Olympus Corporation

Olympus Imaging Corporation

Satoru Ito

Tetsuo Kikuchi

Keigo Matsuo

Kazumi Ito

A focus detection device, comprising an image sensor, and that performs focus detection by calculating evaluation values representing contrast based on an image signal, while executing a scan operation of the image sensor, comprising a positional change detection circuit for detecting positional change of the focus detection device, and a processor having a running time setting section and a control section, wherein the running time setting section sets running time to restrict focus movement range of the scan operation based on the positional change, and the control section performs focus detection by restricting focus movement rage of the scan operation based on the running time.

Focus detection device and focus detection method

A focus adjustment device, comprising a focus detection section that, if, at the time of correction of an evaluation value by a correction section, it is determined that the corrected evaluation value is smaller than a specified threshold value, makes a determination threshold value for detection of a focus position at which the evaluation value exhibits an extreme value, stricter than for a case when it is determined that the corrected evaluation value is greater than the specified threshold value.

Focus adjustment device and focus adjustment method

An extreme value detection section performs a scan operation to detect and store an extreme value of a contrast and a direction of change in the contrast while performing scan driving of a focus lens, based on a direction indicated by a defocus amount. A determination start position calculation section calculates a determination start position corresponding to a position of the focus lens where a determination whether the scan operation is stopped is started, as a position precedent to an in-focus position based on the defocus amount. A control section stops the scan operation if a maximum value is detected during the scan operation before the focus lens reaches the determination start position and it is determined that the contrast decreases as a latest change during the scan operation after the focus lens reaches the determination start position.

Focus adjustment device, focus adjustment method, and non-transitory storage medium for storing focus adjustment programs

An imaging apparatus, comprising a focus controller that generates an evaluation value by extracting given signal components from an image signal, and carries out focus adjustment by calculating position of the focus lens where the evaluation value becomes a peak, a display that displays an image based on image data generated from the image signal, and a controller that, as initial image display after commencement of the continuous focus adjustment operation, executes display using the display based on image data corresponding to an image signal in which the evaluation value becomes a peak, from among image data that has been acquired during the focus adjustment operation.

Imaging apparatus and imaging method for controlling a display while continuously adjusting focus of a focus lens

An image pickup apparatus includes a first focus detection circuit configured to calculate an evaluation value indicative of a contrast based on an image pickup signal output by an image pickup device, a second focus detection circuit configured to perform focus detection based on phase difference detection to output a defocus amount of an image-acquiring optical system including a focus lens, and a control circuit configured to control a focusing operation of detecting a position of the focus lens where the evaluation value is indicative of an extreme value based on an output from the first focus detection circuit. Based on the defocus amount output by the second focus detection circuit, the control circuit controls initial position driving of the focus lens executed before the focusing operation is performed.

Image pickup apparatus, autofocus method, and storage medium

An imaging apparatus moves a focus lens on the basis of an imaging signal of an image pickup device to perform a focal adjustment. The image pickup device images a subject. The imaging apparatus includes an evaluation value calculation circuit, a control circuit, and a movement determination circuit. The evaluation value calculation circuit extracts a predetermined signal component from an imaging signal to generate an evaluation value. The control circuit performs a focal adjustment on the basis of the evaluation value. The movement determination circuit determines whether or not the subject or the imaging apparatus is moving. The control circuit changes a frame rate of the image pickup device from a first frame rate to a second frame rate higher than the first frame rate when the movement determination circuit determines that the subject or the imaging apparatus is moving.

Imaging apparatus, imaging method, and non-transitory storage medium storing imaging program for controlling an auto-focus scan drive

An imaging apparatus performing live-view display by generating image data using an exposure parameter calculated from a brightness value in a photometric area for the live-view display which is different from a photometric area for focus adjustment when not performing the focus adjustment, the imaging apparatus comprising: a first calculating section for calculating a first brightness value in the photometric area for the live-view display; a second calculating section for calculating a second brightness value in the photometric area for focus adjustment; a comparison section for determining whether or not a brightness difference between the first brightness value and the second brightness value is within a predetermined range; and, an imaging section for obtaining image data by performing exposure using the first brightness value when the brightness difference between the first brightness value and the second brightness value is within the predetermined range.

Imaging apparatus and imaging method which perform focus adjustment while performing live-view display

A focus detection apparatus according the present invention includes: a normal focus detection information acquiring section which detects a normal AF evaluation peak position from contrast information; a special focus detection information acquiring section which detects a special AF evaluation peak position among different focus positions using brightness information and the contrast information; a determination section which determines information to be used for focus detection using the brightness information and either of the normal AF evaluation peak position and the special AF evaluation peak position, and a focus detection calculation section which calculates a focus detection position using the information to be used for focus detection determined by the determination section.

Focus detection apparatus and focus detection method

A focus adjustment device comprises an image sensor having imaging pixels and focus detection pixels, which subjects light flux that is passed through a photographing lens to photoelectric conversion and outputs an image signal, a first memory which stores information relating to incident angle range of light flux that is incident towards the image sensor, a second memory which stores information relating to characteristics of the image sensor, and a calculation section which calculates information for focus adjustment based on output of the first memory and output of the second memory.

Focus adjustment device, imaging device and focus adjustment method

An imaging apparatus according to the present invention is an imaging apparatus performing live-view display when not performing the focus adjustment, and also when performing the focus adjustment, and includes: a focus adjustment brightness value calculation section comparing a first brightness value in the photometric area for the live-view display with a second brightness value in the photometric area for the focus adjustment, correcting the first brightness value according to a comparison result, and calculating a brightness value for obtaining the image data for the focus adjustment; an imaging section obtaining the image data by performing exposure using the brightness value calculated by the focus adjustment brightness value calculation section; a focus adjustment section performing the focus adjustment using the image data obtained by the imaging section, and a display section performing the live-view display using the image data obtained by the imaging section.

A focus adjustment unit according to the present invention has an imaging section configured to generate an image signal by forming and capturing an optical image on an image sensor by an optical system including a focusing lens, and performs focus adjustment based on a focus detection signal relating to a focus detection area set within an imaging area, the focus adjustment unit comprising a focusing lens position detection section configured to detect a position of the focusing lens, a storage section configured to store information on an image magnification change of the optical system along with movement of the focusing lens, and a focus detection area setting section configured to set a focus detection area within the imaging area, wherein the focus detection area setting section sets the focus detection area based on the position of the focusing lens and the information on an image magnification change.

Focus adjustment unit and camera system

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

Camera with focus detection unit

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

Growing community of inventors

Komae, Japan

Satoru Ito