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:
Sep. 02, 2014
Filed:
Aug. 27, 2012
Hiroshi Nakaoka, Kawaguchi, JP;
Hiroshi Nakaoka, Kawaguchi, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image capturing apparatus comprises an optical system, an image sensor having pixels each including a plurality of photoelectric converters capable of outputting image signals independently, a driving unit which controls driving of the image sensor, a focus detection unit, and an addition unit which adds the output image signals on a per-pixel basis. In each pixel, the photoelectric converters are divided into groups each including at least two photoelectric converters and a charge accumulation period for one group is delayed from and partially overlaps a charge accumulation period for another. The driving unit drives the image sensor so that image signals are read from the groups in turn, and the focus detection unit detects a focus state using a phase difference method based on the read image signals independently output from the photoelectric converters.