in-focus state based on a phase difference; a second focus detector that detects an in-focus state using a signal from an image pickup element; a focus controller that controls the focus driver to perform focusing based on a first focus detection result and a second focus detection result; a movement detector that detects a movement of an object with components in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis based on an image signal obtained from the first focus detector; and a re-execution determination unit that determines whether to control the focus driver to re-execute focusing based on the first focus detection result and the second focus detection result that are newly detected after the execution of focusing and based on a movement detection result detected by the movement detector.

Abstract: An image capture device according to the present disclosure includes: an image sensor; a lens optical system condensing light onto the image sensor and including a focus lens; a driving section driving one of the image sensor and the focus lens to change a distance between the image sensor and the focus lens; a displacement control section configured to control the displacement of the one being driven according to a predetermined displacement pattern by outputting an instruction to the driving section; and a synchronizing section configured to control the displacement control section by reference to timing of exposure of the image sensor. The displacement range of the image sensor or focus lens includes a first range, a second range separated from the first range, and a third range interposed between the first and second ranges.

Abstract: A control device acquires a focus detection signal from a pixel portion of the imaging element so as to detect a focus state by phase difference detection. A camera control unit performs focus adjustment control by the drive control of a focus lens constituting an imaging optical system. The camera control unit performs exposure control for adjusting the brightness of an object in the focus area to an appropriate level, and determines whether or not the brightness level of the object in the focus area is saturated based on the focus detection signal. When the exposure state during a focus adjustment operation is not in an appropriate state, the camera control unit calculates an exposure correction value and determines whether or not the exposure correction value falls within the exposure control range. When the exposure correction value falls within the exposure control range, the exposure state is readjusted.

Abstract: A method for automatically switching a terminal focus mode and a terminal are provided that relate to the terminal field and can more effectively determine a focus mode of a terminal. The method includes: collecting an image data frame; and switching a focus mode of a terminal according to a brightness value of a metering area of the image data frame. The terminal includes: a sensor unit, an imaging unit, and a display unit, where the imaging unit includes: a data frame acquiring module configured to collect an image data frame; and an auto focus control switching module configured to switch a focus mode of the terminal according to a brightness value of a metering area of the image data frame.

Abstract: An imaging device is provided that comprises an imaging processor, a distance information detector, a primary image capturing processor and an image processor. The imaging processor captures a plurality of secondary images of the same object at different in-focus positions by driving a photographing lens. The distance information detector detects distance information of the object for each of the areas of an image based on the contrast in each of the areas in each of the secondary images. The primary image capturing processor captures the same image of the object as a primary image. The image processor carries out image processing on the primary image based on the distance information.

Abstract: Fast Focus control is to be performed. The imaging apparatus is an imaging apparatus that includes a focus control unit. The focus control unit performs focus control based on the contrast in an image and the processing result of a 2-image matching process. The image is an image generated by an imaging unit. The 2-image matching process is a process to be performed with the use of two images that are generated by the imaging unit, with the focus lens being located in different positions.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element configured to photoelectrically convert an optical image, and a controller configured to control a drive of a focus lens based on a signal outputted from the image pickup element and control a frame rate to drive the image pickup element, and the controller is configured to detect an in-focus position based on a signal outputted from the image pickup element which is driven at a first frame rate, and to switch the frame rate of the image pickup element to a second frame rate lower than the first frame rate while performing a first operation to drive the focus lens to the in-focus position.

Abstract: A focus adjustment control apparatus is provided which includes: a focus detection unit that calculates an evaluation value with regard to contrast of an image via an optical system to detect a focus adjustment state of the optical system; an acquisition unit that acquires from a lens barrel at least one of a maximum value and a minimum value of an image plane movement coefficient that represents correspondence relationship between a movement amount of a focus adjustment lens included in the optical system and a movement amount of an image plane; and a control unit that uses at least one of the maximum value and the minimum value of the image plane movement coefficient to determine a drive speed for the focus adjustment lens when the focus detection unit detects the focus adjustment state.

