Imaging apparatus, focusing adjustment apparatus, and method for controlling focusing adjustment apparatus

An apparatus comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to perform operations including:
• detecting a defocus amount of an image of a target subject to be subjected to focus detection processing based on a signal output from an image sensor that photoelectrically converts a light flux incident through an imaging optical system including a focusing lens and outputs a signal;
• performing focus control for controlling a first lens movement as a movement of the focusing lens, the first lens movement aiming at a target position at which the defocus amount falls within a range of a first in-focus management width, the focus control being performed to,
• terminate controlling lens movement of the focusing lens in a case where the focusing lens has reached the range of the first in-focus management width,
• repeat, in a case where the focusing lens has not reached the range of the first in-focus management width, the first lens movement if the focusing lens has reached a range of a second in-focus management width for determining whether to repeat the first lens movement, and
• terminate, in a case where at least one of the number of times or a time duration of the first lens movement has reached a limit on the number of times or a limit on the time duration, respectively, controlling lens movement even if the focusing lens has not reached the range of the first in-focus management width for the first lens movement;
• and
• determining, as saturation determination, whether the target subject to be subjected to the focus detection processing is a saturated subject,
• wherein, in a case where the target subject is determined to be a saturated subject in the saturation determination, the range of the second in-focus management width as a determination criterion before the focusing lens reaches a movement end is changed in the focus control.

An apparatus comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to perform operations including:
• detecting a defocus amount of an image of a target subject to be subjected to focus detection processing based on a signal output from an image sensor that photoelectrically converts a light flux incident through an imaging optical system including a focusing lens and outputs a signal;
• performing focus control for controlling a first lens movement as a movement of the focusing lens, the first lens movement aiming at a target position at which the defocus amount falls within a range of a first in-focus management width, the focus control being performed to
• terminate controlling the first lens movement of the focusing lens in a case where the focusing lens has reached the range of the first in-focus management width,
• repeat the first lens movement in a case where the focusing lens has not reached the range of the first in-focus management width and where the focusing lens has reached a range of a second in-focus management width for determining whether to repeat the first lens movement, and
• forcibly terminate, in a case where at least one of the number of times or a time duration of the first lens movement has reached a limit on the number of times or a limit on the time duration, respectively, controlling lens movement even if the focusing lens has not reached the range of the first in-focus management width for the first lens movement;
• and
• determining, as saturation determination, whether the target subject to be subjected to the focus detection processing is a saturated subject,
• wherein, in a case where the target subject is determined to be a saturated subject in the saturation determination, control of the movement of the focusing lens before the focusing lens reaches a movement end is changed in the focus control.

An apparatus comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the focusing adjustment apparatus to perform operations including:
• detecting a defocus amount of an image of a target subject to be subjected to focus detection processing based on a signal output from an image sensor that photoelectrically converts a light flux incident through an imaging optical system including a focusing lens and outputs a signal;
• performing focus control for controlling a first lens movement as a movement of the focusing lens, the first lens movement aiming at a target position at which the defocus amount falls within a range of a first in-focus management width, the focus control being performed to,
• terminate controlling lens movement of the focusing lens in a case where the focusing lens has reached the range of the first in-focus management width,
• repeat, in a case where the focusing lens has not reached the range of the first in-focus management width, the first lens movement if the focusing lens has reached a range of a second in-focus management width for determining whether to repeat the first lens movement, and
• terminate, in a case where at least one of the number of times or a time duration of the first lens movement has reached a limit on the number of times or a limit on the time duration, respectively, controlling lens movement even if the focusing lens has not reached the range of the first in-focus management width for the first lens movement;
• and
• determining whether the target subject to be subjected to the focus detection processing is a saturated subject,
• wherein, in a case where the target subject is the saturated subject in the saturation determination, in the focus control, the first lens movement is terminated, a focus state is determined as a defocus state, and the movement of the focusing lens is terminated.

