Focus adjusting apparatus, image sensing apparatus, focusing method, program, and storage medium

An image sensing apparatus comprising a focus adjusting apparatus which includes:

• an extraction unit adapted to receive object light through a focus lens that performs focus adjustment, and extract a signal indicative of a focus level;
• a first focus operation mode adapted to perform focus operation by moving the focus lens while determining a focus level based on the signal extracted by said extraction unit, and when it is determined that the focus lens has passed a position where the focus level becomes maximum, returning and stopping the focus lens at the position where the focus level becomes maximum;
• a second focus operation mode adapted to perform focus operation by storing signals extracted by said extraction unit at each of a plurality of positions of the focus lens while moving the focus lens across a predetermined range in response to an operation of a shutter release operation member, and moving the focus lens to a position where the focus level becomes maximum in the stored signals;
• and
• a control unit adapted to set a first range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation mode in a case where said second focus operation mode is executed after completing the focus operation of said first focus operation mode, or set a second range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation mode in a case where said second focus operation mode is executed before completing the focus operation of said first focus operation mode.

A focus adjusting apparatus comprising:

• an extraction unit adapted to receive object light through a focus lens that performs focus adjustment, and extract a signal indicative of a focus level;
• a first focus operation mode adapted to perform focus operation by moving the focus lens while determining a focus level based on the signal extracted by said extraction unit, and when it is determined that the focus lens has passed a position where the focus level becomes maximum, returning and stopping the focus lens at the position where the focus level becomes maximum;
• a second focus operation mode adapted to perform focus operation by storing signals extracted by said extraction unit at each of a plurality of positions of the focus lens while moving the focus lens across a predetermined range in response to an operation of a shutter release operation member, and moving the focus lens to a position where the focus level becomes maximum in the stored signals;
• and
• a control unit adapted to set a first range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation mode in a case where the focus level obtained in said first focus operation mode is higher than a predetermined value, or set a second range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation mode in a case where the focus level obtained in said first focus operation mode is equal to or lower than the predetermined value.

An image sensing apparatus comprising a focus adjusting apparatus which includes:

• an extraction unit adapted to receive object light through a focus lens that performs focus adjustment, and extract a signal indicative of a focus level;
• a first focus operation mode adapted to perform focus operation by moving the focus lens while determining a focus level based on the signal extracted by said extraction unit, and when it is determined that the focus lens has passed a position where the focus level becomes maximum, returning and stopping the focus lens at the position where the focus level becomes maximum;
• a second focus operation mode adapted to perform focus operation by storing signals extracted by said extraction unit at each of a plurality of positions of the focus lens while moving the focus lens across a predetermined range in response to an operation of a shutter release operation member, and moving the focus lens to a position where the focus level becomes maximum in the stored signals;
• and
• a control unit adapted to set a first range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation mode in a case where the focus level obtained in said first focus operation mode is higher than a predetermined value, or set a second range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation mode in a case where the focus level obtained in said first focus operation mode is equal to or lower than the predetermined value.

A focusing method comprising:

• an extraction step of receiving object light through a focus lens that performs focus adjustment and extracting a signal indicative of a focus level;
• a first focus operation step of performing focus operation by moving the focus lens while determining a focus level based on the signal extracted in said extraction step, and when it is determined that the focus lens has passed a position where the focus level becomes maximum, returning and stopping the focus lens at the position where the focus level becomes maximum;
• a second focus operation step of performing focus operation by storing signals extracted in said extraction step at each of a plurality of positions of the focus lens while moving the focus lens across a predetermined range in response to an operation of a shutter release operation member, and moving the focus lens to a position where the focus level becomes maximum in the stored signals;
• and
• a control step of setting a first range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation step in a case where said second focus operation step is executed after completing the focus operation of said first focus operation step, or setting a second range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation step in a case where said second focus operation step is executed before completing the focus operation of said first focus operation step.

