Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor obtaining a captured image of a subject, a face detection section detecting a face of the subject from the captured image, a focusing control section performing a tracking focusing operation for maintaining a state in which the face of the subject is focused on the basis of a signal obtained from a distance measuring area provided in an image capturing area, a first determination section determining whether the face of the subject is present in the distance measuring area when the face of the subject is detected by the face detection section, and a second determination section determining whether a body area in which a body corresponding to the face of the subject is expected to be present is present in the distance measuring area when the face of the subject is determined not to be present in the distance measuring area.

Abstract: There are provided a focus detector detecting a focusing state of an optical system with respect to a plurality of focus detection positions that are set in an imagefield of the optical system; a recognizer setting a reference image with respect to an image to be a reference, and recognizing a position corresponding to the reference image of an image in the optical system; a selector selecting the focus detection position to be a target of focus adjustment of the optical system based on one of the focusing state and a position corresponding to the reference image recognized by the recognizer; and a controller executing at least one of resetting of the reference image and a retrying recognition of the position corresponding to the reference image when the focus detection position is selected based on the focusing state.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus capable of precisely and immediately performing autofocusing on a person being photographed, and a method of controlling the same are provided. The digital photographing apparatus comprises a face detecting unit that detects a face, a body detecting unit that detects a body, which may or may not exclude the face, an autofocus information obtaining unit, and an autofocus object determining unit. The autofocus object determining unit analyzes face autofocus information obtained from the face by the autofocus information obtaining unit and body autofocus information obtained from the body, and then selects the face part and/or the body as an object of autofocusing.

Abstract: Multiple sets of pixel values representing a captured image of a scene are received, with each set representing an image captured with a corresponding degree of focus. An image processor may identify a region of interest in the captured image, automatically determine the configuration parameters for a lens assembly to provide a desired degree of focus for the region of interest, and generate signals to configure a lens assembly. In an embodiment, the region of interest is a face, the desired degree of focus of the face is determined by computing a rate of variation of luminance of pixels representing the face, and the desired degree is the degree of the image having the maximum degree of focus.

Abstract: A face detection method is provided, including: classifying into levels time-wise continuously captured images by increasing/reducing the total number of pixels; selecting sequentially and reading out image data for all of the levels using read-out units of the same size of pixels, or a smaller size of pixels, as those of the image with the smallest size of pixels; carrying out face detection processing by extracting candidate levels in which face image data is present, based on the read-out image data for each of the levels; and, when repeating the face detection processing, setting the number of candidate levels for face detection processing from the second time onward as less than the total number of levels. A digital camera incorporating the face detection method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Multiple sets of pixel values representing a captured image of a scene are received, with each set representing an image captured with a corresponding degree of focus. An image processor may identify a region of interest in the captured image, automatically determine the configuration parameters for a lens assembly to provide a desired degree of focus for the region of interest, and generate signals to configure a lens assembly. In an embodiment, the region of interest is a face, the desired degree of focus of the face is determined by computing a rate of variation of luminance of pixels representing the face, and the desired degree is the degree of the image having the maximum degree of focus.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device which captures an image regarding an object image, an object detector detecting a specific object from the captured image, a focus control unit configured to execute a focusing operation on the basis of a phase-difference detection signal obtained from a distance measurement area set at a predetermined position in an image capturing area, a display control unit configured to cause a display unit to display a display element indicating a position of the specific object, and a first determining unit configured to determine whether or not the focusing operation has been executed on the basis of the phase-difference detection signal regarding the specific object. The display control unit changes a display mode of the display element indicating the position of the specific object in accordance with the result of the determination performed by the first determining unit.

Abstract: A ring-like region excluding a central region and a peripheral region from an image pickup area is preset as a focus area. An image signal is acquired through a lens and a CCD circuit. Based on the image signal thus acquired, a contrast value indicating the degree of in-focus of the preset focus area is calculated. A lens position corresponding to a maximum contrast value of the preset focus area is determined as an in-focus lens position. In autofocus processing, face detection is carried out first. Then, if the result of face detection is successful, a face region is set up as a focus area, and focus adjustment is performed based thereon. Alternatively, if the result of face detection is unsuccessful, focus adjustment is performed based on the preset focus area.

