The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 09, 2021
Filed:
Feb. 07, 2018
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Yuki Asukabe, Saitama, JP;
Tomoyuki Minami, Tokyo, JP;
SONY CORPORATION, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An imaging unit is configured with use of an imaging element including an image output pixel and a phase difference detection pixel. A control unit performs focus control based on image-plane phase difference information obtained using the phase difference detection pixel over a predetermined period, generates focus state change information indicating whether or not a change in a focus state is a monotonous change, and continues the focus control based on the image-plane phase difference information on the assumption of a large blur state in a case where the focus state change information indicates that a change in the focus state is a monotonous change. The control unit switches from the image-plane phase difference auto-focus operation to an auto-focus operation in a case where a change in the focus state is not a monotonous change. Thus, it becomes possible to perform a high-speed and high-quality auto-focus operation.