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

Abstract: A focusing apparatus including a focus lens; a focus lens driving unit that drives the focus lens; an imaging device configured to generate an image signal; a focus evaluation value calculating unit configured to receive an image signal from the imaging device and to calculate a focus evaluation value of a captured image; a difference calculating unit configured to calculate a difference between a current focus evaluation value and a previous focus evaluation value; a first determining unit configured to compare the difference to each of a plurality of threshold values different from each other; a counter configured to count results of comparing the difference to each of the plurality of threshold values and to generate count information; and a second determining unit configured to compare the count information to threshold count information and to determine a target drive direction in which the focus lens is to be driven.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of adjusting an auto focus are provided. The apparatus includes: an imaging pickup device for generating an image signal by capturing light passing through an imaging lens; a shutter for controlling light exposure of the image pickup device; a focus detector that calculates a contrast value from the image signal and detecting a focus from the contrast value; and a release controller for controlling a release operation constituting a photographing operation of a still image, wherein the release controller includes, as driving modes, a first mode that directs a focus lens included in the imaging lens to be driven while driving the shutter, and a second mode that directs the focus lens not to be driven while driving the shutter. Accordingly, a photographing time is reduced.

Abstract: For improving picture quality in auto-focus control, image processing device 10 adjusts output picture imaged by image pick-up element 4 and displayed by a display section, comprises storage section 13 for storing predetermined de-focus threshold value of variation amount of intensity value of output picture; first adder section 12 for calculating intensity value time difference variation amount between intensity value of output picture being input and intensity value of the predetermined-time previous output picture before the output picture is input; and variation amount comparison section 14 for comparing intensity value time difference variation amount and de-focus threshold value, wherein when variation amount comparison section determines that intensity value time difference variation amount is less than de-focus threshold value to be a comparison object, intensity value of output picture after being adjusted is calculated by subtracting intensity value time difference variation amount from intensity va

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus on which a lens unit is to be removably mounted includes an image pickup element, a first focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a contrast detection method based on a signal output from the image pickup element, a second focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a phase difference detection method based on a pair of image signals output from the image pickup element, and a control unit which performs a focus control based on an in-focus position detected by the first or second focus detection unit, and the control unit receives, from the mounted lens unit, first information related to a displacement of the in-focus position by the phase difference detection method and determines whether to use the second focus detection unit for the focus control according to the first information.

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

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus has a focus control unit. The focus control unit retrieves a focusing point by setting a cutback threshold as a first value. The focus control unit executes a driving operation of an image pickup lens depending on a contrast evaluation value in the case in which the cutback threshold is set to be a second value. The second value is smaller than the first value. The focus control unit executes a driving operation of the image pickup lens depending on a contrast evaluation value in the case in which the cutback threshold is changed from the second value to the first value.

Abstract: In a configuration in which a non-saturated readout value of a division pixel is subtracted from an addition signal of division pixels, an imaging apparatus capable of performing focus detection with respect to a saturated signal is provided. The imaging apparatus includes a subtraction unit and a suppression unit. The subtraction unit obtains the second image signal by subtracting the first image signal output from the image sensor from an addition signal acquired as a sum of the first image signal and the second image signal output from the image sensor, and the suppression unit suppresses the first image signal to a value equal to or less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus 100 includes an image pickup element 101 that includes a plurality of pixels that function as both imaging pixels and focus detection pixels, which is configured so that an image pickup signal that is obtained by performing photoelectric conversion in a first direction, an evaluation value generating unit 107 that generates an evaluation value of the image pickup signal, a flicker detecting unit 108 that detects variation information of illumination intensity based on the evaluation value, a flicker correction value generating unit 109 that generates a flicker correction value for performing a flicker correction for the image pickup signal based on the variation information, a multiplier 105 that performs the flicker correction for the image pickup signal based on the flicker correction value, and a vertical correlation calculating unit 114 that performs a correlation calculation in the first direction after the flicker correction is performed.

