# US 12,764,419 B2 · Focus control apparatus and method, image capturing apparatus, and recording medium with focus adjustment based on subject's movement and focus ring operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,764,419 B2 - Document ID: US12764419B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/524,759 - Filed: 2023-11-30 - Published: 2024-06-13 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-08 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Atsuya Kawanishi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12764419B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/67: Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals - G03B 13/36: Autofocus systems - H04N 23/667: Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract A focus control apparatus comprising an acquisition unit that acquires operation information of an operation member for operating a focus lens; a detection unit that detects a subject based on an image signal obtained from an image sensor; and a control unit that selects a first focus adjustment unit that performs autofocus adjustment based on the image signal or a second focus adjustment unit that performs manual focus adjustment based on operation of the operation member. The control unit selects the first focus adjustment unit or the second focus adjustment unit based on movement of the subject and the operation information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A focus control apparatus comprising one or more processors and/or circuitry which function as: an acquisition unit that acquires operation information of an operation member for operating a focus lens; a detection unit that detects a subject based on an image signal obtained from an image sensor; and a control unit that selects a first focus adjustment unit that performs autofocus adjustment based on the image signal or a second focus adjustment unit that performs manual focus adjustment based on operation of the operation member, wherein the control unit selects the first focus adjustment unit or the second focus adjustment unit based on movement of the subject and the operation information, and in a case where the second focus adjustment unit is selected and current operation information indicates that a focal position of the focus lens operated by the operation member is moving in a same direction as a current moving direction of the subject in an optical axis direction of the focus lens, the control unit switches from the second focus adjustment unit to the first focus adjustment unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The focus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit switches to the second focus adjustment unit in a case where the first focus adjustment unit is selected and the subject is no longer detected and/or movement of the subject in a direction of an optical axis of the focus lens is stopped. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The focus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit switches to the second focus adjustment unit in a case where the first focus adjustment unit is selected and a moving direction of the subject and a moving direction a focal position of the focus lens by the operation of the operation member are opposite. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The focus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the first focus adjustment unit is selected, the control unit controls to display that the first focus adjustment unit is selected in a display device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The focus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the second focus adjustment unit is selected, the control unit controls to display that the second focus adjustment unit is selected in a display device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The focus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuitry further function as a focus detection unit that detects a focus state of the subject based on the image signal obtained from the image sensor, wherein the control unit controls to display an operation direction and operation amount of the operation member based on the focus state in a case where the second focus adjustment unit is selected. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The focus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuitry further function as a setting unit that sets either a still image shooting mode for shooting a still image or a moving image shooting mode for shooting a moving image, wherein the control unit switches between the first focus adjustment unit and the second focus adjustment unit in a case where the moving image shooting mode is set. ### Claim 8 An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image sensor; an operation member for operating a focus lens; and one or more processors and/or circuitry which function as: a first focus adjustment unit that performs autofocus adjustment based on an image signal obtained from the image sensor; a second focus adjustment unit that performs manual focus adjustment based on operation of the operation member; an acquisition unit that acquires operation information of the operation member for operating the focus lens; a detection unit that detects a subject based on an image signal obtained from the image sensor; and a control unit that selects the first focus adjustment unit or the second focus adjustment unit, wherein the control unit selects the first focus adjustment unit or the second focus adjustment unit based on movement of the subject and the operation information, and in a case where the second focus adjustment unit is selected and current operation information indicates that a focal position of the focus lens operated by the operation member is moving in a same direction as a current moving direction of the subject in an optical axis direction of the focus lens, the control unit switches from the second focus adjustment unit to the first focus adjustment unit. ### Claim 9 A focus adjustment control method comprising: acquiring operation information of an operation member for operating a focus lens; detecting a subject based on an image signal obtained from an image sensor; and selecting a first focus adjustment unit that performs autofocus adjustment based on the image signal or a second focus adjustment unit that performs manual focus adjustment based on operation of the operation member, wherein the first focus adjustment unit or the second focus adjustment unit is selected based on movement of the subject and the operation information, and in a case where the second focus adjustment unit is selected and current operation information indicates that a focal position of the focus lens operated by the operation member is moving in a same direction as a current moving direction of the subject in an optical axis direction of the focus lens, selection is switched from the second focus adjustment unit to the first focus adjustment unit. ### Claim 10 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the storage medium storing a program that is executable by the computer, wherein the program includes program code for causing the computer to function as a focus control apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires operation information of an operation member for operating a focus lens; a detection unit that detects a subject based on an image signal obtained from an image sensor; and a control unit that selects a first focus adjustment unit that performs autofocus adjustment based on the image signal or a second focus adjustment unit that performs manual focus adjustment based on operation of the operation member, wherein the control unit selects the first focus adjustment unit or the second focus adjustment unit based on movement of the subject and the operation information, and in a case where the second focus adjustment unit is selected and current operation information indicates that a focal position of the focus lens operated by the operation member is moving in a same direction as a current moving direction of the subject in an optical axis direction of the focus lens, the control unit switches from the second focus adjustment unit to the first focus adjustment unit.