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, 2010
Filed:
Aug. 28, 2006
Yukikazu Iwane, Kashiwa, JP;
Shigeo Takahashi, Kawasaki, JP;
Toshimi Watanabe, Yokohama, JP;
Toshiaki Maeda, Yokohama, JP;
Yukikazu Iwane, Kashiwa, JP;
Shigeo Takahashi, Kawasaki, JP;
Toshimi Watanabe, Yokohama, JP;
Toshiaki Maeda, Yokohama, JP;
Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
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.