Abstract: A distance measurement device includes an imaging unit which captures a subject image formed by an imaging optical system forming the subject image indicating a subject, an emission unit which emits directional light as light having directivity along an optical axis direction of the imaging optical system, a light receiving unit which receives reflected light of directional light from the subject, a derivation unit which derives a distance to the subject based on a timing at which directional light is emitted by the emission unit and a timing at which reflected light is received by the light receiving unit, and a control unit which performs control such that at least a part of an imaging period by the imaging unit overlaps at least a part of a distance measurement period by the emission unit, the light receiving unit, and the derivation unit.

Abstract: A zoom tracking method performed by a control unit of a zoom camera includes operations (a) through (c). In operation (a), the control unit determines a focusing progress state at a time when a zooming start signal is received. In operation (b), the control unit narrows an estimated range of a subject distance or estimates the subject distance, according to the focusing progress state. In operation (c), the control unit performs focusing for a zoom magnification according to the narrowed estimated range or the estimated subject distance.

Abstract: A distance measurement device includes an imaging unit which captures a subject image formed by an imaging optical system forming the subject image indicating a subject, an emission unit which emits directional light as light having directivity along an optical axis direction of the imaging optical system, a light receiving unit which receives reflected light of directional light from the subject, a derivation unit which derives a distance to the subject based on a timing at which directional light is emitted by the emission unit and a timing at which reflected light is received by the light receiving unit, and a control unit which performs control such that at least a part of an imaging period by the imaging unit overlaps at least a part of a distance measurement period by the emission unit, the light receiving unit, and the derivation unit.

Abstract: To satisfactorily detect an edge detection signal of a high frequency band from a captured image signal at all times. A filtering unit extracts an edge detection signal of a high frequency band from an image signal obtained from imaging, and a band control unit controls the high frequency band on the basis of lens information. For example, the filtering unit includes a first high-pass filter with a first cutoff frequency, a second high-pass filter with a second cutoff frequency that is lower than the first cutoff frequency, and an ? blending unit that performs ? blending on output of the first high-pass filter and output of the second high-pass filter. Even if the frequency of the edge detection signal included in the captured image signal varies due to a change in a zoom position, a lens model number, an F value or the like, the edge detection signal can be satisfactorily detected at all times.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an image focused on a light receiving surface, a gain unit configured to multiply a gain to an image signal output from the image capturing unit and be able to electronically change brightness of an image that the image signal represents, and a focus signal generating unit configured to extract a signal in a frequency band from the image signal output from the gain unit and generate a focus signal from the extracted signal. The focus signal generating unit changes the frequency band for the signal to be used in generating the focus signal in accordance with the magnitude of the gain.

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

Abstract: A digital camera is provided with a frequency component extraction unit, an AR evaluation value acquisition unit, a variation calculation unit, and a moving speed control unit. The frequency component extraction unit has first and second filters, and extracts first and second spatial frequency components. The AF evaluation value acquisition unit integrates the first and second spatial frequency components to acquire first and second AF evaluation values. The variation calculation unit calculates a first variation corresponding to first-order differentiation of the first AF evaluation value, a second variation corresponding to first-order differentiation of the second AF evaluation value, and a third variation corresponding to second-order differentiation of the second AF evaluation value. The moving speed control unit controls the moving speed of a focus lens at the time of an AF operation based on the rates of increase or decrease of the first to third variations.

Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus comprising a focus detection unit to detect image phase difference information using a light flux having passed through a photographic optical system including a focus lens, and a focus adjustment unit converts first image phase difference information detected by the focus detection unit into a defocus amount using a conversion coefficient and causes the focus detection unit to detect second image phase difference information after having moved the focus lens according to the defocus amount, and corrects the conversion coefficient according to the second image phase difference information and causes a storage unit to store the corrected conversion coefficient.

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

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup element photoelectrically converting an object image, a light-receiving sensor outputting a signal in accordance with a phase difference between a pair of object images, and a controller performing first focus control of controlling drive of a focus adjusting member based on a focus evaluation signal representing a contrast state of a video signal produced with the image-pickup element and second focus control of controlling drive of the focus adjusting member based on the signal in accordance with the phase difference. The controller stops the second focus control or switches focus control from the second focus control to the first focus control in response to a predetermined change found in the focus evaluation signal during the second focus control. The apparatus is capable of achieving an in-focus state smoothly and accurately with a hybrid AF.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing image data in RGB format are provided. In one example, an electronic device includes memory to store image data in raw or RGB format, or both, and an RGB image processing pipeline to process the image data. Specifically, the RGB image processing pipeline may process the image data regardless of whether the image data is of raw or RGB format. The RGB image processing pipeline may include receiving logic to receive the image data in raw or RGB format and demosaicing logic to, when the receiving logic receives the image data in raw format, convert the image data into RGB format. The logic may include local tone mapping logic configured to apply spatially varying tone curves to the image data, a color correction matrix configured to correct color in the image data, and gamma logic configured to transform the image data into gamma space.