Abstract: A system, computer readable medium, and method for dynamically setting a camera's exposure parameters based on face detection are disclosed. When taking a picture or video of a person in front of a bright background, standard exposure algorithms tend to overexpose the background. In one embodiment disclosed herein, a face detection algorithm is run on the current picture or video frame, and the exposure metering region is inset over the detected face. Exposure time, gain, or other exposure parameters may be set based on the pixels within the exposure metering region. In another embodiment, the exposure metering region tracks a moving face according to lag parameters so that the exposure metering region remains substantially over the face. In yet another embodiment, a plurality of faces may be tracked, with the exposure parameters set based on a weighted average of the pixels within the plurality of face-containing exposure metering regions.

Abstract: An autofocus system includes: a focus operating device which performs focusing in a shooting screen of a camera; a best focus range detecting device which detects a range of a best focus state from the shooting screen representing the result of the focusing performed by the focus operating device; a face detecting device which detects a range of a human face from the shooting screen; an AF frame automatic setting device by which, when a human face exists in the range being in the best focus state in the shooting screen, the position of an AF frame representing the range of an AF area that is the range to be focused by autofocus in the shooting screen, is automatically set to a face frame representing the range of the human face; and an AF frame automatic tracking device which automatically tracks a subject in the set AF frame.

Abstract: An exposure control unit comprising a photometer, a designator, a first calculator, a first counter, a selector, a second calculator, a categorizer, and an exposure controller is provided. The photometer comprises a plurality of photometric zones. The designator designates the photometric zones one by one as a target zone. The first calculator calculates a first difference. The first counter counts a first determination number. The selector selects the target zone of which the first determination number is greater than a second threshold. The second calculator calculates a categorization value. The categorizer categorizes a target zone into low- or high-luminous zones. The exposure controller controls an exposure of the imaging apparatus on the basis of the partial value of light for one of the low- and high-luminous zones.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a face position detection section for detecting at least a position at which is present a person's face inside a frame using an image signal obtained from an image sensor for photoelectrically converting an object image captured by a photographing optical system, a focus control section for controlling the photographing optical system by referencing in-focus positions of the object image obtained inside focus detection areas for detecting focus states of the object image positioned in the frame, and a control section for controlling the focus control section so as to reference at least one or the other of an in-focus position obtained in a first focus detection area in which is present a person's face and an in-focus position obtained in a second focus detection area in which is expected to be present a body of a person determining from the position of the face of the person.

Abstract: A degree of overlapping between separately obtained regions of respective parts of an image is determined. When the degree of overlapping is greater than a defined value, only one of the obtained regions, or both the regions, or a region including both the regions is selected. When the degree of overlapping is less than the defined value, the separately obtained regions of respective parts of the image are separately selected. The image is displayed while reflecting a result of the selection.

Abstract: Digital camera is provided with face detection section that detects faces of a plurality of photographing objects, microcomputer performs continuous shooting in optimum photographing conditions in accordance with the number of faces of the photographing objects for each face of the plurality of photographing objects by a single shutter operation and performs control by assigning serial photographing object numbers to the images of the plurality of photographing objects taken by continuous shooting and recording the images in a single continuous-shooting image folder. Furthermore, microcomputer performs continuous shooting in predetermined order in accordance with the number of faces of the photographing objects and detects, when the photographing object speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the photographing object speed again after photographing other photographing objects.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are disclosed for accelerating the operation of the automatic functions of an imager, e.g. a camera system. The automatic functions may, for example, include one or more of auto-focus, auto-exposure and auto-white balance. A special “windowing mode” is implemented in which information is acquired from only a subset of defined windows from the full pixel array area in order to set image capture parameters of the imager in accordance with current scene conditions.

