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.

Date of Patent:
Nov. 18, 2008

Filed:

Apr. 25, 2005
Applicants:

Yujiro Ito, Kanagawa, JP;

Susumu Kurita, Kanagawa, JP;

Inventors:

Yujiro Ito, Kanagawa, JP;

Susumu Kurita, Kanagawa, JP;

Assignee:

Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/232 (2006.01); G03B 13/34 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

An auto-focus apparatus, a focus adjusting method, an image capturing apparatus and an image capturing method make it possible to perform accurate focus adjustment on a subject for which the focus should be adjusted. The auto-focus apparatus emits an irradiation wave from emitting means for irradiation to a subject while changing an incident angle of the irradiation wave, detects an incident angle of a reflected wave of the irradiation wave reflected by the subject, incident on light receiving means positioned corresponding to the emitting means, determines based on the emitting angle and the incident angle whether or not the subject is a subject for which the focus is adjusted, and adjusts the focus on the subject when determining that the subject is the subject for which the focus should be adjusted, thereby making it possible to accurately adjust the focus on the subject for which the focus should be adjusted.


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