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Digital camera

  • US 20070030381A1
  • Filed: 01/03/2006
  • Published: 02/08/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A digital camera comprising:

  • an image-capturing unit that receives light transmitted through a photographic optical system and outputs image signals;

    a lens drive unit that moves a focus lens constituting the photographic optical system along an optical axis;

    an evaluation value calculation unit that calculates a focal point evaluation value that changes in correspondence to a position assumed by the focus lens based upon the image signals;

    a focal adjustment unit that executes an AF search by repeatedly engaging the image-capturing unit and the evaluation value calculation unit in operation as the focus lens is made to move along the optical axis by the lens drive unit, detecting a focus match position based upon resulting focal point evaluation values and driving the focus lens to the focus match position;

    a face recognition unit that recognizes a face of a person in an image by analyzing the image signals;

    a distance calculation unit that determines an approximate distance to the face based upon the size of the recognized face; and

    a lens position determining unit that determines a focus lens position to be set as a start point of the AF search by the focal adjustment unit based upon the approximate distance to the face having been determined by the distance calculation unit.

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