Abstract: An electronic endoscope device is provided. An electronic endoscope device for obtaining an imaging signal from an imaging device for imaging an object and outputting an image based on the obtained imaging signal is provided with a brightness calculation unit that calculates brightness of the image, and a control unit that changes an exposure time in the imaging device exponentially so that the brightness calculated by the brightness calculation unit approaches set brightness.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing device, a photometry unit; and an exposure control unit, wherein, when a wide-angle image is acquired, the photometry unit divides the wide-angle image into a plurality of regions, and acquires a first photometric result of a first photometric region and a second photometric result of a second photometric region, the first photometric region and the second photometric region being obtained by bringing adjacent predetermined regions together, when a wide-angle image is acquired, the exposure control unit controls an exposure based on at least the first photometric result and the second photometric result, and the first photometric region is constituted by a region included in the second photometric region and a region that is not included in the second photometric region.

Abstract: A background light suppression apparatus and method capable of suppressing influences of background light in a depth sensor includes measuring output signals of sub pixels for a sub integration time shorter than a frame integration time; and integrating differences between the output signals after the sub integration time.

Abstract: A two-dimensional code reading device which can prolong the lifetime of the auxiliary light is provided. A two-dimensional code reading device in the present invention includes an image reading unit to acquire an image of a two-dimensional code printed on a ticket medium, a specific pattern detector to detect a specific pattern to identify the two-dimensional code from the image of the two-dimensional code acquired by the image reading unit, a two-dimensional code decoder to read information recorded in the two-dimensional code detected by the specific pattern detector, an auxiliary light to irradiate light on the ticket medium and an auxiliary light controller to control turning on and off of the auxiliary light, wherein the auxiliary light controller turns on the auxiliary light when the specific pattern is detected by the specific pattern detector and the information recorded in the two-dimensional code cannot be read by the two-dimensional code decoder.

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 apparatus and method enables an automated extended depth of field capability that automates and simplifies the process of creating extended depth of field images. An embodiment automates the acquisition of an image “stack” or sequence and stores metadata at the time of image acquisition that facilitates production of a composite image having an extended depth of field from at least a portion of the images in the acquired sequence. An embodiment allows a user to specify, either at the time of image capture or at the time the composite image is created, a range of distances that the user wishes to have in focus within the composite image. An embodiment provides an on-board capability to produce a composite, extended depth of field image from the image stack. One embodiment allows the user to import the image stack into an image-processing software application that produces the composite image.

Abstract: In a distance measurement device of an embodiment, a light source emits modulation light in a first charge transfer cycle, and emission of the modulation light of the light source is stopped in a second charge transfer cycle. In each of the first and second charge transfer cycles, the charges generated in a photosensitive region are distributed to a first accumulation region and a second accumulation region. A first value is obtained based on readout values corresponding to amounts of accumulated charges of the first accumulation region. A second value is obtained based on readout values corresponding to amounts of accumulated charges of the second accumulation region. A distance is calculated based on the first value and the second value.

Abstract: A system for providing thermal protection for an LED light module and methods for manufacturing the same are described herein. The thermally protected LED light module may include a heat sink assembly thermally coupled to an LED light source, and a thermal protector. The thermal protector may be connected to the heat sink assembly by a mechanical fastener. Further, the thermal protector is electrically coupled to the LED light source and a power source where the thermal protector breaks the power provided to the LED light source from the power source when the thermal protector detects heat at or above a threshold temperature.

Abstract: A focus detection sensor includes a line sensor comprised of a pair of sensor arrays in which a plurality of pixels are arranged. The sensor arrays include a pixel of a first type having an arrangement for transferring charges generated by a photoelectric conversion device to a corresponding memory device and causing the memory device to integrate the charges during a charge accumulation period, and a pixel of a second type having an arrangement for integrating, in the pixel, the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion device during the charge accumulation period without transferring the charges to the memory device until the end of the charge accumulation period, and transferring the charges to the corresponding memory device when the charge accumulation period has ended. An accurate charge accumulation result can be obtained by a simple arrangement.