Abstract: The present invention includes: a plurality of lens portions, each having at least one lens; a plurality of image pickup regions which are provided to correspond to the lens portions, respectively, and each of which has a light receiving surface substantially perpendicular to a direction of an optical axis of the corresponding lens portion; an image pickup signal input portion 133 which receives image pickup signals generated by the image pickup regions; a transfer range determining portion 144 which determines a transfer range of the image pickup signals transferred from the image pickup regions to the image pickup signal input portion 133; an image pickup region driving portion 132 which drives the image pickup regions such that the image pickup signals corresponding to the transfer range determined by the transfer range determining portion 144 are transferred to the image pickup signal input portion 133; and a parallax calculating portion 142 which calculates a parallax based on the image pickup signals tr

Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to capture an object image input via a focus lens to output image data, a focus adjustment unit configured to perform focus adjustment by controlling a position of the focus lens based on the image data, a motion detection unit configured to detect a motion of the object image based on the image data, and a control unit configured to control the focus adjustment unit to perform a first focus adjustment operation if motion of the object image is not detected by the motion detection unit, and to control the focus adjustment unit to perform a second focus adjustment operation different from the first focus adjustment operation if motion of the object image is detected by the motion detection unit.

Abstract: Frequency of unnecessary face detection operations performed in a photographing apparatus is reduced, thereby reducing the power consumption by the face detection operations. A determining unit determines whether or not a photographing condition of the photographing apparatus satisfies a precondition for efficiently using a result of detection by a detecting unit, which detects an image representing a face from images taken through the imaging lens of the photographing apparatus. A controlling unit exerts control such that, if it is determined that the photographing condition of the photographing apparatus satisfies the precondition, the detecting unit carries out the detection, and if it is determined that the photographing condition of the photographing apparatus does not satisfy the precondition, the detecting unit does not carry out the detection.

Abstract: A data processing device includes: a face-detecting unit to detect a face region from an input image input from an imaging unit which images a subject including a face; a setting unit to calculate subject distance based on the face size of the face detected by the face-detecting unit, and set limits as a focus lens operation range before and after a focus lens position with the calculated subject distance as focal distance; a detecting unit to move a focus lens within the limits set by the setting unit, and detect a focal point where a detection value corresponding to the contrast intensity obtained from a face frame including the face detected by the face-detecting unit is not smaller than a threshold; and a control unit to determine, in a case wherein a focal point has been detected within predetermined set time, the focal point thereof as a focus position.

Abstract: The image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup element including first type pixels photoelectrically converting an object image formed by a light flux from an optical system and second type pixels photoelectrically converting plural images formed by plural light fluxes divided from the light flux from the optical system, a controller performing contrast detection focus control using signals from pixels in a contrast evaluation area among the first type pixels, and a detector detecting phase differences of respective pairs of images of the plural images using signals from the second type pixels, the pairs of images being respectively formed in plural phase difference detection areas in the contrast evaluation area, and calculating information on an in-focus position of the optical system or object distance for each phase difference detection area based on each phase difference.

Abstract: A camera has a face detecting section, a focusing section, and a controlling section. The face detecting section detects a face area in a shooting image plane. The focusing section calculates a defocus amount based on a relative distance of a pair of images of a light beam that has passed through a shooting lens in each of a plurality of optional areas in the shooting image plane. The controlling section designates a focusing area among the optional areas based on an output of the face detecting section and performs a focusing operation of the shooting lens based on the defocus amount in the focusing area.

Abstract: A face detection method is provided, including: classifying into levels time-wise continuously captured images by increasing/reducing the total number of pixels; selecting sequentially and reading out image data for all of the levels using read-out units of the same size of pixels, or a smaller size of pixels, as those of the image with the smallest size of pixels; carrying out face detection processing by extracting candidate levels in which face image data is present, based on the read-out image data for each of the levels; and, when repeating the face detection processing, setting the number of candidate levels for face detection processing from the second time onward as less than the total number of levels. A digital camera incorporating the face detection method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises: a photoelectric converter including a pair of line sensors to output electrical signals; a selection unit constructed to select one of focus detection points; a control unit constructed to divide the pair of line sensors into a plurality of pairs of blocks in accordance with different divisional patterns which make the resultant plurality of pairs of blocks respectively corresponding to the focus detection points, and read out electrical signals from each pair of blocks when the levels of the electrical signals of the pair of blocks reach a level suitable for focus detection; frame memories, constructed to store the read out electrical signals, corresponding to the divisional patterns; and a focus detection unit constructed to detect a focus state of an imaging lens, on the basis of a phase difference between electrical signals of the pair of blocks corresponding to the selected focus detection point.