Abstract: In a camera unit that is capable of attaching and detaching a lens unit, a camera control unit transmits a drive command for shifting a focus lens to a position corresponding to a focal point detected by use of an evaluation value for focus adjustment generated from an imaging signal by a TVAF signal processing unit to a lens control unit. The camera control unit acquires data indicating the amount of change in image magnification from the lens apparatus when performing center shift to thereby control the focus lens so as to suppress an out-of-focus blur of an image according to the image signal in response to the amount of change in image magnification relative to the shift amount of the focus lens in the vicinity of a focal point.

Abstract: A camera is provided having an image sensor for taking images, a reception optics, an adjustable focusing unit for setting a focal position of the reception optics as well as a control and evaluation unit which is configured to continuously move the focal position of the reception optics between a first focal position and a second focal position by means of the focusing unit and to take a respective one image at at least one third focal position and one fourth focal position, to determine a degree of sharpness of the images and to determine a focal position of greatest image sharpness therefrom. The control and evaluation unit is configured to move the focal position cyclically and continuously to and fro between the first focal position and the second focal position and to take a further image when the focal position of greatest image sharpness is reached.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for camera shake effect image stabilization determines a most favorable image sharpness metric out of image sharpness metrics from a plurality of images that were captured at a same lens position. A final image is selected based on the most favorable image sharpness metric.

Abstract: An apparatus and method such that when a signal intensity evaluation value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, a signal intensity amplification factor of each color component is changed in accordance with the signal intensity evaluation value of the color component, and when the signal intensity evaluation value is less than the predetermined value, at least a signal intensity amplification factor of a color component, of which signal intensity evaluation value of the color component is the least, is set at a predetermined value not dependent upon the signal intensity evaluation value of the color component.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a camera module, first and second pixel extraction interfaces, an image processing module, and a focus controller. The camera module includes a lens, a sensor aligned with the lens along a direction, and a focus actuator connected to the lens. The first and the second pixel extraction interfaces are connected to the sensor to acquire a first image at a first frame rate and a second image at a second frame rate, respectively; the second frame rate is greater than the first frame rate. The image processing module determines depth information according to the second image, receives the first image and outputs a corresponding image file. The focus controller is connected between the image processing module and the focus actuator to drive the focus actuator according to the depth information and to adjust a relative distance between the sensor and the lens.

Abstract: A focus adjustment unit of the present invention comprises a lens drive section for driving the focusing lens, an image sensor for acquiring imaged data for a subject image, a control section for executing imaging operations using the image sensor by causing movement of the focusing lens, and carrying out scan operations for detecting position of the focusing lens at which a peak of image contrast occurs, a continuous shooting speed setting section for setting a speed for continuously executing exposure operations for shooting, and a limit time setting section for setting an effective limit time effective for carrying out the scan operation in accordance with a continuous shooting speed that has been set by the continuous shooting speed setting section, wherein the control section controls the scan operation so that the time that has been set up by the limit time setting section is not exceeded.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus which is capable of estimating each of signals from a plurality of split PDs, which are included in a sum signal from split PDs, by performing a computation to thus detect saturation with respect to each split PD. With respect to each unit pixel cell having a plurality of PDs sharing one micro lens, saturation of a pixel signal read out in a non-destructive manner from one of the PDs is detected. Based on a first luminance signal and a sum pixel signal obtained by summing signals output from the PDs, another pixel signal output from another one of the PDs is estimated. Saturation of the estimated pixel signal is detected, and a second luminance signal is generated. Based on the first and second luminance signals, the amount of defocus for an optical unit is calculated.

Abstract: An acquisition unit is configured to acquire first defocus information based on a sensor output corresponding to a first region in an area of a captured image, and to acquire second defocus information based on a sensor output corresponding to a second region in the area. A control unit is configured to obtain defocus information corresponding to the area using the first defocus information and the second defocus information, and to perform focus control based on the obtained defocus information. The first region has a length longer in a phase-difference detection direction than the length of the second region.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels, each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; a readout unit that reads out a signal from a portion of the photoelectric conversion elements of each pixel as a first signal and reads out a sum of signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements of each pixel as an image signal; a generation unit that generates a second signal for each pixel using the image signal and the first signal; and a calculation unit that calculates a moving amount of a focus lens for achieving an in-focus state based on a phase difference between the first signal and the second signal. The calculation unit performs the calculation without using a signal from a defective line.