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 detection apparatus that performs a first determination for determining whether a signal level indicating an amount of the electric charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element has reached a lower threshold, and a second determination for determining whether the signal level has reached a higher second. During a time period from when it is determined that the signal level has reached the lower threshold to when it is determined that the signal level has reached the higher threshold, the second determination is performed at a shorter time interval if an elapsed time from when the accumulation of the electric charges is started to when it is determined that the signal level has reached the first threshold is shorter than a reference time, and at a longer time interval if the elapsed time is longer than the reference time.

Abstract: A movement quantity calculation unit 102 calculates an image movement quantity between a new frame and a previous frame, each including image data in frame units comprising a dynamic image photographed one after another by a camera 1, based on difference in image data between the frames. A storage control unit 104 stores in a time-lapse photographed image storage area 107 either the image data of the new frame or that of the previous frame as a time-lapse photographed image in the case where the image movement quantity calculated by the movement quantity calculation unit 102 has changed from being equal to or greater than a predetermined value to being less than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a pair of sensor units each of which includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a signal holding unit and a transfer unit, and outputs a signal held by the signal holding unit, comprising a control unit including a detector unit, wherein when one of the pair of sensor units operates in a first mode, the other operates in a second mode, the detector unit detects that the output has reached a predetermined value after the one starting a signal transfer, the one ends the signal transfer in response to the detection and determines the held signal, the control unit generates a control signal after that, and the other in the second mode accumulates generated charges and starts a signal transfer in accordance with the control signal, then ends the signal transfer and determines the held signal.

Abstract: A camera includes: a first sensor of a storage type that has a plurality of pixels; a focus detection unit that detects a focus adjustment state of a photographic optical system based upon a detection signal from the first sensor for a photographic subject; a second sensor that acquires an image of the photographic subject; an extraction unit that extracts a main photographic subject region from image information acquired by the second sensor; and a control unit that controls accumulation of electrical charge by the first sensor, based upon values outputted from pixels of the first sensor that correspond to the main photographic subject region.

Abstract: An image taking system including: (a) a CMOS or CCD image sensor; (b) an interest-region setter configured to set regions of interest within an image taking area of the image sensor; (c) an acquiring-condition determiner configured to determine an image-data acquiring condition required for acquiring at least two image data generated in at least two of the regions of interest; and (d) an image-data acquirer configured to acquire the at least two image data. The acquiring-condition determiner includes an exposure-time determining portion configured to determine, as the image-data acquiring conditions, at least two different exposure times required for acquiring the at least two image data generated in the at least two regions of interest. The image-data acquirer includes an exposure-time-based-image-data acquiring portion configured to acquire the at least two image data, such that the acquired at least two image data are based on the at least two different exposure times.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a monitor unit configured to monitor and output an accumulation state of a monitor area, which is apart of the detection area, a control unit configured to start an accumulation for focus adjustment in a detection area, and to determine whether the accumulation is ended based on the accumulation state, and to end the accumulation, when it is determined that the accumulation is to be ended, and an adjusting unit configured to use, for a focus adjustment, an output signal in a first area including the monitor area in priority to an output signal in a second area not including the monitor area.

Abstract: A method, medium, and apparatus for setting an exposure time is provided. The apparatus includes a section setting module which sets one or more luminance sections based on a luminance distribution of an input image, an image division module which divides the input image into two or more regions, a region classification module which classifies the regions into the luminance sections, and an exposure-time setting module which sets an exposure time for each of the regions with reference to a target luminance value, the target luminance value being set based on the results of the classification performed by the region classification module.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus that performs a first determination for determining whether a signal level indicating an amount of the electric charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element has reached a lower threshold, and a second determination for determining whether the signal level has reached a higher second. During a time period from when it is determined that the signal level has reached the lower threshold to when it is determined that the signal level has reached the higher threshold, the second determination is performed at a shorter time interval if an elapsed time from when the accumulation of the electric charges is started to when it is determined that the signal level has reached the first threshold is shorter than a reference time, and at a longer time interval if the elapsed time is longer than the reference time.

