Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080204566 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter. | 08-28-2008 |
20080247741 | IMAGE-TAKING APPARATUS - An image-taking apparatus is disclosed which achieves focusing in a reduce time with higher accuracy of an in-focus position search in a TV-AF method to minimize occurrence of unnatural focus changes. The image-taking apparatus includes an image-taking element, a first detector which outputs a focus evaluation value signal based on a predetermined frequency component of an output signal of the image-pickup element, a second detector which outputs a detection signal different from the focus evaluation value signal, and a controller which performs first processing of obtaining information for an in-focus position search of the focus lens based on the focus evaluation value signal. The controller performs second processing of obtaining information on an in-focus position based on the detection signal from the second detector, and performs third processing different depending on a comparison result between the information from the first processing and the information obtained from the second processing. | 10-09-2008 |
20090251590 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - In an image capturing apparatus for carrying out TV-AF type autofocus control, a difference is provided between an AF frame set for a particular object detected in an image, for example, for a person's face, and a normal AF frame in the band of frequency components for use in the generation of an AF evaluation value. Specifically, an AF evaluation value is generated for the AF frame set in the face region based on components in a frequency band with the highest frequency lower than for the normal AF frame. | 10-08-2009 |
20090256953 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - In an image capturing apparatus that carries out TV-AF type autofocus control by setting an AF frame on a predetermined object, for example a person's face, that is detected in an image, in a case in which a in-focus position search direction cannot be determined from an AF evaluation value, changes in the size of the region of the object are detected and focus detection is carried out by determining the in-focus position search direction based on the changes in the size of the region of the object. | 10-15-2009 |
20100013981 | FOCUS CONTROL APPARATUS, IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A control method of detecting an object image to be focused from a sensed image, setting a focus detection area in detecting an in-focus state of a photographing optical system, and exercising control such that the photographing optical system is moved based on a signal output in the focus detection area to carry out focus control, wherein, in the setting of the focus detection area, a first focus detection area corresponding to an object to be focused detected from the sensed image and a second focus detection area which is larger than the first focus detection area are set, and in the focus control, control is exercised such that the photographing optical system is moved based on output signals in the set first and second focus detection areas. | 01-21-2010 |
20100066896 | FOCUS ADJUSTING APPARATUS AND FOCUS ADJUSTING METHOD - An apparatus, such as a focus adjusting apparatus, includes a focus adjusting system, a driving device which drives the focus adjusting system from one of a state in which a near-distance object is in focus and a state in which a far-distance object is in focus to the other, and a control device which repeatedly performs determination of a focusing state of the focus adjusting system while causing the driving device to drive the focus adjusting system, and, if the focus adjusting system has been driven in one direction until the number of times of the determination repeatedly performed reaches a predetermined number of times, restrains the focus adjusting system from being driven in the one direction, so that a focus adjusting operation can be appropriately performed. | 03-18-2010 |
20100149369 | MAIN FACE CHOOSING DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME, AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image capturing apparatus chooses a main face from among faces detected in successively captured images based on a degree of priority calculated for each detected face. Moreover, the image capturing apparatus compares the degree of priority assigned to the face corresponding to a last chosen main face and the degrees of priority assigned to the faces corresponding to faces other than the main face, and then counts the number of times the degrees of priority assigned to the faces corresponding to faces other than the main face exceed the degree of priority assigned to the face corresponding to the main face. When one of the number of times counted for the faces other than the main face exceeds a preset threshold value, the image capturing apparatus performs a main face changeover to the one of the faces. | 06-17-2010 |
20110109756 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter. | 05-12-2011 |
20110109757 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter. | 05-12-2011 |
20110109783 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter. | 05-12-2011 |
20110115933 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter. | 05-19-2011 |
20110149141 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS THAT MAKES MOVEMENT OF FOCUS LENS INCONSPICUOUS, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus includes a detector configured to detect an in-focus direction based on a focus signal that results from an output signal of an image pickup device by reciprocating a focus lens in an optical axis direction, and a focus controller configured to provide focusing by moving the focus lens in the in-focus direction. The focus controller is configured to set an amplitude of the focus lens when moving a center of a reciprocation of the focus lens, to be less than that of the focus lens when the center of the reciprocation of the focus lens is not moved. | 06-23-2011 |
20110274420 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - To provide an imaging apparatus and a method of controlling the apparatus that enables improved automatic focus adjustment performance also in relation to an image having a shallow depth of field. An imaging element | 11-10-2011 |
20110305445 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - The image pickup apparatus includes an image production unit producing an image by using an output signal from an image pickup unit, a size detection unit detecting a size of a specific object in the image, a zoom control unit performing auto zoom control that automatically provides a specific zoom operation to make the size of the specific object equal or closer to a target value, and a focus control unit performing focus control of an image taking optical system based on a contrast evaluation value obtained from the image. The zoom control unit is configured to restrict the specific zoom operation in the auto zoom control until a determination is made that an in-focus state of the image taking optical system has been obtained by the focus control. | 12-15-2011 |
20120013786 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A focus adjustment apparatus comprises a detection unit that detects a subject/subjects having a predetermined characteristic from an image obtained while shooting a moving picture, a selection unit that, in the case where a subject/subjects having the predetermined characteristic have been detected by the detection unit, selects, from the detected subject/subjects, a subject that also fulfils a predetermined condition, and a focus adjustment unit that controls a focus lens to focus on the subject selected by the selection unit. The focus adjustment unit does not control the focus lens in the case where no subject having the predetermined characteristic has been detected by the detection unit. | 01-19-2012 |
