Device, method, and storage medium for determining a focus direction using phase difference detection in focus detection regions

A focus control method for a focus control device that has an image sensor capable of generating image signals and phase difference detection signals by receiving light flux that has passed through a photographing lens, that sets a plurality of focus detection regions having at least some parts in common, in a region of the image sensor that receives the light flux, and executes focus adjustment based on the image signals and the phase difference detection signals, the focus control method comprising:

• calculating a first focus direction by phase difference detection based on a phase difference detection signal from a first focus detection region among the plurality of focus detection regions;
• calculating a second focus direction using phase difference detection based on a phase difference detection signal from a second focus detection region among the plurality of focus detection regions, it being possible, in the second focus detection region, to detect a larger focus deviation amount than a focus deviation amount that can be detected by phase difference detection based on the phase difference detection signal from the first focus detection region;
• and
• determining focus direction in which to perform focus adjustment based on the first focus direction and the second focus direction.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a processor executable code, which when executed by at least one processor, performs a focus adjustment method, the processor being arranged within a focus control device that has an image sensor capable of generating an image signal and a phase difference detection signal by receiving light flux that has passed through a photographing lens, that sets a plurality of focus detection regions having at least some parts in common, in a region of the image sensor that receives the light flux, and executes focus adjustment based on the image signal and the phase difference detection signal, the focus adjustment method comprising:

• calculating a first focus direction by phase difference detection based on a phase difference detection signal from a first focus detection region among the plurality of focus detection regions;
• calculating a second focus direction using phase difference detection based on a phase difference detection signal from a second focus detection region among the plurality of focus detection regions it being possible, in the second focus detection region, to detect a larger focus deviation amount than a focus deviation amount that can be detected by phase difference detection based on the phase difference detection signal from the first focus detection region;
• and
• determining focus direction in which to perform focus adjustment based on the first focus direction and the second focus direction.