Focus detection apparatus for detecting a relative positional relationship between a pair of object images
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorIsao Nakazawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A focus detection apparatus comprising a focus detection unit adapted to employ a photoelectric conversion element to detect a relative positional relationship between a pair of object images corresponding to a focus detection field; and wherein the focus detection unit are switchable between a first mode of operation in which such an object image corresponding to a focus detection field is detected by using a first number of areas of the photoelectric conversion element, and a second mode of operation in which such an object image corresponding to a focus detection field is detected by using a second number of areas of the photoelectric conversion element, different from the first number.
Claims14
A focus detection apparatus comprising:
- a sensor which comprises photoelectric conversion elements of rectangular areas;
- and
- a focus detection unit which detects a relative positional relationship between a pair of object images from the sensor corresponding to a focus detection field;
- wherein the sensor is switchable between a first mode of operation in which such an object image corresponding to a focus detection field is detected by using a first number of said rectangular areas of the photoelectric conversion element, and a second mode of operation in which such an object image corresponding to said focus detection field is detected by using a second number of said rectangular areas of said photoelectric conversion element, different from said first number.
A focus detection method comprising:
- employing a photoelectric conversion element of rectangular areas to detect a relative positional relationship between a pair of object images corresponding to a focus detection field,
- switching between a first mode in which such an object image corresponding to a focus detection field is detected by using a first number of said rectangular areas of the photoelectric conversion element, and a second mode in which such an object image corresponding to a focus detection field is detected by using a second number of said rectangular areas of the photoelectric conversion element different from said first number.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.