Abstract: An apparatus that detects an in-focus state according to the present invention has a plurality of line sensors arranged on a projection area of an optical image-forming system; a plurality of monitor sensors arranged on the projection area with each monitor sensor positioned adjacent to a corresponding line sensor and monitoring a quantity of light incident on the corresponding line sensor; an electric charge accumulation controller that controls the timing of completion of the accumulation of electric charges in the plurality of line sensors on the basis of monitor signals output from corresponding monitor sensors; that controls the timing of the commencement of the subsequent accumulation of electric charges in the plurality of line sensors; and a signal output processor that reads the accumulated electric charges from the plurality of line sensors and then outputs image signals corresponding to an object image.

Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, facilitates performance of an autofocus procedure of a camera device that has variable focus capabilities. Indications of an autofocus-actuator stability time indication are provided. And, a determination is made as to whether the provided indication is of a time length greater than a frame length. If so, a blank period is appended to a frame. The length of the blank period is selected so that the time period associated with the obtained time indication is no greater than the frame period.

Abstract: Provided is a multi-exposure controlling method and apparatus. An exposure control unit may set an initial exposure time based on a comparison result between a predetermined brightness confidence interval and an average high brightness that is calculated based on at least one current histogram. A comparison unit may compare the brightness confidence interval and an average low brightness that is calculated based on a subsequent histogram obtained by photographing a subject using the set initial exposure time. The exposure control unit may change the initial exposure time based on a comparison result of the comparison unit.

Abstract: A camera is provided which is adapted to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a detection unit configured to execute electric charge accumulation for detecting a defocus amount when the diaphragm is in a state having a first aperture value, and a controller configured to, when causing the diaphragm to perform an aperture reducing operation from the first aperture value to a second aperture value, cause the diaphragm to start the aperture reducing operation without waiting for completion of the electric charge accumulation for detecting the defocus amount by the detection unit.

Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention includes a normal operation period and a focusing operation period and includes: a CCD (102) able to perform thinning processing on image signals of an imaging subject; an AFE (103) that converts the image signals into image data; a signal processing unit (104b) that converts the image data into display data; an LCD (107) that displays an image based on the display data; and a thinning control unit (104c) that that changes a read frame rate and thinning rate of the CCD (102). The thinning control unit (104c) performs control so that in the focusing operation period, image signals are read from the CCD (102) at a higher read frame rate than in the normal operation period, and so that in the focusing operation period and a frame immediately before the focusing operation period, image signals are read from the CCD (102) using a larger thinning rate than in the normal operation period.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus includes: plural focus detection units detecting focus states in plural areas independently; a unit measuring detection time of the focus detection units; a unit calculating a maximum focus detection time; a unit calculating defocus amounts based on outputs from the focus detection units; a unit driving a focus lens based on the defocus amounts; and a unit calculating an object predicted position. When the focus detection time exceeds the maximum focus detection time, all detections by the focus detection units are completed, defocus amounts corresponding to the respective plural areas are calculated based on the focus states in the areas detected by the focus detection units, and the focus lens is driven according to an output of the focus detection unit corresponding to a focus target position where a difference between the focus target position and the object predicted position is within an allowable range.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide noise reduction in a demosaiced digital image by processing the digitized signals received from a color pattern pixel array for noise reduction previous to, or as part of, a demosaicing process by using a weight matrix.

Abstract: This invention includes accumulation units (102a, 102b) which accumulate signals obtained by sensing units (111a, 111b), an area determination unit (103, 100) which sets the size of an area of a sensing unit to be segmented into a plurality of areas on the basis of the information of a lens to be focus-detected, accumulation control units (104a-104c, 105) which control, for each of the areas, accumulation of signals obtained in a plurality of areas by the accumulation units, and a defocus detection unit (100) which detects defocus states in the respective areas from accumulated signals from a plurality of areas.

