초록 ▼

There are provided a focus adjusting apparatus and method in which a look of an image plane can be improved when an object area to be focused in the image plane is judged and focused prior to image-taking preparation operation. A first operation for determining the object area to be focused is perfo

There are provided a focus adjusting apparatus and method in which a look of an image plane can be improved when an object area to be focused in the image plane is judged and focused prior to image-taking preparation operation. A first operation for determining the object area to be focused is performed prior to the image-taking preparation operation, and a second operation for performing the focus adjusting operation is performed at the time of the image-taking preparation operation.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive an instruction for focus adjustment; an image-pickup unit configured to perform image-pickup of an image input through a focus lens to supply image data; a setting unit configured to set a focus detecting area; and a focus adjusting

1. An apparatus comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive an instruction for focus adjustment; an image-pickup unit configured to perform image-pickup of an image input through a focus lens to supply image data; a setting unit configured to set a focus detecting area; and a focus adjusting unit configured to detect a focus signal representing a focusing state of the focus lens in the focus detecting area while moving the focus lens to adjust a position of the focus lens in a predetermined range based on the focus signal, wherein the focus adjusting unit controls a first operation for detecting the focus signal, prior to reception of the instruction, to determine an object area to be focused, and a second operation for detecting the focus signal based on information of the determined object area, upon reception of the instruction, to perform the focus adjustment of the focus lens, and stops the focus lens at a position in the first operation on at least one of an evaluation value relevant to luminance in a predetermined area of the image data and a focus signal, the evaluation value and the focus signal being such that the focus adjusting unit cannot determine the object area to be focused. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the focus adjusting unit stops the focus lens at the position when at least one of a condition that the evaluation value does not exceed a predetermined value and a condition that the focus signal does not exceed a predetermined value is satisfied. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation value is a luminance difference value obtained based on a difference between luminance values in plural focus detecting areas of the image data, and the focus signal is based on a predetermined-frequency component of an output signal of the image-pickup unit in the focus detecting area of the image data. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the focus adjusting unit determines an object to be focused in the focus detecting area with a first size in the first operation, and the focus adjusting unit again performs the first operation in the focus detecting area with a second size larger than the focus detecting area with the first size when at least one of a condition that the evaluation value does not exceed the predetermined value and a condition that the focus signal does not exceed the predetermined value is satisfied. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the focus adjusting unit performs the focus adjusting operation in the focus detecting area with a size larger than the focus detecting area with a size set beforehand in the second operation when the first operation is again performed in the focus detecting area with the second size. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the focus adjusting unit determines a stop position of the focus lens based on color information in the focus detecting area. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of focus detecting areas are not set at a time of the first operation, the focus adjusting unit acquires the focus signal in the focus detecting area, and performs judgment whether or not at least one of a condition that the evaluation value does not exceed the predetermined value and a condition that the focus signal does not exceed the predetermined value is satisfied, and when at least one of the conditions is satisfied and the focus lens stops, the focus adjusting unit acquires focus signals in a plurality of focus detecting areas set. 8. A method of controlling an apparatus including an image-pickup unit for performing image-pickup of an image input through a focus lens to supply image data, the method comprising: setting a focus detecting area; and detecting a focus signal in the focus detecting area while moving the focus lens to adjust a position of the focus lens based on the focus signal, wherein in the detecting, a first operation for detecting the focus signal, prior to reception of an instruction, to determine an object area to be focused, and a second operation for detecting the focus signal based on information of the determined object area to be focused, upon reception of the instruction, to perform the focus adjustment of the focus lens are controlled, and the focus lens is stopped at a position in the first operation on at least one of an evaluation value relevant to luminance in a predetermined area of the image data and a focus signal, the evaluation value and the focus signal being such that the object area to be focused cannot be determined in the detecting. 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising stopping the focus lens at the position when at least one of a condition that the evaluation value does not exceed a predetermined value and a condition that the focus signal does not exceed the predetermined value is satisfied. 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the evaluation value is a luminance difference value obtained based on a difference between luminance values in plural focus detecting areas of the image data, and the focus signal in the focus detecting area of the image data. 11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: determining an object to be focused in the focus detecting area with a first size in the first operation; and performing the first operation in the focus detecting area with a second size larger than the focus detecting area with the first size when at least one of a condition that the evaluation value does not exceed the predetermined value and a condition that the focus signal does not exceed the predetermined value is satisfied. 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising performing the focus adjusting operation in the focus detecting area with a size larger than the focus detecting area with a size set beforehand in the second operation when the first operation is again performed in the focus detecting area with the second size. 13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising determining a stop position of the focus lens based on color information in the focus detecting area. 14. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: acquiring the focus signal in the focus detecting area when a plurality of focus detecting areas are not set at a time of the first operation, the focus adjusting unit;performing judgment whether or not at least one of a condition that the evaluation value does not exceed the predetermined value and a condition that the focus signal does not exceed the predetermined value is satisfied; andacquiring focus signals in a plurality of focus detecting areas set when at least one of the conditions is satisfied and the focus lens stops.