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

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

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and an imaging method, wherein a focus location direction discriminator estimates a direction toward a focus location based on two contrast evaluation values corresponding to two imaging optical systems having different image focusing locations. Therefore, the imaging apparatus and the imaging method can directly start an AF operation at current image focusing locations of two imaging optical systems, without setting the image focusing locations to fixed initial locations in a focusing operation of the imaging optical systems. As a result, AF operation time and power consumption are reduced without failing to find a direction of image focusing location.

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

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

Abstract: A camera of the present invention comprises a contrast detection section for detecting a contrast value, an assist light section for irradiating a subject by emitting light at a first luminance amount or a second luminance amount that is dimmer than the first luminance amount, and a control section for moving the photographing lens and detecting a focus position of the photographing lens based on contrast values detected by the contrast detection section, wherein the control section causes the assist light section to emit assist light in a first luminance amount or a second luminance amount, and detects a focus position of the photographing lens based on one of a first contrast value detected in a state where the assist light section emits light in the first luminance amount, or a second contrast value detected in a state where the assist light section emits light in the second luminance amount.

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 focus estimating device has an area setting unit which sets an area in which focusing of an image is determined and divides the area into a plurality of blocks, a block selecting unit which selects a block to be used for focus determination, a block focus determination unit which performs focus determination for each block from an edge in each color component of the block selected by the block selecting unit, and a focus determination unit which determines focusing of the area based on the focus determination.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image capture unit, a first focus detection unit configured to perform phase difference type focus detection for detecting a deviation amount between a pair of object images acquired from output signals output from the image capture unit, a second focus detection unit configured to perform contrast type focus detection for detecting contrast information of an object image acquired from an output signal output from the image capture unit, a contrast information generation unit configured to generate the contrast information in a plurality of distance measurement areas subjected to focus detection by the second focus detection unit, and an area determination unit configured to determine, based on the contrast information, a distance measurement area to be subjected to focus detection by the first focus detection unit.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises a sensor unit including a first sensor and a second sensor and configured to output a signal for focus detection, each of the first sensor and the second sensor being configured to receive light that has passed through an imaging optical system and accumulate electric charges, a first signal generation unit configured to generate a first signal based on a contrast of a signal corresponding to the electric charges accumulated in the first sensor, a second signal generation unit configured to generate a second signal based on a contrast of a signal corresponding to the electric charges accumulated in the second sensor; and a control unit configured to control an accumulation time of the electric charges in the first sensor and the second sensor.

Abstract: An imaging element with rolling shutter drive has pixels that each receive one or the other of a pair of light bundles passing through an aperture area for an imaging lens. The pixels are disposed on a first line arranged in the X direction, and the pixels are disposed on a second line in the X direction, alternating in the Y direction. A control unit uses a signal group from the pixels on a line in FIG. 2, a signal group from the pixels on a line, and a signal group from pixels on a line to control imaging lens focus on the basis of the phase difference information found from the amount of phase difference between the signal groups and the amount of phase difference between the signal groups.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus performs a focus detecting operation with an image sensor including a photoelectric conversion portion that has a pupil-dividing function. The imaging apparatus increases a line addition number according to a target exposure value corresponding to a pixel dynamic range that is variable depending on an exposure setting value. Thus, the imaging apparatus can reduce the amount of noise and can suppress the dispersion of focus detection result. Further, the imaging apparatus changes the line addition number according to a lens diaphragm aperture size, a defocus amount, or a pixel signal reading mode. Thus, the imaging apparatus can secure the resolution in the vertical direction and can prevent the detection accuracy from deteriorating even in a case where a photographic subject is obliquely positioned in a focus detection area.

Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention comprises an imaging section for forming a subject image using a photographing lens and generating image data, a contrast detection section for detecting contrast values corresponding to contrast of the subject image, for every position of the photographing lens, based on the image data, a subject brightness detection section for detecting brightness evaluation values corresponding to subject brightness of the subject image for every position of the photographing lens, based on the image data, a correction section for correcting the contrast values depending on a brightness evaluation value for a corresponding position of the photographing lens and calculating corrected contrast value, and a focus detection section for detecting a focus position of the photographing lens based on the corrected contrast values that have been corrected by the correction section.

Abstract: At least certain embodiments described herein provide a continuous autofocus mechanism for an image capturing device. The continuous autofocus mechanism can perform an autofocus scan for a lens of the image capturing device and obtain focus scores associated with the autofocus scan. The continuous autofocus mechanism can determine an acceptable band of focus scores based on the obtained focus scores. Next, the continuous autofocus mechanism can determine whether a current focus score is within the acceptable band of focus scores. A refocus scan may be performed if the current focus score is outside of the acceptable band of focus scores.

Abstract: The present invention is to correctly perform auto focus operation with various subjects. An imaging device (10) that images a subject includes a focus lens group (16) that collects a light beam from the subject and forms an image of the subject, a focus motor (13) that drives the focus lens group (16) in the optical axis direction, and an imaging element (30) that performs photoelectric conversion of the light beam and outputs a video signal. The imaging device (10) further includes a contrast signal generator (42-1) that generates and outputs a lower-frequency contrast signal C0 from a luminance component of the video signal, an AF processor (53) that employs the lower-frequency contrast signal C0 as an auto focus evaluation value and moves the focus lens group (16) to the in-focus position with wobbling the focus lens group (16), and a histogram signal generator (45-1) that generates and outputs a high-luminance pixel count Hb of the video signal.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device that includes a plurality of focus detection pixels, a phase difference detection type of a first focus detector, a contrast detection type of a second focus detector, and a controller. The controller is configured to allow the second focus detector to continue the focus detection when the shift amount detected by the first focus detector is larger than a threshold even when the second focus detector detects the lens position corresponding to the peak of the contrast value, and to move the image pickup lens to a lens position that provides a peak of a contrast value detected by the second focus detector when the shift amount is the threshold or smaller.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus control method includes acquiring an image signal by photoelectrically converting an object image and performing control in such a way as to execute a first continuous shooting mode and a second continuous shooting mode based on the image signal, wherein an image capturing condition in the first continuous shooting mode is different from an image capturing condition in the second continuous shooting mode.

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: The focus adjustment device is characterized by comprising: a driver 231 that drives a focus adjustment optical system 213 to change a focus status; a focus detector 170 that detects evaluation values with respect to contrast of images to perform focus detection for a optical system; an obtaining unit 170 that obtains a maximum driving speed among speeds with which the focus adjustment optical system is able to be driven; and a controller 170 that causes the driver to perform a first driving operation in which the focus adjustment optical system is driven within a certain range and with a certain speed or to perform a second driving operation which is different from the first driving operation, wherein the controller compares the maximum driving speed and a first driving speed as a driving speed for the focus adjustment optical system during the first driving operation with each other when a peak of the evaluation values fails to be detected within the certain range as a result of performing the first driving

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a first driver configured to drive a focus lens unit in autofocusing, a second driver configured to drive the focus lens unit in the autofocusing, a first detector configured to detect a driving amount of the first driver, a second detector configured to detect a driving amount of the second driver, a memory configured to store a relationship between information of detection results of the first and second detectors, and an object distance as a distance from the optical apparatus to an object, and a controller configured to obtain information of the object distance based upon the relationship stored in the memory and the detection results of the first and second detectors.

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 arrange 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 focus detection apparatus includes an image pickup element including first and second pixels that detect light beams passing through different exit pupils in an image pickup optical system, an estimating unit that estimates a moving charge amount between the first and second pixels using first and second luminance signals, a correcting unit that corrects the first and second luminance signals based on an estimation result, a defocus amount calculating unit that obtains a defocus amount by using correction values of the first and second luminance signals, and a focus detecting unit that performs focus detection of a phase difference method using the defocus amount, and the moving charge amount is a charge amount which moves from one to the other of the first and second pixels as a charge amount accumulated in the one of the pixels comes close to a saturated charge amount.

