# US 2021/0243373 A1 · Control apparatus, lens apparatus, imaging apparatus, control method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0243373 A1 - Document ID: US20210243373A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/159,542 - Filed: 2021-01-27 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-30 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yumi TOYODA; Fuya MIZUOCHI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243373A1 ## CPC - H04N 23/67: Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals - H04N 23/69: Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming - H04N 23/65: Control of camera operation in relation to power supply - H04N 23/667: Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes - H04N 23/675: {comprising setting of focusing regions} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A control apparatus includes at least one processor configured to execute instructions to function as a first controller that automatically adjusts a focus lens to a focusing position, a second controller that adjusts the focus lens on the basis of a user operation quantity, and a third controller that drives the focus lens. The first controller and the second controller effectively work in a first drive area of the focus lens. The first controller is disabled in a second drive area of the focus lens. The third controller drives the focus lens on the basis of changes of the second drive area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control apparatus comprising: at least one processor configured to execute instructions to function as: a first controller that automatically adjusts a focus lens to a focusing position; a second controller that adjusts the focus lens on the basis of a user operation quantity; and a third controller that drives the focus lens, wherein the first controller and the second controller effectively work in a first drive area of the focus lens, wherein the first controller is disabled in a second drive area of the focus lens, and wherein the third controller drives the focus lens on the basis of changes of the second drive area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the second drive area changes so that a position of the focus lens is included in the second drive area to maintain an object distance while the focus lens is positioned in the first drive area, the third controller drives the focus lens so that the focus lens is positioned in the first drive area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the second drive area changes so that the position of the focus lens is included in the first drive area to maintain the object distance while the focus lens is positioned in the first drive area, the third controller drives the focus lens so that the object distance is maintained. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the second drive area changes so that the position of the focus lens is included in the first drive area to maintain the object distance while the focus lens is positioned in the second drive area, the third controller drives the focus lens so that the object distance is maintained. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second drive area changes according to a position of a zoom lens. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control apparatus according to claim 5. wherein the second drive area has a first size when the position of the zoom lens is at a wide angle end, and wherein the second drive area has a second size smaller than the first size when the position of the zoom lens is at a telephoto end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second drive area changes according to an aperture value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second drive area has a third size when the aperture value is a first aperture value, and wherein the second drive area has a fourth size smaller than the third size when the aperture value is a second aperture value smaller than the first aperture value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third controller drives the focus lens on the basis of an increase/decrease change in a ratio of the second drive area in an entire drive area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a switcher that switches between a first power mode and a second power mode with less power consumption than the first power mode; and a memory that stores information regarding a first position of the focus lens upon switching from the first power mode to the second power mode, wherein when the first position of the focus lens is in the first drive area upon switching from the first power mode to the second power mode, the third controller moves the focus lens to a second position in the first drive area on the basis of the information regarding the first position stored in the memory upon switching from the second power mode to the first power mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the first position of the focus lens is in the second drive area upon switching from the first power mode to the second power mode, the third controller does not move the focus lens upon switching from the second power mode to the first power mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a switcher that switches between a first power mode and a second power mode with less power consumption than the first power mode; and a memory that stores information regarding a first position of the focus lens upon switching from the first power mode to the second power mode, wherein when the first position of the focus lens is in the second drive area upon switching from the first power mode to the second power mode, the third controller moves the focus lens to maintain an object distance upon switching from the second power mode to the first power mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setter that switchably sets first control by the first controller and second control by the second controller, wherein, in a case where the setter sets the second control, when the second drive area changes so that a position of the focus lens is included in the second drive area to maintain an object distance while the focus lens is positioned in the first drive area, or when the second drive area changes so that the position of the focus lens is included in the first drive area to maintain the object distance while the focus lens is positioned in the second drive area, the third controller moves the focus lens to maintain the object distance. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, in a case where the setter sets the first control, when the second drive area changes so that the position of the focus lens is included in the second drive area to maintain the object distance while the focus lens is positioned in the first drive area, the third controller moves the focus lens to maintain the object distance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, in a case where the setter sets the first control, when the second drive area changes so that the position of the focus lens is included in the first drive area to maintain the object distance while the focus lens is positioned in the second drive area, the third controller moves the focus lens to maintain the object distance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A lens apparatus comprising: a focus lens; and the control apparatus according to claim 1. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An imaging apparatus comprising: an image sensor; and the control apparatus according to claim 1. ### Claim 18 A control method comprising: a first control step of automatically adjusting a focus lens to a focusing position; a second control step of adjusting the focus lens on the basis of a user operation quantity; and a third control step of driving the focus lens, wherein the first control step and the second control step effectively work in a first drive area of the focus lens, wherein the first control step is disabled in a second drive area of the focus lens, and wherein the third control step drives the focus lens on the basis of changes of the second drive area. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that causes a computer to execute a control method, wherein the control method includes: a first control step of automatically adjusting a focus lens to a focusing position; a second control step of adjusting the focus lens on the basis of a user operation quantity; and a third control step of driving the focus lens, wherein the first control step and the second control step effectively work in a first drive area of the focus lens, wherein the first control step is disabled in a second drive area of the focus lens, and wherein the third control step drives the focus lens on the basis of changes of the second drive area.