Abstract: A camera includes: a first sensor of a storage type that has a plurality of pixels; a focus detection unit that detects a focus adjustment state of a photographic optical system based upon a detection signal from the first sensor for a photographic subject; a second sensor that acquires an image of the photographic subject; an extraction unit that extracts a main photographic subject region from image information acquired by the second sensor; and a control unit that controls accumulation of electrical charge by the first sensor, based upon values outputted from pixels of the first sensor that correspond to the main photographic subject region.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus includes: a focus detector photoelectrically converting at least a part of a photographing beam; a defocus computer calculating a defocus amount based on an output of the focus detector; a driver driving a focus lens based on the defocus amount; and a unit setting a maximum time period for charge accumulation in the focus detector. If the accumulated charge in the focus detector reaches a threshold within the period, when the accumulated charge in the focus detector reaches the threshold, the defocus computer calculates a defocus amount using an output of the focus detector and outputs the defocus amount to the driver. If the accumulated charge in the focus detector does not reach the threshold within the period, when the period lapses, the defocus computer calculates a defocus amount using an output of the focus detector and outputs the defocus amount to the driver.

Abstract: A focus detecting device includes a focus detecting optical system which forms a plurality of object images. A photoelectric conversion element array includes a plurality of pixels and subjects each of the plural object images formed by the focus detecting optical system to photoelectric conversion. An electric charge transfer path transfers an electric charge obtained by the photoelectric conversion subjected by the photoelectric conversion element array. A focus detecting section performs focus detection with respect to a plurality of focus areas on the basis of a signal associated with an electric charge transferred by the electric charge transfer path. A plurality of effective pixel regions corresponding to the plural focus areas are arranged in the arrangement direction of the pixels of the photoelectric conversion element array, and ineffective pixel regions are arranged between the plural effective pixel regions.

Abstract: This invention includes accumulation units (102a, 102b) which accumulate signals obtained by sensing units (111a, 111b), an area determination unit (103, 100) which sets the size of an area of a sensing unit to be segmented into a plurality of areas on the basis of the information of a lens to be focus-detected, accumulation control units (104a-104c, 105) which control, for each of the areas, accumulation of signals obtained in a plurality of areas by the accumulation units, and a defocus detection unit (100) which detects defocus states in the respective areas from accumulated signals from a plurality of areas.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a monitor unit configured to monitor and output an accumulation state of a monitor area, which is apart of the detection area, a control unit configured to start an accumulation for focus adjustment in a detection area, and to determine whether the accumulation is ended based on the accumulation state, and to end the accumulation, when it is determined that the accumulation is to be ended, and an adjusting unit configured to use, for a focus adjustment, an output signal in a first area including the monitor area in priority to an output signal in a second area not including the monitor area.

Abstract: A camera includes: a first sensor of a storage type that has a plurality of pixels; a focus detection unit that detects a focus adjustment state of a photographic optical system based upon a detection signal from the first sensor for a photographic subject; a second sensor that acquires an image of the photographic subject; an extraction unit that extracts a main photographic subject region from image information acquired by the second sensor; and a control unit that controls accumulation of electrical charge by the first sensor, based upon values outputted from pixels of the first sensor that correspond to the main photographic subject region.

Abstract: An imaging device and processes to provide image stabilization by controlling analog gain and integration time. Analog gain and integration time for images are determined by comparing an image in various frames, whether full frames or hidden frames, where the image is provided with differently set analog gain and integration time settings to determine settings for stabilized image capture.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor; a strobe unit; a preliminary. illumination controller which instructs the strobe unit to preliminarily illuminate for a predetermined period before main illumination; a reading controller which divides the image sensor into a plurality of regions, controls an exposure period for each region, corresponding to the preliminary illumination, and reads an image signal from each of the regions; and an imaging exposure setting unit which sets an appropriate amount of strobe light to be fired during imaging according to the image signals read from the regions; wherein the reading controller controls the exposure period for each region so that an overlapping period with the preliminary illumination period of the strobe unit is different from each other.

Abstract: A focus state detection apparatus has a sensor that senses light rays that pass through a lens subjected to focus detection and is composed of a plurality of photoelectric converter elements, a charge accumulation unit that accumulates pixel signals obtained by the sensor, a first accumulation controller, a second accumulation controller, a first storage unit that stores each accumulated signal of each of the plurality of areas accumulation-controlled by the first accumulation controller, a second storage unit that stores the accumulated signal of the combined area accumulation-controlled by the second accumulation controller, and a defocus state detector that detects a defocus state of the area from the accumulated signal stored in either the first storage unit or the second storage unit.

