Focus detection apparatus and control method thereof

A control method of a focus detection apparatus which has an image capturing unit including a plurality of pixels for detecting a pair of image signals of an object from light beams that have passed through different pupil regions of an image forming optical system and performs focus detection by using the image capturing unit, the method comprising:

• setting focus detection areas in which a plurality of pixels of the image capturing unit are aligned in a first direction and a second direction to form pixel lines along the first direction and the second direction, respectively;
• generating the pair of image signals from outputs of distance measurement lines in each of the set focus detection areas;
• and
• determining an amount of defocus of an imaging optical system by using the generated pair of image signals,
• wherein of the set focus detection areas, for first and second set focus detection areas which are adjacent to each other in the first direction, the distance measurement lines in the second set focus detection area are arranged in different pixel lines in the second direction with respect to the pixel lines in which the distance measurement lines in the first set focus detection area are arranged.

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

• a control unit configured to perform control based on an amount of defocus of a lens unit such that the lens unit is in focus,
• wherein the control unit includes a focus detection apparatus, the focus detection apparatus comprising:
• an image capturing unit including a plurality of pixels for detecting a pair of image signals of an object from light beams that have passed through different pupil regions of an image forming optical system;
• and
• at least one processor or circuitry, which functions as:
• a setting unit configured to set focus detection areas in which a plurality of pixels of the image capturing unit are aligned in a first direction and a second direction to form pixel lines along the first direction and the second direction, respectively,
• a signal generation unit configured to generate the pair of image signals from outputs of distance measurement lines set in each of the focus detection areas, and
• a focus detection unit configured to determine an amount of defocus of an imaging optical system by using the pair of image signals generated by the signal generation unit,
• wherein of the set focus detection areas, for first and second set focus detection areas which are adjacent to each other in the first direction, the distance measurement lines in the second set focus detection area are arranged in different pixel lines in the second direction with respect to the pixel lines in which the distance measurement lines in the first set focus detection area are arranged.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as a focus detection apparatus, the focus detection apparatus comprising:

• an image capturing unit including a plurality of pixels for detecting a pair of image signals of an object from light beams that have passed through different pupil regions of an image forming optical system;
• and
• at least one processor or circuitry, which functions as:
• a setting unit configured to set focus detection areas in which a plurality of pixels of the image capturing unit are aligned in a first direction and a second direction to form pixel lines along the first direction and the second direction, respectively;
• a signal generation unit configured to generate the pair of image signals from outputs of distance measurement lines set in each of the focus detection areas;
• and
• a focus detection unit configured to determine an amount of defocus of an imaging optical system by using the pair of image signals generated by the signal generation unit,
• wherein of the set focus detection areas, for first and second set focus detection areas which are adjacent to each other in the first direction, the distance measurement lines in the second set focus detection area are arranged in different pixel lines in the second direction with respect to the pixel lines in which the distance measurement lines in the first set focus detection area are arranged.