20120147255 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND LENS UNIT - An image pickup apparatus arranged to detachably mount a lens unit including a focus lens, controls such that if the focus lens is movable by the amount of movement within a predetermined time, a next amount of movement of the focus lens is decided on the basis of a first focus signal extracted from an image signal corresponding to charges accumulated in a focus detection area at a first timing, and if the focus lens is not movable by the amount of movement amount within the predetermined time, a next amount of movement of the focus lens is decided after completion of the movement of the focus lens on the basis of a second focus signal extracted from the image signal corresponding to the charges accumulated in the focus detection area at a second timing at which the focus lens is stopped. | 06-14-2012 |
20130016276 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - In an image capturing apparatus that carries out TV-AF type'autofocus control by setting an AF frame on a predetermined object, for example a person's face, that is detected in an image, in a case in which a in-focus position search direction cannot be determined from an AF evaluation value, changes in the size of the region of the object are detected and focus detection is carried out by determining the in-focus position search direction based on the changes in the size of the region of the object. | 01-17-2013 |
20130120603 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS WITH INCLINATION GUIDE DISPLAY - An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter. | 05-16-2013 |
20130182127 | IMAGING APPARATUS, LENS APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS CONTROLLING METHOD, LENS APPARATUS CONTROLLING METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM, AND IMAGING SYSTEM - In a camera unit that is capable of attaching and detaching a lens unit, a camera control unit transmits a drive command for shifting a focus lens to a position corresponding to a focal point detected by use of an evaluation value for focus adjustment generated from an imaging signal by a TVAF signal processing unit to a lens control unit. The camera control unit acquires data indicating the amount of change in image magnification from the lens apparatus when performing center shift to thereby control the focus lens so as to suppress an out-of-focus blur of an image according to the image signal in response to the amount of change in image magnification relative to the shift amount of the focus lens in the vicinity of a focal point. | 07-18-2013 |
20130182140 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREFOR, AND LENS UNIT AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREFOR, AND IMAGING SYSTEM - In a camera unit that is mountable to a lens unit having a focus lens, an AF signal processing unit generates an AF evaluation value from an imaging signal obtained by an imaging element, and a camera control unit generates drive information for moving the focus lens to an in-focus point using the AF evaluation value and transmits the drive information to the mounted lens unit. The camera control unit transmits drive information including a focus lens position served as a reference for micro vibration and an amount of movement of the focus lens indicated by shift amount of an image plane with reference to the focus lens position to a lens unit. | 07-18-2013 |
20130182175 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, LENS UNIT, AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image pickup apparatus detachably mounting a lens unit including a plurality of optical members includes an image pickup unit that accumulates charge in synchronization with a vertical synchronizing signal to generate an image signal, and a control unit that generates control information for each of the plurality of optical members of the mounted lens unit and communicates the control information with the lens unit in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal. The control unit is configured to perform a first communication in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal, and to perform a second communication, for controlling an optical member different to the optical before a next first communication that is performed in synchronization with a next vertical synchronizing signal. The first communication and the second communication are predetermined packet communications in which optical members to be controlled among the plurality of optical members are different from each other. | 07-18-2013 |
20130201387 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS THAT MAKES MOVEMENT OF FOCUS LENS INCONSPICUOUS, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus includes a detector configured to detect an in-focus direction based on a focus signal that results from an output signal of an image pickup device by reciprocating a focus lens in an optical axis direction, and a focus controller configured to provide focusing by moving the focus lens in the in-focus direction. The focus controller is configured to set an amplitude of the focus lens when moving a center of a reciprocation of the focus lens, to be less than that of the focus lens when the center of the reciprocation of the focus lens is not moved. | 08-08-2013 |
20130258169 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - In an image capturing apparatus that carries out TV-AF type autofocus control by setting an AF frame on a predetermined object, for example a person's face, that is detected in an image, in a case in which a in-focus position search direction cannot be determined from an AF evaluation value, changes in the size of the region of the object are detected and focus detection is carried out by determining the in-focus position search direction based on the changes in the size of the region of the object. | 10-03-2013 |
20140132825 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND LENS UNIT - An image pickup apparatus is arranged to receive from a lens unit a predetermined signal for indicating whether or not a focus lens is movable by a mount of movement corresponding to first information within a predetermined time, if the received predetermined signal indicates that the focus lens is movable by the amount of movement corresponding to the first information within the predetermined time, make first information on the basis of a focus signal generated from an image signal corresponding to charges accumulated during a first period, and if the received predetermined signal indicates that the focus lens is not movable by the amount of movement corresponding to the first information within the predetermined time, make the first information on the basis of a focus signal generated from the image signal corresponding to the charges accumulated during a second period after the first period. | 05-15-2014 |
20140139724 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - A focus detection apparatus detects a first subject region (e.g., face region) from an image signal, detects a second subject region (e.g., human body region), in which the first subject region can be estimated, from the image signal, and performs focus detection based on an image signal corresponding to the set focus detection area. In the case where the primary subject corresponds to the first subject region detected, the focus detection area is set to a first region, and, in the case where the primary subject corresponds to the first subject region estimated based on the second subject region, the focus detection area is set to a second region that is larger than the first region. | 05-22-2014 |
20140152812 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS WITH INCLINATION GUIDE DISPLAY - An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter. | 06-05-2014 |