Imaging device and focus adjustment method
AssigneeElmo Co., Ltd.
InventorMasaaki Toguchi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In response to the user's short press of one preset button, a video camera according to one aspect of the invention reads out preset values stored in an EEPROM and adjusts the pan position, the tilt position, the position of a zoom lens, the position of a focus lens based on the read-out preset values. A movable range of the focus lens is restricted to a specific limited range between a closer direction end and a background position as a previously focused position. Hill-climbing control is then performed in this restricted movable range. This arrangement effectively ensures quick adjustment of the focus position of the video camera.
Claims7
An imaging device that captures an image of a subject via its optical system including a lens, the imaging device comprising:
- an imaging direction adjustment unit configured to adjust an imaging direction of the optical system;
- a focus regulation unit configured to regulate a characteristic value of the optical system to adjust a focus of the optical system;
- a preset value storage unit configured to store the adjusted imaging direction and the characteristic value in a focused state in the imaging direction, as preset values;
- a preset operation unit configured to read out the stored preset values at a predetermined timing, and adjust the imaging direction and regulate the characteristic value based on the read-out preset values;
- a restriction unit configured to restrict an adjustable range of the characteristic value to a specific range between the characteristic value stored as the preset value and a characteristic value corresponding to the focus in a close position;
- and
- a focusing control unit configured to perform focusing control that analyzes the image of the subject captured by the optical system while changing the regulated characteristic value in the restricted adjustable range, so as to focus the optical system on the subject.
A focus adjustment method that adjusts a focus of an imaging device that captures an image of a subject via its optical system including a lens, the focus adjustment method comprising:
- adjusting an imaging direction of the optical system;
- regulating a characteristic value of the optical system to adjust the focus of the optical system;
- storing the adjusted imaging direction and the characteristic value in a focused state in the imaging direction, as preset values;
- reading out the stored preset values at a predetermined timing, and adjusting the imaging direction and regulating the characteristic value based on the read-out preset values;
- restricting an adjustable range of the characteristic value to a specific range between the characteristic value stored as the preset value and a characteristic value corresponding to the focus in a close position;
- and
- performing focusing control that analyzes the image of the subject captured by the optical system while changing the regulated characteristic value in the restricted adjustable range, so as to focus the optical system on the subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.