Abstract: An automatic focus adjusting device for automatically adjusting focus by using a predetermined signal component of a picked-up image signal outputted from an image sensor is arranged to find the state of an object from information on the distribution of frequencies within a DCT block and to control a focus adjusting action according to the state of the object found, so that focus adjustment can be stably performed without any erroneous operation.

Abstract: A focus adjustment method and apparatus use statistical methods to discriminate whether an out-of-focus condition is the result of minor fluctuation or is the result of a significant change in object image condition (distance, etc.) requiring a focus adjustment. This results in good hunting suppression without sacrificing good focus adjustment performance, and flexibly adapts to different object conditions. The focus adjustment method and apparatus drive the optical system to an in-focus state based on detected focus information, and perform statistical analysis of successive focus information inputs to compute a variance value. Driving of the optical system to correct focus recommences when the defocus amount exceeds a predetermined threshold value based on the variance value.

Abstract: A camera is provided with an automatic focus adjusting apparatus. The automatic focus adjusting apparatus includes a focus detecting device which detects the focus adjusted state of the photo-taking lens. A monitor device which monitors the movement of the photo-taking lens and an image plane movement speed calculating circuit which calculates an image plane movement speed on the basis of the result of the detection by the focus detecting device and the result of the monitoring by the monitor device. A moving object discrimination circuit discriminates an object as a moving object when the image plane movement speed is equal to or greater than a threshold value. A threshold value setting circuit sets the threshold value used for moving object discrimination in the moving object discriminating circuit. The threshold value setting circuit changes the threshold value when a continuous shooting device is driven.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical camera having a zoom function in which a focal length can be varied or the variation is actuated by a focal length changing member, and in particular to a camera in which a focal length is varied through a motor.The optical camera has a zoom lens operable by a rotatable zoom ring for changing the focal length thereof. An automatic focusing operation is effected by a control means when the focal length is changed so that an image of an object viewed through a viewfinder remains in focus. The zoom lens can include a motor and an in-exposure zoom control means can be provided for controlling zooming movement of the lens during an exposure operation.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device that eliminates unnecessary driving of a shooting lens after the shooting lens has already been driven near to an in-focus position. In a focus adjustment device, information related to the defocus amount of the shooting lens is detected based on output signals corresponding to the light intensity distribution of a object image from a pair of photo-electric conversion arrays. The focus adjustment device includes a focus detection circuit to determine the confidence level of the detected information based on predetermined determination criteria and a lens driving device to drive the shooting lens based on the detected information when the information of the focus detection device is accepted as having a sufficient confidence level.