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: An image pickup apparatus of the invention includes: an optical imaging system; an image pickup device; a defocus quantity calculation section for calculating a defocus quantity based on a phase difference between signals for focus detection obtained from pixels for focus detection; a high-frequency component quantity detection section for detecting a quantity of high-frequency component contained in a pixel signal outputted from a pixel other than the pixels for focus detection; a region determination section for determining in accordance with which of the defocus quantity and the high-frequency component quantity the optical imaging system is to be driven, according to a detection result of detecting in which of a plurality of divided blocks of the image pickup device an object of interest is present; and a focusing section for driving the optical imaging system in accordance with a determination result of the region determination section.

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: A camera module is provided for an electronic device, such as a wireless mobile station or standalone device. The camera module includes a low F-stop lens assembly that is translatable into a desired position. An image of a subject is provided to an EDOF assembly, including a sensor assembly, and an extended-depth-of-field processor. The extended-depth-of-field processor provides for formation of a resultant, recorded image that exhibits improved depth of field characteristics.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a point spread function (PSF) pattern generation unit for generating a PSF pattern in which a plurality of PSFs are located in a plurality of lines of the PSF pattern; a PSF estimation unit for estimating PSFs of an out-of-focus input image from step responses of the plurality of lines of the PSF pattern with respect to an edge of the out-of-focus input image; and an image restoration unit for restoring the out-of-focus input image to a focused restored image using the estimated PSF.

Abstract: Estimating focus error in an image involves a training phase and an application phase. In the training phase, an optical system is represented by a point-spread function. An image sensor array is represented by one or more wavelength sensitivity functions, one or more noise functions, and one or more spatial sampling functions. The point-spread function is applied to image patches for each of multiple defocus levels within a specified range to produce training data. Each of the images for each defocus level (i.e. focus error) is sampled using the wavelength sensitivity and spatial sampling functions. Noise is added using the noise functions. The responses from the sensor array to the training data are used to generate defocus filters for estimating focus error within the specified range. The defocus filters are then applied to the image patches of the training data and joint probability distributions of filter responses to each defocus level are characterized.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus which is capable of easily selecting an optimum focus position for an inspection object even when a plurality of candidate focus positions are present. The image processing apparatus according to the invention includes: an imaging unit for imaging a region including an inspection object; a display unit for displaying an image; a focus adjusting unit for adjusting a focus position with respect to the inspection object; and an image processing unit for executing image processing on image data. A plurality of positions where part of the imaged region comes into a focused state are extracted as candidate focus positions, while the focus position with respect to the inspection object is changed, and candidate focus position information is displayed in the display unit. Selection of a focus position is accepted among the plurality of displayed candidate focus positions.

Abstract: A lens drive unit drives a focus lens. An imaging element obtains an image signal. An evaluation value calculation unit calculates an AF evaluation value from the image signal read out based on an interlace system. A determination unit determines whether the continuous AF evaluation values have a distribution of continuous increases and decreases. If the AF evaluation values are determined to have the distribution of continuous increases and decreases, an in-focus position calculation unit calculates an in-focus position by obtaining an interpolation curve from an intermediate value of the AF evaluation values adjacent to each other, otherwise, calculates the in-focus position by obtaining an interpolation curve of the AF evaluation value. A control unit drives the focus lens to the in-focus position.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus including an image sensor, an evaluation value calculation unit, and an in-focus position calculation unit. The image sensor performs photoelectric conversion on a subject image formed by an image optical system including a focus adjustment unit. The evaluation value calculation unit calculates a first focus evaluation value and a second focus evaluation value with spatial frequency components of first and second frequency bands extracted from image signals output from the image sensor. The second frequency band includes a spatial frequency component higher than the spatial frequency component of the first frequency band. The in-focus position calculation unit defines a position at which a third focus evaluation value reaches its peak value as an in-focus position of the focus adjustment unit. The third focus evaluation value is obtained by calculating a ratio of the first and the second focus evaluation values.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a range setting unit configured to set, as a focus adjustment range, a moving range of a focus lens in which the numbers of first pixels obtained while moving the focus lens is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, and an in-focus position calculation unit configured to calculate an in-focus position by using the numbers of second pixels obtained within the focus adjustment range.