Abstract: A focus adjusting apparatus includes an imaging unit, a calculation unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. The imaging unit is configured to generate an imaging signal of an image formed by an optical system. The calculation unit is configured to calculate based on the imaging signal a focus evaluation value in accordance with a focus adjustment position of the optical system. The detection unit is configured to detect a state with respect to a size of the image. The control unit is configured to control focus adjustment of the optical system based on a rate of change in the focus evaluation value and the state with respect to the size of the image.

Abstract: A method applies fast and accurate autofocusing (AF) by using a contrast AF method in a digital photographing apparatus. In the digital photographing apparatus, when AF peaks of a subject of a central multi-point and a subject of a nearest multi-point are detected, further scanning is not performed. In addition, scanning is not performed on a region from which it is difficult to detect a peak, so that fast and accurate AF may be performed.

Abstract: An autofocus system includes: a focus operating device which performs focusing in a shooting screen of a camera; a best focus range detecting device which detects a range of a best focus state from the shooting screen representing the result of the focusing performed by the focus operating device; a face detecting device which detects a range of a human face from the shooting screen; an AF frame automatic setting device by which, when a human face exists in the range being in the best focus state in the shooting screen, the position of an AF frame representing the range of an AF area that is the range to be focused by autofocus in the shooting screen, is automatically set to a face frame representing the range of the human face; and an AF frame automatic tracking device which automatically tracks a subject in the set AF frame.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a face position detection section for detecting at least a position at which is present a person's face inside a frame using an image signal obtained from an image sensor for photoelectrically converting an object image captured by a photographing optical system, a focus control section for controlling the photographing optical system by referencing in-focus positions of the object image obtained inside focus detection areas for detecting focus states of the object image positioned in the frame, and a control section for controlling the focus control section so as to reference at least one or the other of an in-focus position obtained in a first focus detection area in which is present a person's face and an in-focus position obtained in a second focus detection area in which is expected to be present a body of a person determining from the position of the face of the person.

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

Abstract: Face detection is executed only on an image imaged based on an arbitrary (predetermined) focal point information defined in advance. In face detection, the face of a person is detected based on a relative value of statistics in a plurality of characteristic regions produced by contour or parts of the face of the person. Thus, even if the face in the image used for face detection is blurred, the statistics in a certain region can be acquired, and thus such face is detectable. Therefore, the primary subject to be focused can be rapidly detected without performing focal point control at a stage of preliminary imaging in the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a face detecting unit that detects a face included in image data generated by a photographing operation, a face transforming and correcting unit that performs a face correcting process for shrinking a width of a detected face in a case where the face is detected by the face detecting unit, and a shading processing unit that performs a process for increasing sharpness of an in-focus area of the image data and performs a shading process for an out-of-focus area of the image data, in a case where a face has not been detected by the face detecting unit.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a detector detecting information used for focus control in each of a plurality of detection areas set in an image-pickup area, a selecting member being operated to change a selected area selected from the plurality of the detection areas, and a controller performing the focus control based on the information detected by the detector in the selected area. The controller determines a selectable detection area among the plurality of the detection areas based on the information used for the focus control detected in each of the detection areas and changes the selected area among the selectable detection areas in response to the operation of the selecting member. The optical apparatus reduces burdens in a selecting operation of the detection area for information used for the focus control and allows selection of an intended detection area quickly.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for forming an optical image of a subject on a light-receiving surface of an imaging element via a photographing lens; the imaging apparatus comprising: a first focusing position detection device which extracts a particular portion of the subject based on image signals obtained from the imaging element and detects the focusing position of the photographing lens based on the size of the extracted particular portion; a second focusing position detection device which calculates focus evaluation values of the subject based on image signals obtained from the imaging element and detects the focusing position of the photographing lens based on the calculated focus evaluation values; and a setting device which sets any one of the first focusing position detection device and the second focusing position detection device as a device which detects the focusing position of the photographing lens.

