US 2013/0258168 A1 · IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND IN-FOCUS POSITION DETECTION METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

It is provided a image capturing apparatus including a control unit that determines whether to set a division number to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of a subject, calculating a divided area evaluation curve by calculating a correlation between first detection information and second detection information for each of divided areas formed by dividing a phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and acquires a defocus amount to drive and control a focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the divided area evaluation curves of the plural divided areas.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing element where pair-pixels each configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided are arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;
a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and
a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the control unit includes:
a determination unit that determines whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
a calculation unit that calculates a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
a defocus amount calculation unit that acquires a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on a spatial frequency characteristic of a subject image, so that when the subject has high frequency components more than a critical value, the first division number n is selected and when the subject has the high frequency components less than the critical value, the second division number m is selected.

5 more elements

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing element where pair-pixels each configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided are arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;
a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and
a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the control unit includes:
a determination unit that determines whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
a calculation unit that calculates a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
a defocus amount calculation unit that acquires a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on the presence/absence of a face image, so that when the face image does not exist, the first division number n is selected and when the face image exists, the second division number m is selected.

5 more elements

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing element where pair-pixels each configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided are arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;
a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and
a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the control unit includes:
a determination unit that determines whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
a calculation unit that calculates a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
a defocus amount calculation unit that acquires a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on an image size of a main subject, so that when the main subject is smaller than a critical value for the phase difference detection area, the first division number n is selected and when the main subject is larger than the value, the second division number m is selected.

5 more elements

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing element where pair-pixels each configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided are arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;
a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and
a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the control unit includes:
a determination unit that determines whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
a calculation unit that calculates a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
a defocus amount calculation unit that acquires a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on a contrast value in a direction perpendicular to a phase difference detection direction of the phase difference detection area among intensity values (contrast values) of high level frequency components of a captured image signal within the phase difference detection area, so that when the contrast value is small, the first division number n is selected and when the contrast value is large, the second division number m is selected.

5 more elements

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing element where pair-pixels each configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided are arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;
a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and
a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the control unit includes:
a determination unit that determines whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
a calculation unit that calculates a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
a defocus amount calculation unit that acquires a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on an intensity value (contrast value) of a high level frequency component of a captured image signal in a phase difference detection direction of the phase difference detection area, so that when the contrast value is large, the first division number n is selected and when the contrast value is small, the second division number m is selected.

5 more elements

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing element where pair-pixels each configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided are arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;
a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and
a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the control unit includes:
a determination unit that determines whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
a calculation unit that calculates a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
a defocus amount calculation unit that acquires a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on the brightness of the subject, so that when the brightness of the subject is brighter than a value, the first division number n is selected and when the brightness of the subject is darker than the value, the division number m is selected.

5 more elements

An in-focus position detection method of an image capturing apparatus that includes an image capturing element where a pair-pixel configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided is arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;

a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
calculating a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
acquiring a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined by a spatial frequency characteristic of a subject image, so that when the subject has high frequency components more than a critical value, the first division number n is selected and when the subject has the high frequency components less than the critical value, the second division number m is selected.

3 more elements

a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
calculating a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
acquiring a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on the presence/absence of a face image, so that when the face image does not exist, the first division number n is selected and when the face image exists, the second division number m is selected.

3 more elements

a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
calculating a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
acquiring a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined an image size of a main subject, so that when the main subject is smaller than a critical value for the phase difference detection area, the first division number n is selected and when the main subject is larger than the value, the second division number m is selected.

3 more elements

a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
calculating a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
acquiring a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on a contrast value in a direction perpendicular to a phase difference detection direction of the phase difference detection area, so that when the contrast value is small, the first division number n is selected and when the contrast value is large, the second division number m is selected.

3 more elements

a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
calculating a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
acquiring a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on a contrast value in a phase difference detection direction of the phase difference detection area, so that when the contrast value is large, the first division number n is selected and when the contrast value is small, the second division number m is selected.

3 more elements

a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
calculating a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
acquiring a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on the brightness of the subject, so that when the brightness of the subject is brighter than a value, the first division number n is selected and when the brightness of the subject is darker than the value, the division number m is selected.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

13/904,737Filed 29 May 2013

Priority

JP 2010-26793330 Nov 2010

Published

3 Oct 2013

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H04N 23/672
Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals: based on the phase difference signals
G02B 7/34
Systems for automatic generation of focusing signals: using different areas in a pupil plane
G03B 3/10
Focusing arrangements of general interest for cameras, projectors or printers: power-operated focusing
G03B 13/20
Focusing aids: rangefinders coupled with focusing arrangements, e.g. adjustment of rangefinder automatically focusing camera

Abstract

Claims14

Dependent claims

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing element where pair-pixels each configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided are arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;
a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and
a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the control unit includes:
a determination unit that determines whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
a calculation unit that calculates a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
a defocus amount calculation unit that acquires a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on a spatial frequency characteristic of a subject image, so that when the subject has high frequency components more than a critical value, the first division number n is selected and when the subject has the high frequency components less than the critical value, the second division number m is selected.