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: 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: An image pickup apparatus that can efficiently obtain an offset between focal positions detected in phase difference-based focus detection and contrast-based focus detection by using results of phase difference-based focus detection at multiple points. Focal positions in a plurality of regions based on a pair of image signals obtained from different pupils are obtained. A focal position for a focus lens at which a contrast of image signals for image pickup is at a peak is detected. A target focal position is determined from the plurality of focal positions. When another focal position is present between a present focal position and the target focal position, an offset between a focal position of the focus lens at which the contrast detected at the other focal position while the focus lens is moving is at a peak and the other focal position is calculated.

Abstract: An imaging device is provided that includes a first imaging element, a second imaging element, and a focal point detector. The first imaging element includes a first opto-electrical converter configured to convert light into an electrical signal. The second imaging element is configured and arranged to receive light incident on and passing through the first opto-electrical converter. The second imaging element includes a second opto-electrical converter configured to convert the light coming from the first opto-electrical converter into an electrical signal. The focal point detector is configured to perform focal point detection based on first image data obtained by the first imaging element and second image data obtained by the second imaging element.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: an optical imaging system; an image pickup device; a defocus quantity calculation circuit for calculating a defocus quantity based on a phase difference between a plurality of signals for focus detection obtained from a plurality of pixels for focus detection that respectively receive a light flux that has passed through a different pupil region of the optical imaging system; a focusing section for driving the optical imaging system so as to achieve an in-focus state in accordance with the calculated defocus quantity; and a thinning-out circuit for thinning out a plurality of signals for focus detection that are not used for calculating the defocus quantity, based on an analysis result of a signal component of an object image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image acquisition section that acquires a plurality of images that differ in in-focus state, a reference point setting section that performs a reference point setting process on each of the plurality of images, the reference point setting process setting a reference point that is set to an attention area, a distance estimation section that estimates distance information about a distance to a corresponding point based on a pixel value corresponding to the reference point, the corresponding point being a point in real space that corresponds to the reference point, and an additional information generation section that generates additional information based on the estimated distance information, the additional information being information that is added to the attention area to which the reference point is set.

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 imaging apparatus includes a display unit configured to display an image based on the image information output from the imaging unit, and a controller configured to control a display operation of the display unit. When the operation section receives the instruction to perform the focus operation while the display unit is displaying an image, the controller controls the display unit to switch the display on the display unit from an image currently displayed to an enlarged image of a focus area in the image currently displayed. When a predetermined condition is satisfied after completion of the focus operation, the controller further controls the display unit to switch the display on the display unit from the enlarged image to an image with the same angle of view as that of the image displayed before the enlarged image.

Abstract: The sharpness sweep of a camera lens is performed while capturing several digital images of an object through the lens. The lens is swept in accordance with a range of distance-representing values. The images are analyzed to calculate a respective sharpness variable for each of several different regions of interest. For each region of interest, a peak value of the sharpness variable is found, as well as the distance-representing value associated with the peak. The pixel coordinates of each region of interest are converted into a pair of distance coordinates, which become part of a triple that is created for the region of interest and that also includes the associated distance-representing value. A surface to fit the triples is estimated, and a measure of the optical characteristic is computed using the estimated surface. Optical characteristics that may be estimated in this manner include tilt and curvature of field. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An autofocus apparatus includes a first focus detector configured to provide a focus detection by detecting a phase difference between a pair of image signals of an object, a second focus detector configured to wobble one of an image-pickup lens and an image-pickup element, to observe a variation of a contrast value of an image of the object, and to maintain an in-focus position, and a controller configured to make the first focus detector provide the focus detection in the wobbling by the second focus detector, and to correct a shift amount of an amplitude of wobbling by the second focus detector in the focus detection result by the first focus detector.