Abstract: A focal point detection device includes a focal point detection section which detects a focal point state of an object image corresponding to each of focal point detection regions. A group selection section selects focal point detection regions as a group. A judgment section determines a focal point detection region in which detection of the focal point state is enabled in the selected group. An automatic focal point detection region selection section selects, when detection of the focal point detection regions can be performed in the selected group, a focal point detection region in the selected group, and selects, when detection of the focal point detection regions cannot be performed, a focal point detection region outside the selected group. A control section drives an imaging optical system in accordance with the focal point state corresponding to the focal point detection region selected.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes a face detecting section, a setting section, and a controlling section. The face detecting section detects a face of a subject. The setting section sets a scene shooting mode to adjust a shooting condition to an optimum shooting condition in accordance with each pre-assumed shooting scene. The controlling section controls the face detection of the face detecting section only when the setting section has set a scene shooting mode for shooting a scene including a person.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method for recognizing an object such as a face in an image. The photographing apparatus includes: an optical system comprising a focus lens; a photoelectric transformation element transforming light information into an electrical signal; an image signal processor outputting the electrical signal as an image signal; a first distance measurer detecting face region data corresponding to a face from the image signal, comparing the face region data with standard face data, and obtaining a first object distance from the photographing apparatus to the face; a second distance measurer detecting a focus position for the face and obtaining a second object distance from the photographing apparatus to the face; and a face recognizer comparing the first and second object distances and recognizing that the face region data includes data corresponding to the face.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit that obtains an image signal relating to a subject, a driving unit that drives a focus lens, a first detecting unit that performs focus detection based on a contrast detection method to detect an in-focus position of the focus lens, a second detecting unit that performs focus detection based on a phase difference detection method, while the focus lens is being driven toward the in-focus position, to detect a provisional in-focus position of the focus lens, and an in-focus control unit that controls the driving unit to drive the focus lens to pass through the provisional in-focus position and then return to the in-focus position. Focus detection information is obtained at least for a given range of positions, and is stored in a predetermined storage unit. The in-focus position is detected based on the stored focus detection information.

Abstract: A focus detection device for an image forming optical system includes a micro-lens array constituted with a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed micro-lenses, a light-receiving element array that includes a plurality of light-receiving element s receiving a light flux from the image forming optical system via the micro-lenses, the plurality of light-receiving elements being disposed in correspondence to each micro-lens, and a focus detection unit that generates image data representing an image formed by the image forming optical system and a focus detection signal, which corresponds to a focus adjustment state at the image forming optical system, based upon signals output from the light-receiving elements at the light-receiving element array, and that detects the focus adjustment state at the image forming optical system based upon the image data and the focus detection signal.

Abstract: A focus-controlling apparatus adjusts a focus in an optical system. The apparatus includes a focus detecting unit, a storage unit, a focus area switching unit, and a drive control unit. The focus detecting unit detects de-focusing amounts of the optical system with respect to a plurality of objects that lie in a plurality of focus areas, respectively. The storage unit stores the de-focusing amounts detected for the respective focus areas. The focus area switching unit switches the focus areas, from one to another, in an order based on the de-focusing amounts stored in the storage unit. The drive control unit moves the optical system to a focus position corresponding to the de-focusing amount at any focus area switched by the focus area switching unit.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a face position detection section for detecting at least a position at which is present a person's face inside a frame using an image signal obtained from an image sensor for photoelectrically converting an object image captured by a photographing optical system, a focus control section for controlling the photographing optical system by referencing in-focus positions of the object image obtained inside focus detection areas for detecting focus states of the object image positioned in the frame, and a control section for controlling the focus control section so as to reference at least one or the other of an in-focus position obtained in a first focus detection area in which is present a person's face and an in-focus position obtained in a second focus detection area in which is expected to be present a body of a person determining from the position of the face of the person.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus is disclosed which can achieve excellent focus detection performance. The apparatus detects the focusing state of an image-pickup lens based on a phase difference in a plurality of images. The apparatus includes a field lens and a light-receiving element including plural focus detection areas. The light-receiving element includes at least first and second focus detection areas which detect a phase difference in a first direction, and third and fourth focus detection areas which detect a phase difference in a second direction. The intersection position of the first focus detection area and the third focus detection area with respect to the center of the first focus detection area is different from the intersection position of the second focus detection area and the fourth focus detection area with respect to the center of the second focus detection area.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a face detecting unit that detects a face area from an input image inputted in the imaging apparatus and a control unit that executes a focus operation according to adjustment of a focus lens. The control unit judges whether, during the focus operation, a new face has appeared in a position closer to the imaging apparatus than a position of a face closest to the imaging apparatus among faces detected before the start of the focus operation on the basis of the number and sizes of the faces detected and performs processing for re-executing or stopping the focus operation on the basis of a judgment result indicating that a new face has appeared in a position closer to the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: In the AF processing section, the parameter obtaining section obtains a weighting parameter value for a principal component that represents a sharpness level of a face portion of an image, an example of a predetermined structure in an image, detected by the face detection section by applying the detected face portion to a model generated by a predetermined statistical processing, such as AAM or the like, based on a plurality of images that represent the face portion in different sharpness levels, and the control amount determination section determines the focus control amount according to the obtained parameter value.