Abstract: A method and system provides a series of images having different focuses. The method can include storing at least one image in a buffer while an autofocus mechanism is determining a focus of the camera. Then, at least one image can be stored in the buffer after the autofocus mechanism has determined the focus of the camera. Images in the buffer can be transferred to a flash memory. In this manner, a plurality of images, each generally having a different focus, can be provided and the user can select an image having a desired focus.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method employ an imaging device arranged including a matrix of pixels each which accumulates accumulation charges according to an amount of light incident thereon, an accumulation charge read device for reading the accumulation charges at a time difference based on the position of each row or column of the pixels, and a reset device resetting an entirety of the accumulation charges of the imaging device before a main exposure. The photographing apparatus and method each further employ a reset timing change device capable of changing a reset timing for resetting the accumulation charges with respect to a synchronization pulse corresponding to a time for reading the accumulation charges.

Abstract: A low cost and high speed AF sensor is realized by increasing AF speed without providing a sensor dedicated for a large de-focusing AF. The AF sensor has two sensors each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and detects a focus based on signals read from the sensors. The two sensors each includes a plurality of linear sensors 11 to 13. The two sensors each has a plurality of accumulation controlling circuits (PB detection circuits 14 to 16 and accumulation decision circuits 17 to 19) for controlling the accumulation time of the photoelectric conversion elements and a plurality of scanning circuits (shift registers 21 to 23) for reading out output signals from the photoelectric conversion elements.

Abstract: A movement area detecting unit detects, in an image frame divided into a plurality of blocks, a block having a movement as a movement area, based on simple image data. A face detecting unit detects a human face based on the simple image data. When a human face is detected by the face detecting unit in the movement area detected by the movement area detecting unit and the movement in the movement area including the human face stops, an image pick-up operation is performed. Therefore, when an image is to be picked up in a self-timer image pick-up mode for automatically picking-up an image of an operator himself/herself as an object, the image pick-up operation takes place at the optimal timing when the operator as the object reaches and stands still at the desired position for the photograph.

Abstract: This invention includes accumulation units (102a, 102b) which accumulate signals obtained by sensing units (111a, 111b), an area determination unit (103, 100) which sets the size of an area of a sensing unit to be segmented into a plurality of areas on the basis of the information of a lens to be focus-detected, accumulation control units (104a-104c, 105) which control, for each of the areas, accumulation of signals obtained in a plurality of areas by the accumulation units, and a defocus detection unit (100) which detects defocus states in the respective areas from accumulated signals from a plurality of areas.

Abstract: A method for decreasing integration time of saturated paxels within an imager; wherein the method includes decreasing the integration time of the saturated paxels within an imager according to scene data from a captured image.

Abstract: A focus state detection apparatus has a sensor that senses light rays that pass through a lens subjected to focus detection and is composed of a plurality of photoelectric converter elements, a charge accumulation unit that accumulates pixel signals obtained by the sensor, a first accumulation controller that controls accumulation carried out by said charge accumulation unit at each area of a plurality of areas into which the sensor is divided, a second accumulation controller that combines at least a portion of the plurality of areas into a single combined area and controls accumulation carried out by said charge accumulation unit at such combined area, a first storage unit that stores each accumulated signal of each of the plurality of areas accumulation-controlled by the first accumulation controller, a second storage unit that stores the accumulated signal of the combined area accumulation-controlled by the second accumulation controller, and a defocus state detector that detects a defocus state of the ar

Abstract: A focus state detection apparatus has a sensor that senses light rays that pass through a lens subjected to focus detection and is composed of a plurality of photoelectric converter elements, a charge accumulation unit that accumulates pixel signals obtained by the sensor, a first accumulation controller, a second accumulation controller, a first storage unit that stores each accumulated signal of each of the plurality of areas accumulation-controlled by the first accumulation controller, a second storage unit that stores the accumulated signal of the combined area accumulation-controlled by the second accumulation controller, and a defocus state detector that detects a defocus state of the area from the accumulated signal stored in either the first storage unit or the second storage unit.

