# US 2025/0168508 A1 · Focus adjustment apparatus and method, image capturing apparatus, and storage medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0168508 A1 - Document ID: US20250168508A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/937,209 - Filed: 2024-11-05 - Published: 2025-05-22 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-16 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: NAOKI IWASAKI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250168508A1 ## CPC - H04N 23/6811: {based on the image signal} - H04N 23/611: where the recognised objects include parts of the human body - H04N 23/675: {comprising setting of focusing regions} - H04N 23/672: {based on the phase difference signals} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A focus adjustment apparatus includes a subject detection unit configured to detect a subject from an image, a motion detection unit configured to detect a motion and store a history of the motion for the detected subject, a focus adjustment unit configured to focus on a subject; and a prediction unit configured to predict, when the focus adjustment unit shifts from a state of focusing on a first subject to a state of focusing on a second subject, a focus adjustment position for the focus adjustment unit to focus on the second subject based on a history of a motion of the second subject stored by the motion detection unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A focus adjustment apparatus comprising at least one processor or circuit configured to function as: a subject detection unit configured to detect a subject from an image; a motion detection unit configured to detect a motion and store a history of the motion for the detected subject; a focus adjustment unit configured to focus on a subject; and a prediction unit configured to predict, when the focus adjustment unit shifts from a state of focusing on a first subject to a state of focusing on a second subject, a focus adjustment position for the focus adjustment unit to focus on the second subject based on a history of a motion of the second subject stored by the motion detection unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor or circuit is configured to further function as a state detection unit configured to detect a specific state of a subject from a feature amount of the subject, wherein the focus adjustment unit shifts from a state of focusing on the first subject to a state of focusing on the second subject when the specific state is detected for the second subject. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the specific state is a state in which a subject has performed a specific action. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor or circuit is configured to further function as a setting unit configured to set a plurality of focus detection regions in a screen, wherein the motion detection unit detects a motion and stores a history of the motion for the subject based on a change in a focus position in the plurality of focus detection regions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the prediction unit predicts a focus adjustment position for focusing on the second subject when greater than or equal to a predetermined number of histories of the motions are stored for the second subject. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the prediction unit does not predict the focus adjustment position for focusing on the second subject when a difference or variation in the focus position in the history of the motion of the second subject is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motion detection unit stores closest focus detection information among a plurality of focus detection regions with respect to a subject as information of a history of a motion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An image capturing apparatus comprising: an imaging device configured to capture an image of an object; and the focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 1. ### Claim 9 A focus adjustment method comprising: executing subject detection for detecting a subject from an image; executing motion detection of detecting a motion and storing a history of the motion for the detected object; executing focus adjustment for focusing on a subject; and predicting, when shifting from a state of focusing on a first subject to a state of focusing on a second subject in the focus adjustment, a focus adjustment position for focusing on the second subject in the focus adjustment based on a history of a motion of the second subject stored in the motion detection. ### Claim 10 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute each step of a focus adjustment method, the focus adjustment method comprising executing subject detection for detecting a subject from an image; executing motion detection of detecting a motion and storing a history of the motion for the detected subject; executing focus adjustment for focusing on a subject; and predicting, when shifting from a state of focusing on a first subject to a state of focusing on a second subject in the focus adjustment, a focus adjustment position for focusing on the second subject in the focus adjustment based on a history of a motion of the second subject stored in the motion detection.