Abstract: A human face is detected from an image. On the basis of a size of the detected face and a focal length of a taking lens, a subject distance is calculated. Further, a depth of field is calculated on the basis of the calculated subject distance, the focal length of the taking lens and a stop diameter. The calculated depth of field is analyzed. When it is judged that the depth of field is deep, shooting is performed as it is. When it is judged that the depth of field is shallow, the stop diameter is reduced to deepen the depth of field. In addition, sensitivity of a CCD image sensor is heightened to correct brightness of the image.

Abstract: A focusing device capable of setting (S402) a focusing area according to a detection result of a target subject, wherein even if the target subject is no longer detected, when the target subject is assumed to be present, the velocity of the movement of the focusing lens (104) is made slower. Thus, even if the target subject can no longer be detected, it is possible to suppress the in-focus position from changing significantly.

Abstract: A face-image area is decided with comparatively good accuracy. An (N?1)th frame of a subject image ?1 and an Nth frame of a subject image ?2 are obtained by sensing the image of a subject successively. Face-image detection processing is applied to the frames of the subject images ?1 and ?2 to detect face-image areas C1, C2 and C3. The face-image area C2 is construed to be linked to the face-image area C1, which is the corresponding face-image area. Since a face-image area that corresponds to the face-image area C3 does not exist, the face-image area C3 is construed as not being linked. The linked face-image area C2 in the Nth frame of the subject image ?2 is decided upon as a face-image area. Thus, face areas can be decided with comparatively good accuracy.

Abstract: Automatic photographing condition setting is achieved with accuracy. For example, when a shutter button is half-pressed, preliminary photographing is carried out under different photographing conditions to acquire preview images. Then, each of the preview images is subjected to a face detection process. Photographing conditions for photographing a person are automatically adjusted to be suitable for a face area in one of the preview images from which a face has been detected.

Abstract: A camera is provided with a face detecting section, a focusing section, an area specifying section, and a controlling section. The face detecting section detects a face area within a shooting image plane. The focusing section has plural optional areas within the shooting image plane. Further, the focusing section obtains an image phase difference amount of a pair of images based on luminous flux having passed through a shooting lens in each of the optional areas. The area specifying section specifies a focusing area from among the optional areas corresponding to the face area. Further, the area specifying section changes a method of specifying the focusing area in accordance with the size of the face area. The controlling section performs a focusing operation of the shooting lens on the basis of the image phase difference amount in the focusing area.

Abstract: When an imaging mode is set, a subject is imaged, and image data representing a subject image is obtained. Continuous AF is operated such that the subject image represented by the obtained image data is focused. Ranges ahead of and behind the focusing position of an imaging lens obtained in the continuous AF are determined as a focusing range. A formal search is conducted in the determined focusing range. A focusing position is determined from a graph of focusing integrated values obtained in the formal search. The imaging lens is put at the determined focusing position.

Abstract: Systems and methods of implementing dynamic focus zones for cameras are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, a method may include selecting a reference image from a scene being photographed. The method may also include selecting a plurality of difference images from regions adjacent the reference image. The method may also include comparing the reference image and the plurality of different images. The method may also include selecting a plurality of distinct focus zones based on correlation of the compared reference image and the plurality of difference images.

Abstract: An autofocus apparatus includes an imaging device that captures a subject image through a photographic lens; an AF area determining device that determines a range of image signals to be used for autofocus adjustment based upon image signals provided by the imaging device; a focus adjustment device that adjusts a focal point position achieved through the photographic lens by driving a focus lens so as to maximize contrast achieved with the image signals in the determined range; and a control device that controls the focus adjustment device, if the range of the image signals determined by the AF area determining device has been altered, so as to adjust the focal point position by using image signals in the altered range.