# US 7,746,403 B2 · Image capturing apparatus having a plurality of focus detention devices and control method therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,746,403 B2 - Document ID: US7746403B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/227,611 - Filed: 2005-09-14 - Published: 2006-03-23 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2004-09-17 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaish - Inventors: Hirofumi Suda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746403B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/673: {based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method} - G02B 7/285: {including two or more different focus detection devices, e.g. both an active and a passive focus detecting device} - G03B 3/10: Power-operated focusing - H04N 23/672: {based on the phase difference signals} - H04N 23/69: Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract This invention allows focus detection devices to be smoothly and quickly switched even if different image capturing frame counts or image capturing field counts are set in accordance with image capturing purposes. An AF system selection unit switches focus detection methods based on a direct distance measurement AF unit and captured signal AF detection unit in accordance with the frame count or field count of a captured signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image capturing device which outputs a captured signal of an object on the basis of incident light; an output interval control device which variably controls output intervals of captured signals output by said image capturing device per unit time; a plurality of focus detection devices which detect a focus; and a control device which controls focus detection by said plurality of focus detection devices; and a focusing degree calculating device which calculates a focusing degree on the basis of a captured signal output from said image capturing device, wherein said plurality of focus detection devices include a first focus detection device performing a focus detection based on a distance measurement result and a second focus detection device performing a focus detection based on a high frequency component of a captured signal, wherein said control device compares a focusing degree calculated by said focusing degree calculating device with a predetermined focusing degree, and choosing a timing for switching from said first focus detection device to said second focus detection device in accordance with a comparison result, and wherein said control device sets a first predetermined focusing degree as a comparison target for a focusing degree calculated by said focusing degree calculating device when captured signal output intervals are first predetermined output intervals, and sets a second predetermined focusing degree nearer to an in-focus point than the first predetermined focusing degree as a comparison target for a focusing degree calculated by said focusing degree calculating device when captured signal output intervals are second predetermined output intervals longer than the first predetermined output intervals. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when captured signal output intervals are second predetermined output intervals, said control device switches from said first focus detection device to said second focus detection device after a focus lens driving device which drives a focus lens drives the focus lens to an in-focus position detected by said first focus detection device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said focusing degree calculating device calculates a focusing degree associated with a captured signal output from said image capturing device on the basis of a maximum value and minimum value of luminance of the captured signal output from said image capturing device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said focusing degree calculating device includes a plurality of bandpass filters which extract different high frequency components from a captured signal output from said image capturing device, and calculates a focusing degree associated with the captured signal on the basis of the high frequency components extracted by said plurality of bandpass filters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said focusing degree calculating device calculates a focusing degree associated with the captured signal on the basis of a ratio between high frequency components respectively extracted by said plurality of bandpass filters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said focusing degree calculating device calculates a focusing degree associated with the captured signal on the basis of a value obtained by second derivative calculation of a high frequency component of a captured signal output from said image capturing device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said focusing degree calculating device calculates a focusing degree associated with the captured signal on the basis of a distance measurement result at the time of image capturing of the captured signal. ### Claim 8 A control method for an image capturing apparatus including an image capturing device which outputs a captured signal of an object on the basis of incident light, and a plurality of focus detection devices which detect a focus state, comprising: an output interval control step of variably controlling output intervals of captured signals output by the image capturing device per unit time; and a control step of controlling focus detection by said plurality of focus detection devices; and a focusing degree calculating step of calculating a focusing degree on the basis of a captured signal output from said image capturing device, wherein said plurality of focus detection devices include a first focus detection device performing a focus detection based on a distance measurement result and a second focus detection device performing a focus detection based on a high frequency component of a captured signal, wherein said control step compares a focusing degree calculated by said focusing degree calculating step with a predetermined focusing degree, and chooses a timing for switching from said first focus detection device to said second focus detection device in accordance with a comparison result, and wherein said control step sets a first predetermined focusing degree as a comparison target for a focusing degree calculated by said focusing degree calculating step when captured signal output intervals are first predetermined output intervals, and sets a second predetermined focusing degree nearer to an in-focus point than the first predetermined focusing degree as a comparison target for a focusing degree calculated by said focusing degree calculating step when captured signal output intervals are second predetermined output intervals longer than the first predetermined output intervals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A program stored on a computable-readable recording medium characterized by causing a computer to execute a control method for an image capturing apparatus defined in claim 8.