Image pickup element and apparatus for focusing

An image pickup apparatus which photoelectrically converts an optical image transmitted through a photographing optical system and formed on a photoconductive surface, comprising:

• a first microlens array and a second microlens array each of which has a focal position in the vicinity of the photoconductive surface and is arrayed in a two-dimensional manner;
• a first photoconductive element group including units each formed by a single photoconductive element which is disposed in the vicinity of the focal position of the first microlens array and outputs a first video signal;
• and
• a second photoconductive element group including units each formed by a pair of photoconductive elements which are disposed in the vicinity of the focal position of the second microlens array and output a pair of second video signals,
• wherein the first microlens array and the second microlens array differ from each other in focal length and radius of curvature.

An image pickup element for use in an image pickup apparatus, comprising:

• a first photoconductive element group which receives a subject light image;
• a first small lens group which converges a subject light beam on the first photoconductive element group;
• a second small lens group which divides by pupils a light beam transmitted through a photographing lens;
• and
• a second photoconductive element group including pairs of photoconductive elements which respectively receive light beans divided by pupils of a corresponding small lens of the second small lens group;
• the second small lens group and the second photoconductive element group including the pairs of photoconductive elements being formed on one chip of the image pickup element.

An image pickup element, for use in an image pickup apparatus, comprising:

• a first photoconductive element group which receives a subject light image;
• a first small lens group which converges a subject light beam on the first photoconductive element group;
• a second small lens group which divides by pupils a light beam transmitted through a photographing lens;
• and
• a second photoconductive element group including pairs of photoconductive elements which respectively receive light beans divided by pupils of a corresponding small lens of the second small lens group;
• the second small lens group and the second photoconductive element group including the pairs of photoconductive elements being formed on one chip of the image pickup element,
• wherein the first small lens group and the second small lens group are constructed to differ from each other in optical characteristic.

An image pickup apparatus having an image pickup element which photoelectrically converts an optical image transmitted through a photographing optical system and formed on a photoconductive surface, comprising:

• a first microlens array and a second microlens array each of which has a focal position in the vicinity of the photoconductive surface and is arrayed in a two-dimensional manner;
• a first photoconductive element group including units each formed by a single photoconductive element which is disposed in the vicinity of the focal position of the first microlens array and outputs a first video signal;
• and
• a second photoconductive element group including units each formed by a pair of photoconductive elements which are disposed in the vicinity of the focal position of the second microlens array and output a pair of second video signals.