Control apparatus, control method, and computer program

A control method of a control apparatus for controlling a driver driving an optical element of an image pickup device to adjust a focus position of the image pickup device in the capturing of an image of a subject, the control method comprising:

• a focus position control process executing step of executing a focus position control process for controlling the focus position through controlling the driver;
• a startup condition adjusting step of adjusting a startup condition of the focus position control process, based on a change in a saturated luminance count contained in the image captured in the focus position control process executed in the focus position control process executing step;
• a startup determination step of determining whether to start up the focus position control process, based on the startup condition adjusted in the startup condition adjusting step, and a change pattern of a relative angle variation, the relative angle variation being a change per unit time of a relative angle of the image pickup device with respect to the subject;
• and
• a focus position control process startup step of causing the driver to adjust the focus position through starting the focus position control process based on the determination result of the startup determination step.

A computer program product for causing a computer to control a driver driving an optical element of an image pickup device to adjust a focus position of the image pickup device in the capturing of an image of a subject, the computer program product comprising:

• a focus position control process executing step of executing a focus position control process for controlling the focus position through controlling the driver;
• a startup condition adjusting step of adjusting a startup condition of the focus position control process, based on a change in a saturated luminance count contained in the image captured in the focus position control process executed in the focus position control process executing step;
• a startup determination step of determining whether to start up the focus position control process, based on the startup condition adjusted in the startup condition adjusting step, and a change pattern of a relative angle variation, the relative angle variation being a change per unit time of a relative angle of the image pickup device with respect to the subject;
• and
• a focus position control process startup step of causing the driver to adjust the focus position through starting the focus position control process based on the determination result of the startup determination step.

A control apparatus for controlling a driver driving an optical element of an image pickup device to adjust a focus position of the image pickup device in the capturing of an image of a subject, the control apparatus comprising:

• a focus position control process startup unit managing a startup of a focus position control process, the focus position control process for controlling the focus position through controlling the driver in response to a change pattern of a relative angle variation, the relative angle variation being a change per unit time of a relative angle of the image pickup device with respect to the subject;
• a focus position control process executing unit executing the focus position control process that is started under the control of the focus position control process startup unit;
• and
• a startup condition adjusting unit adjusting a startup condition of the focus position control process, started by the focus position control process startup unit, based on a change in a saturated luminance count contained in the image captured in the focus position control process executed by the focus position control process executing unit.