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

Abstract: The stability is improved with which focus control is performed by an image capture device that brings a face region image into focus according to the contrast method. A human detection circuit 3 performs a human image search by using a threshold value Thh1. A face detection circuit 2 performs a face image search by using a threshold value Thf1. When an entire body image region corresponding to an entire body of a person is detected and a face image region corresponding to a face of the same person is detected in the captured image through the human image search and the face image search, the face detection circuit 2 performs redetermination with respect to the face image region by using a threshold value Thf2. The redetermination by using the threshold value Thf21 has higher accuracy compared to the face image search by using the threshold value Thf1.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for upscaling a digital image. A digital image to be upscaled is accessed, where the digital image comprises a plurality of pixel values. A first half pixel value is computed for a first point in the digital image based on a plurality of pixel values of the digital image surrounding the first point and an activity level. A second half pixel value is computed for a second point in the digital image, and an interpolated pixel of an upscaled version of the digital image is determined using a plurality of the pixel values, the first half pixel value, and the second half pixel value.

Abstract: The image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes: an optical imaging system for forming an object image; an image pickup device including a plurality of pixels that photoelectrically converts the object image; a defocus quantity calculation section 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 passes 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 defocus quantity calculated at the defocus quantity calculation section; an addition practicability determination section for determining a practicability of performing inter-frame addition on a plurality of signals for focus detection before calculating the defocus quantity, based on an analysis result of a signal component of the object image; and an inter-

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

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a signal processing device includes a high spatial frequency range component evaluation unit configured to evaluate a high spatial frequency range component of each of basic colors for each of divided regions for an image picked up by an image pickup device, the divided regions being obtained by dividing an imaging surface of the image pickup device into a plurality of regions, a subject distance estimation unit configured to estimate a subject distance for each of the divided regions on the basis of the high spatial frequency range component, a filter coefficient generating unit configured to generate a filter coefficient for each of the divided regions on the basis of the subject distance, and a filter operation unit configured to perform a filter operation on the high spatial frequency range component by use of the filter coefficient.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a normal interpolated image generation unit to generate an image that is interpolated between a plurality of original images reproduced along time series, the image being a normal interpolated image, based on each of the plurality of original images; a high-frequency area extraction unit to extract a high-frequency area having a spatial frequency higher than a predetermined value in each of the plurality of original images; a high-frequency area interpolated image generation unit to generate an image that is interpolated between the plurality of original images, the image being a high-frequency area interpolated image, based on a change in position of the high-frequency area along with an elapse of time on the time series and on each of the plurality of original images; and a combination unit to execute combining processing to combine the normal interpolated image and the high-frequency area interpolated image.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens mountable to a camera body, includes a focus lens operable to adjust a focus state of a subject, a driver operable to drive the focus lens by repeatedly performing slight advancing and retreating of the focus lens along an optical axis, a lens-side obtaining unit operable to obtain a control signal for driving the driver from the camera body, and a lens-side transmission unit operable to transmit, to the camera body, information about a direction of slight advancing and retreating operations of the focus lens.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises: an image sensor configured to receive a plurality of beams having passed through different exit pupil regions of an imaging optical system and output a pair of image signals corresponding to the different exit pupil regions; a calculation unit configured to obtain, from the pair of image signals, a spatial frequency at which a phase difference between a pair of images is minimized, and obtain an image shift amount between the pair of image signals from the spatial frequency; and a focus control unit configured to perform focus control by a phase difference detection method based on the image shift amount obtained by the calculation unit.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus includes an AF region setting unit for setting an AF region, a luminance detection area setting unit for setting a luminance detection area, a luminance calculation unit for calculating luminance values of the AF region and the luminance detection area, and a determination unit for calculating a luminance difference value that is a difference value between the luminance value of the AF region and the luminance value of the luminance detection area, and determining validity of an AF evaluation value with respect to the AF region according to the luminance difference value.

Abstract: A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The camera body includes an image data generating unit for capturing a subject image to generate image data, a detecting unit for detecting a contrast value of an image represented by the image data generated by the image data generating unit, and a signal generating unit for generating a control signal controlling the driving unit. In an autofocus control, the signal generating unit generates the control signal controlling the driving unit to drive the focus lens at a first speed until a predetermined time elapses after the first detecting unit starts to detect the contrast value of the image and to drive the focus lens at a second speed higher than the first speed after the predetermined time elapses.

