Imaging apparatus, imaging apparatus control method, and computer program product, with eye blink detection features

A method for processing an input image in an imaging apparatus, the method comprising:

• acquiring an evaluation value based on contrast of the input image to detect a focus position;
• detecting presence or absence of a blink of an image subject included in the input image on the basis of image analysis of the input image;
• moving a focus lens to a search evaluation value start position prior to acquisition of the evaluation value;
• and
• acquiring, upon determination that the image subject is not currently blinking, the evaluation value in accordance with movement of the focus lens from the evaluation value start position to detect the focus position during a period that is set in accordance with a detection result of the blink detecting unit indicating that the image subject has not blinked after movement of the focus lens from the evaluation value start position.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a processor in an imaging apparatus causes the processor to:

• acquire an evaluation value based on contrast of an input image to detect a focus position;
• detect presence or absence of a blink of an image subject included in the input image on the basis of image analysis of the input image;
• move a focus lens to a search evaluation value start position prior to acquisition of the evaluation value;
• and
• acquire, upon determination that the image subject is not currently blinking, the evaluation value in accordance with movement of the focus lens from the evaluation value start position to detect the focus position during a period that is set in accordance with a detection result of the blink detecting unit indicating that the image subject has not blinked after movement of the focus lens from the evaluation value start position.