# US 11,445,103 B2 · Imaging apparatus, focusing adjustment apparatus, and method for controlling focusing adjustment apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,445,103 B2 - Document ID: US11445103B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/854,675 - Filed: 2020-04-21 - Published: 2020-10-29 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-26 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Noa Sumida - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11445103B2 ## CPC - G02B 7/38: measured at different points on the optical axis {, e.g. focussing on two or more planes and comparing image data} - H04N 23/67: Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals - G02B 7/28: Systems for automatic generation of focusing signals - H04N 23/634: {Warning indications} - H04N 23/672: {based on the phase difference signals} - H04N 25/704: Pixels specially adapted for focusing, e.g. phase difference pixel sets - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method is provided for controlling an apparatus for performing control to, move, in a case where a detected defocus amount is within a range of a second in-focus management width, a focusing lens and then terminate a 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. 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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: 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; and changing, 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 focusing adjustment operation. ### Claim 2 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, 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 for determining that the focusing lens has reached the range of the second in-focus management width for the first lens movement is differentiated in the focus control from the range of the second in-focus management width in a case where the target subject is not the saturated subject. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, 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 the determination criterion for determining that the focusing lens has reached the range of the second in-focus management width for the first lens movement is narrowed in the focus control compared with the range of the second in-focus management width in a case where the target subject is not the saturated subject. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in a case where the target subject is the saturated subject in the saturation determination, the limit on the number of times or the limit on the time duration for repeating the first lens movement is differentiated from the limit in a case where the target subject is not the saturated subject, the limit being a determination criteria for determining whether to terminate the first lens movement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in a case where the target subject is the saturated subject in the saturation determination, the limit on the number of times or the limit on the time duration for repeating the first lens movement are canceled or increased compared with a case where the target subject is not the saturated subject, the limit being a determination criteria for determining whether to terminate the first lens movement. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, in a case where the target subject is the saturated subject in the saturation determination, control of the movement of the focusing lens is changed in the focus control so that a second lens movement in which the focusing lens is more largely moved than in the first lens movement is performed. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, the apparatus is further caused to perform issuing a notification to a user in a case where the target subject is the saturated subject in the saturation determination, and where the first lens movement is terminated, a focus state is determined as the defocus state, and then the movement of the focusing lens is terminated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image sensor includes a plurality of pixels that photoelectrically converts light fluxes that have passed different pupil regions of the imaging optical system and outputs a pair of signals for focus detection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image sensor includes a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged micro lenses each of which having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) An imaging apparatus comprising: an image sensor; and the apparatus according to claim 2. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 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.