Focus detection apparatus and control method therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016295100-A1
Application number	US-201615083697-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 29, 2016
Priority date	Apr 3, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A focus detection apparatus includes an image pickup unit configured to perform photoelectric conversion on a luminous flux having passed through an imaging optical system, a focus detection unit configured to detect a focusing state based on a signal generated by the image pickup unit, a setting unit configured to set a first region within an image generated by the image pickup unit, a display controller configured to control such that an index representing the focusing state detected by the focus detection unit within the first region can be superimposed on the image, and an obtaining unit configured to obtain information regarding a predetermined subject in the image. In this case, the setting unit sets a position of the first region based on information regarding at least one of a position, a size, and a direction of the predetermined subject in the image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A focus detection apparatus comprising:
an image pickup unit configured to perform photoelectric conversion on a luminous flux having passed through an imaging optical system; a focus detection unit configured to detect a focusing state based on a signal generated by the image pickup unit; a setting unit configured to set a first region within an image generated by the image pickup unit; a display controller configured to control such that an index representing the focusing state detected by the focus detection unit within the first region can be superimposed on the image; and an obtaining unit configured to obtain information regarding a predetermined subject in the image, wherein the setting unit sets a position of the first region based on information regarding at least one of a position, a size, and a direction of the predetermined subject in the image.

2 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the predetermined subject is a subject having a plurality of distinct regions; and wherein the setting unit sets a position of the first region based on a position of a distinct region of the plurality of distinct regions.

3 . The focus detection apparatus, according to claim 2 ,
wherein, in a case where the size of the predetermined subject is larger than a first threshold value, the setting unit sets a position of the first region based on a position of a distinct region of the plurality of distinct regions included in the predetermined subject, and, in a case where the size of the predetermined subject is equal to or smaller than the first threshold value, the setting unit sets a position of the first region based on a position of the predetermined subject.

4 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the setting unit sets a position of the first region based on a position of a distinct region far away from the center of the image among the plurality of distinct regions.

5 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the setting unit sets a position of the first region based on a position of the distinct region on a most minimum-object-distance side among the plurality of distinct regions.

6 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 5 ,
wherein the setting unit determines the distinct region on a most minimum-object-distance side among the plurality of distinct region based on the direction of the predetermined subject.

7 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an operating member configured to receive a predetermined operation, wherein the setting unit changes the position of the first region in accordance with the predetermined operation.

8 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein, if information regarding a plurality of predetermined subjects is obtained, the setting unit sets the first region based on information of one of the predetermined subjects and changes the predetermined subject for which the first region is set in accordance with the predetermined operation.

9 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the predetermined operation is an operation for designating a direction; and wherein the setting unit moves the position of the first region by a predetermined amount in a direction based on the predetermined operation.

10 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the predetermined operation is an operation for designating a position; and wherein the setting unit changes the position of the first region to the position based on the predetermined operation.

11 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the display controller increases responsiveness of display of the index in a case where the amount of change in position of the first region in accordance with the predetermined operation is equal to a first amount, compared with a case where the amount of change is equal to a second amount smaller than the first amount.

12 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the display controller displays the index based on a latest detection result of the focusing state by the focus detection unit in a case where the amount of change in position of the first region in accordance with the predetermined operation is equal to a first amount, and display the index based on an average of a plurality of detection results of the focusing state by the focus detection unit in a case where the amount of change is equal to a second amount smaller than the first amount.

13 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the display controller displays the index based on an average of a plurality of detection results of the focusing state by the focus detection unit; and wherein the display controller reduces the number of times of averaging of detection results of the focusing state in a case where the amount of change in position of the first region is equal to a first amount in accordance with the predetermined operation, compared with a case where the amount of change is equal to the second amount smaller than the first amount.

14 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein, in a case where the setting unit sets the first region based on information regarding the predetermined subject, the display controller displays the index based on a latest detection result of the focusing state by the focus detection unit.

15 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the setting unit sets a plurality of first regions within an image region of the predetermined subject.

16 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 15 ,
wherein the display controller displays the index based on a focusing state detected by the focus detection unit in the plurality of first regions laid out horizontally in a case where the direction of the predetermined subject is forward or backward and displays the index based on a focusing state detected by the focus detection unit in the plurality of first regions laid out vertically in a case where the direction of the predetermined subject is sideways.

17 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a storage unit configured to store a relative position of the first region with respect to an image region of the predetermined subject, wherein when information regarding the predetermined subject is not obtained, the setting unit sets the first region based on the relative position stored in the storage unit.

18 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the display controller displays the index in a first mode in which the focusing state changes in accordance with an operation performed by a user.

19 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 18 ,
wherein the setting unit sets a second region within an image generated by the image pickup unit; and wherein the focus detection apparatus has a second mode in which the focusing state is changed automatically based on the focusing state detected by the focus detection unit in the second region.

20 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 19 ,
wherein the display controller does not display the index in the second mode.

21 . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 19 ,
wherein the size of the second region is larger than the size of the first region.

22 . The focus dete

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Yokozeki Makoto
• Hongu Hideyasu

Classifications

• H04N23/611

  where the recognised objects include parts of the human body · CPC title

• H04N23/675 Primary

  comprising setting of focusing regions · CPC title

• H04N23/635

  Region indicators; Field of view indicators · CPC title

• H04N23/61

  based on recognised objects · CPC title

• H04N23/58

  Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors · CPC title