Abstract: In order to perform adjustment of relative positions between an optical system and imaging devices, a plurality of the imaging devices, a plurality of solid lenses that form images of the imaging devices, and a plurality of optical-axis control units that control the direction of optical axes of light incident to the imaging devices are included.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor having image forming pixels for receiving light that has passed through an entire pupil area of an imaging lens which forms an object image, and focus detection pixels, which are arranged discretely among the image forming pixels, for receiving light that has passed through part of the pupil area of the imaging lens; a detection unit configured to detect an edge direction of an object based on an image signal acquired by the image sensor; an averaging unit configured to average image signals, while shifting a phase of the image signals, which are acquired respectively from each of the focus detection pixels, based on the edge direction detected by the detection unit; and a calculation unit configured to calculate a defocus amount of the imaging lens using the image signal averaged by the averaging unit.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus which includes a focus detection unit performing focus detection in a contrast system, and a display unit displaying the image obtained from an imaging unit in live view display is provided. The imaging apparatus includes a setting member setting a contrast AF calibration mode, a calibration amount obtaining unit for obtaining a difference amount between a focus position selected by a photographer and an in-focus position by the focus detection unit as a contrast AF calibration amount when the focus position is selected by the photographer in the contrast AF calibration mode, a storage unit storing the contrast AF calibration amount, and a focus control unit performing in-focus control by adding the contrast AF calibration amount to the in-focus position by the focus detection unit at the time of shooting while performing the in-focus control based on a result of the focus detection by the focus detection unit.

Abstract: A method of processing image data generated using an image capture device comprising a lens, the method comprising, generating metric data for a plurality of regions of an image, the data representing a plurality of focus measures for each region generated at a plurality of lens positions, processing the metric data in order to cluster regions into at least one group on the basis of their respective focus measures, and determining a lens position for a group corresponding to a position of true focus for the group.

Abstract: A portable electronic device and an autofocus control method of a camera of the portable electronic device are disclosed. The portable electronic device provides a G-sensor to detect the orientation of the portable electronic device, and provides a storage unit to store autofocus lookup tables for different orientations of the portable electronic device, respectively. According to orientation information from the G-sensor, the central processing unit of the portable electronic device selects one autofocus lookup table from the storage unit and thereby generates an actuating signal for a focus model. The focus model of the portable electronic device is actuated by the actuating signal to adjust an image distance between a lens module and an image sensor of the camera.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a depth value detecting unit configured to detect depth values of individual pixels of an input image; an integrating unit configured to integrate the depth values in each predetermined region of the input image; an analyzing unit configured to analyze the tendency of an integrated result of the depth values in each predetermined region of the input image; and a processing unit configured to process the input image on the basis of an analysis result obtained by the analyzing unit.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus that adjusts focus based on frequency components extracted from an image signal is provided. The apparatus includes a 1st order Infinite Impulse Response (IIR)-filter including a plurality of sample delayers having a plurality of line buffers for buffering and delaying a plurality of samples to sequentially read pixels of the image signal through raster scanning and extracting frequency components of the image signal from the read pixels by using the plurality of sample delayers; and a delay sample number controller for controlling the IIR-filter to match the number of horizontal pixels sequentially read from the image signal through raster scanning to the number of the plurality of samples buffered by the plurality of line buffers.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes a shutter button. When the shutter button is half-depressed, a focal level of an object is determined on the basis of an image signal outputted from an imaging device, and a moving start position of a focus lens is settled on the basis of the determination result. More specifically, a correction amount of the moving start position is settled in accordance with the determination result of the focal level, and a position that subtracts the correction amount from a lens position at a time the shutter button being half-depressed is settled as the moving start position. The higher the focal level, the more reduced the correction amount. The focus lens gradually moves toward the imaging device from the settled moving start position, and a focal position is specified on the basis of the image signal outputted from the imaging device at each step.

Abstract: An autofocus method includes acquiring multiple images each having a camera lens focused at a different focus distance. A sharpest image is determined among the multiple images. Horizontal, vertical and/or diagonal integral projection (IP) vectors are computed for each of the multiple images. One or more IP vectors of the sharpest image is/are convoluted with multiple filters of different lengths to generate one or more filtered IP vectors for the sharpest image. Differences are computed between the one or more filtered IP vectors of the sharpest image and one or more IP vectors of at least one of the other images of the multiple images. At least one blur width is estimated between the sharpest image and the at least one of the other images of the multiple images as a minimum value among the computed differences over a selected range. The steps are repeated one or more times to obtain a sequence of estimated blur width values. A focus position is adjusted based on the sequence of estimated blur width values.