5 more elements

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing element where pair-pixels each configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided are arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;
a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and
a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the control unit includes:
a determination unit that determines whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
a calculation unit that calculates a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
a defocus amount calculation unit that acquires a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on the presence/absence of a face image, so that when the face image does not exist, the first division number n is selected and when the face image exists, the second division number m is selected.

5 more elements

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing element where pair-pixels each configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided are arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;
a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and
a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the control unit includes:
a determination unit that determines whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
a calculation unit that calculates a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
a defocus amount calculation unit that acquires a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on an image size of a main subject, so that when the main subject is smaller than a critical value for the phase difference detection area, the first division number n is selected and when the main subject is larger than the value, the second division number m is selected.

5 more elements

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing element where pair-pixels each configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided are arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;
a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and
a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the control unit includes:
a determination unit that determines whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
a calculation unit that calculates a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
a defocus amount calculation unit that acquires a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on a contrast value in a direction perpendicular to a phase difference detection direction of the phase difference detection area among intensity values (contrast values) of high level frequency components of a captured image signal within the phase difference detection area, so that when the contrast value is small, the first division number n is selected and when the contrast value is large, the second division number m is selected.

5 more elements

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing element where pair-pixels each configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided are arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;
a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and
a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the control unit includes:
a determination unit that determines whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
a calculation unit that calculates a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
a defocus amount calculation unit that acquires a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on an intensity value (contrast value) of a high level frequency component of a captured image signal in a phase difference detection direction of the phase difference detection area, so that when the contrast value is large, the first division number n is selected and when the contrast value is small, the second division number m is selected.

5 more elements

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing element where pair-pixels each configured by a first phase difference detection pixel and a second phase difference detection pixel that are pupil-divided are arranged two-dimensionally in a phase difference detection area provided on a light receiving surface that captures an image of a subject;
a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and
a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the control unit includes:
a determination unit that determines whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
a calculation unit that calculates a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
a defocus amount calculation unit that acquires a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on the brightness of the subject, so that when the brightness of the subject is brighter than a value, the first division number n is selected and when the brightness of the subject is darker than the value, the division number m is selected.

5 more elements

a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
calculating a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
acquiring a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined by a spatial frequency characteristic of a subject image, so that when the subject has high frequency components more than a critical value, the first division number n is selected and when the subject has the high frequency components less than the critical value, the second division number m is selected.

3 more elements

a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
calculating a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
acquiring a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on the presence/absence of a face image, so that when the face image does not exist, the first division number n is selected and when the face image exists, the second division number m is selected.

3 more elements

a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
calculating a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
acquiring a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined an image size of a main subject, so that when the main subject is smaller than a critical value for the phase difference detection area, the first division number n is selected and when the main subject is larger than the value, the second division number m is selected.

3 more elements

a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
calculating a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
acquiring a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on a contrast value in a direction perpendicular to a phase difference detection direction of the phase difference detection area, so that when the contrast value is small, the first division number n is selected and when the contrast value is large, the second division number m is selected.

3 more elements

a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
calculating a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
acquiring a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on a contrast value in a phase difference detection direction of the phase difference detection area, so that when the contrast value is large, the first division number n is selected and when the contrast value is small, the second division number m is selected.

3 more elements

a focus lens that is disposed at the front end of a light path of the image capturing element and forms an optical image which is in-focus on the subject on the light receiving surface;
and a control unit that calculates a phase difference between a first distribution curve of first detection information output from the first phase difference detection pixel in relation to one side arrangement direction of the pair-pixel and a second distribution curve of second detection information output from the second phase difference detection pixel in relation to the one side arrangement direction and drives and controls the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the phase difference, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether to set a division number into which the phase difference detection area is divided in a direction perpendicular to the detection direction of the phase difference to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of the subject,
calculating a correlative operation curve for each divided area by calculating a correlation between the first detection information and the second detection information for each of the divided areas formed by dividing the phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and
acquiring a defocus amount to drive and control the focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the correlative operation curves of the plural divided areas,
wherein the status of the subject is determined based on the brightness of the subject, so that when the brightness of the subject is brighter than a value, the first division number n is selected and when the brightness of the subject is darker than the value, the division number m is selected.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Image capturing apparatus and in-focus position detection method thereof

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Abstract

Claims14

Image capturing apparatus and in-focus position detection method thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14