A method for controlling an apparatus for performing control to:

• terminate, in a case where a detected defocus amount is within a range of a first in-focus management width, a focusing adjustment operation without moving a focusing lens;
• move, in a case where the defocus amount is out of the range of the first in-focus management width, the focusing lens to perform the focusing adjustment operation;
• move, in a case where the defocus amount is within a range of a second in-focus management width, the focusing lens and then terminate the focusing adjustment operation without performing focus detection processing again;
• and
• move, in a case where the defocus amount is out of the range of the second in-focus management width, the focusing lens to perform the focus detection processing again,
• wherein, in a case where a subject to be subjected to the focus detection processing is a saturated subject, at least one of the range of the second in-focus management width and the focus detection operation is changed.

A method for controlling an apparatus, the method comprising:

• detecting, as focus detection, a defocus amount of an image of a target subject to be subjected to focus detection processing based on a signal output from an image sensor that photoelectrically converts a light flux incident through an imaging optical system including a focusing lens and outputs a signal;
• performing focus control for controlling a first lens movement as a movement of the focusing lens, the first lens movement aiming at a target position at which the defocus amount falls within a range of a first in-focus management width, the focus control being performed to,
• terminate controlling lens movement of the focusing lens in a case where the focusing lens has reached the range of the first in-focus management width,
• repeat, in a case where the focusing lens has not reached the range of the first in-focus management width, the first lens movement if the focusing lens has reached a range of a second in-focus management width for determining whether to repeat the first lens movement, and
• terminate, in a case where at least one of the number of times or a time duration of the first lens movement has reached a limit on the number of times or a limit on the time duration, respectively, controlling lens movement even if the focusing lens has not reached the range of the first in-focus management width for the first lens movement;
• and
• determining, as saturation determination, whether the target subject to be subjected to the focus detection processing is a saturated subject,
• wherein, in a case where the target subject is the saturated subject in the saturation determination, the range of the second in-focus management width as a determination criterion before the focusing lens reaches a movement end is changed in the focus control.

A method for controlling an apparatus, the method comprising:

• detecting, as focus detection, a defocus amount of an image of a target subject to be subjected to focus detection processing based on a signal output from an image sensor that photoelectrically converts a light flux incident through an imaging optical system including a focusing lens and outputs a signal;
• performing focus control for controlling a first lens movement as a movement of the focusing lens, the first lens movement aiming at a target position at which the defocus amount falls within a range of a first in-focus management width, the focus control being performed to,
• terminate controlling lens movement in a case where the focusing lens has reached the range of the first in-focus management width during the first lens movement,
• repeat, in a case where the focusing lens has not reached the range of the first in-focus management width, the first lens movement if the focusing lens has reached a range of a second in-focus management width for determining whether to repeat the first lens movement, and
• terminate, in a case where at least one of the number of times or a time duration of the first lens movement has reached a limit on the number of times or a limit on the time duration, respectively, controlling lens movement even if the focusing lens has not reached the range of the first in-focus management width for the first lens movement;
• and
• determining, as saturation determination, whether the target subject to be subjected to the focus detection processing is a saturated subject,
• wherein, in a case where the target subject is a saturated subject in the saturation determination, the focus control terminates the first lens movement, and then determines a focus state as defocus state and terminates the movement of the focusing lens.

A method for controlling an apparatus, the method comprising:

• detecting, as focus detection, a defocus amount of an image of a target subject to be subjected to focus detection processing based on a signal output from an imaging unit that photoelectrically converts a light flux incident through an imaging optical system including a focusing lens and outputs a signal;
• performing focus control for controlling a first lens movement as a movement of the focusing lens, the first lens movement aiming at a target position at which the defocus amount falls within a range of a first in-focus management width, the focus control being performed to,
• terminate controlling lens movement of the focusing lens in a case where the focusing lens has reached the range of the first in-focus management width,
• repeat, in a case where the focusing lens has not reached the range of the first in-focus management width, the first lens movement if the focusing lens has reached a range of a second in-focus management width for determining whether to repeat the first lens movement, and
• terminate, in a case where at least one of the number of times or a time duration of the first lens movement has reached a limit on the number of times or a limit on the time duration, respectively, controlling lens movement even if the focusing lens has not reached the range of the first in-focus management width for the first lens movement;
• and
• determining, as saturation determination, whether the target subject to be subjected to the focus detection processing is a saturated subject,
• wherein, in a case where the target subject is the saturated subject in the saturation determination, the focus control terminates the first lens movement, and then determines a focus state as defocus state and terminates the movement of the focusing lens.