Abstract: A focus detection system includes a line sensor array wherein the line sensor array photoelectrically converts object light into an electric charge, and outputs the accumulated electric charge as an image signal; a monitor sensor array for monitoring an integral value of the line sensor array to output a monitor signal; a controller; and an amplifier. The controller detects the integral value of the line sensor array from the monitor signal, continues to make the line sensor array perform an integral operation until a secondary maximum integral time elapses if, upon a lapse of a predetermined primary maximum integral time, a value of the monitor signal needs to be amplified at an amplification factor greater than a maximum amplification factor of the amplifier, and increases the amplification factor of the amplifier after a lapse of the secondary maximum integral time.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor for automatic focus with highly precise automatic focus performance is realized at low cost. In the solid-state image sensor for automatic focus which has paired linear sensors (L1 to L10) respectively provided with linear sensors for standard portion (L1-B to L10-B) and linear sensors for reference portion (L1-R to L10-R) for performing phase difference detection type focus detection, a linear sensor for standard portion L6-B of paired linear sensors L6 is arranged between a linear sensor for standard portion L5-B and a linear sensor for reference portion L5-R of paired linear sensors L5, and a linear sensor for reference portion L5-R of paired linear sensors L5 is arranged between a linear sensor for standard portion L6-B and a linear sensor for reference portion L6-R of paired linear sensors L6.

Abstract: A focus detection system includes a line sensor array having areas including pixels, wherein the line sensor array photoelectrically converts object light received by each pixel into electric charges, and outputs accumulated electric charges as an image signal; monitor sensor arrays, adjacent to the areas of the line sensor array, for monitoring amounts of light received thereby to output monitor signals, respectively; a controller which terminates an integral operation of the line sensor array immediately after the monitor signals reach an integration termination value; and a saturation detecting device for detecting whether the image signal reaches a predetermined level of saturation. If the saturation detecting device detects that the image signal reaches the predetermined level of saturation, the controller changes the integration termination value so that the monitor signals reach the integration termination value quicker, and makes the line sensor array perform the integral operation again.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor for automatic focus with highly precise automatic focus performance is realized at low cost. In the solid-state image sensor for automatic focus which has paired linear sensors (L1 to L10) respectively provided with linear sensors for standard portion (L1-B to L10-B) and linear sensors for reference portion (L1-R to L10-R) for performing phase difference detection type focus detection, a linear sensor for standard portion L6-B of paired linear sensors L6 is arranged between a linear sensor for standard portion L5-B and a linear sensor for reference portion L5-R of paired linear sensors L5, and a linear sensor for reference portion L5-R of paired linear sensors L5 is arranged between a linear sensor for standard portion L6-B and a linear sensor for reference portion L6-R of paired linear sensors L6.

Abstract: This invention includes accumulation units (102a, 102b) which accumulate signals obtained by sensing units (111a, 111b), an area determination unit (103, 100) which sets the size of an area of a sensing unit to be segmented into a plurality of areas on the basis of the information of a lens to be focus-detected, accumulation control units (104a-104c, 105) which control, for each of the areas, accumulation of signals obtained in a plurality of areas by the accumulation units, and a defocus detection unit (100) which detects defocus states in the respective areas from accumulated signals from a plurality of areas.

Abstract: A camera having an electronic image pickup element and a distance-measuring circuit that uses light signals obtained from light images of a plurality of distance-measuring areas set in a photographing screen to select a main subject and measure the distance to the subject. The camera has a focusing component, operating when the position of the main subject cannot be identified by the distance-measuring circuit, to divide the photographing screen into a plurality of areas to identify an area in which the main subject is present on the basis of a luminance distribution obtained from the areas other than those overlapping the distance-measuring areas. The focusing component focuses a photographing lens on the position of the highest contrast signal while scanning the lens position of the photographing lens.

Abstract: A low cost and high speed AF sensor is realized by increasing AF speed without providing a sensor dedicated for a large de-focusing AF. The AF sensor has two sensors each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and detects a focus based on signals read from the sensors. The two sensors each includes a plurality of linear sensors 11 to 13. The two sensors each has a plurality of accumulation controlling circuits (PB detection circuits 14 to 16 and accumulation decision circuits 17 to 19) for controlling the accumulation time of the photoelectric conversion elements and a plurality of scanning circuits (shift registers 21 to 23) for reading out output signals from the photoelectric conversion elements.