A focusing method comprising:

• an extraction step of receiving object light through a focus lens that performs focus adjustment and extracting a signal indicative of a focus level;
• a first focus operation step of performing focus operation by moving the focus lens while determining a focus level based on the signal extracted in said extraction step, and when it is determined that the focus lens has passed a position where the focus level becomes maximum, returning and stopping the focus lens at the position where the focus level becomes maximum;
• a second focus operation step of performing focus operation by storing signals extracted in said extraction step at each of a plurality of positions of the focus lens while moving the focus lens across a predetermined range in response to an operation of a shutter release operation member, and moving the focus lens to a position where the focus level becomes maximum in the stored signals;
• and
• a control step of setting a first range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation step in a case where the focus level obtained in said first focus operation step is higher than a predetermined value, or setting a second range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation step in a case where the focus level obtained in said first focus operation step is equal to or lower than the predetermined value.

A program which causes a computer to execute steps including:

• an extraction step of receiving object light through a focus lens that performs focus adjustment and extracting a signal indicative of a focus level;
• a first focus operation step of performing focus operation by moving the focus lens while determining a focus level based on the signal extracted in said extraction step, and when it is determined that the focus lens has passed a position where the focus level becomes maximum, returning and stopping the focus lens at the position where the focus level becomes maximum;
• a second focus operation step of performing focus operation by storing signals extracted in said extraction step at each of a plurality of positions of the focus lens while moving the focus lens across a predetermined range in response to an operation of a shutter release operation member, and moving the focus lens to a position where the focus level becomes maximum in the stored signals;
• and
• a control step of setting a first range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation step in a case where said second focus operation step is executed after completing the focus operation of said first focus operation step, or setting a second range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation step in a case where said second focus operation step is executed before completing the focus operation of said first focus operation step.

A program which causes a computer to execute steps including:

• an extraction step of receiving object light through a focus lens that performs focus adjustment and extracting a signal indicative of a focus level;
• a first focus operation step of performing focus operation by moving the focus lens while determining a focus level based on the signal extracted in said extraction step, and when it is determined that the focus lens has passed a position where the focus level becomes maximum, returning and stopping the focus lens at the position where the focus level becomes maximum;
• a second focus operation step of performing focus operation by storing signals extracted in said extraction step at each of a plurality of positions of the focus lens while moving the focus lens across a predetermined range in response to an operation of a shutter release operation member, and moving the focus lens to a position where the focus level becomes maximum in the stored signals;
• and
• a control step of setting a first range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation step in a case where the focus level obtained in said first focus operation step is higher than a predetermined value, or setting a second range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation step in a case where the focus level obtained in said first focus operation step is equal to or lower than the predetermined value.

A storage medium readable by a computer, said medium storing a program realizing:

• an extraction step of receiving object light through a focus lens that performs focus adjustment and extracting a signal indicative of a focus level;
• a first focus operation step of performing focus operation by moving the focus lens while determining a focus level based on the signal extracted in said extraction step, and when it is determined that the focus lens has passed a position where the focus level becomes maximum, returning and stopping the focus lens at the position where the focus level becomes maximum;
• a second focus operation step of performing focus operation by storing signals extracted in said extraction step at each of a plurality of positions of the focus lens while moving the focus lens across a predetermined range in response to an operation of a shutter release operation member, and moving the focus lens to a position where the focus level becomes maximum in the stored signals;
• and
• a control step of setting a first range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation step in a case where said second focus operation step is executed after completing the focus operation of said first focus operation step, or setting a second range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation step in a case where said second focus operation step is executed before completing the focus operation of said first focus operation step.

A storage medium readable by a computer, said medium storing a program realizing:

• an extraction step of receiving object light through a focus lens that performs focus adjustment and extracting a signal indicative of a focus level;
• a first focus operation step of performing focus operation by moving the focus lens while determining a focus level based on the signal extracted in said extraction step, and when it is determined that the focus lens has passed a position where the focus level becomes maximum, returning and stopping the focus lens at the position where the focus level becomes maximum;
• a second focus operation step of performing focus operation by storing signals extracted in said extraction step at each of a plurality of positions of the focus lens while moving the focus lens across a predetermined range in response to an operation of a shutter release operation member, and moving the focus lens to a position where the focus level becomes maximum in the stored signals;
• and
• a control step of setting a first range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation step in a case where the focus level obtained in said first focus operation step is higher than a predetermined value, or setting a second range as the predetermined range of said second focus operation step in a case where the focus level obtained in said first focus operation step is equal to or lower than the predetermined value.