Imaging apparatus, focusing method, and computer-readable recording medium recording program

• US 8,717,490 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2010
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Imamura, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Moe, Aung S
• Assistant Examiner(s): HSU, AMY R
• Application Number:
  US12/784,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20100321515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 348/222.1, 348345-352
• US Class Current: 348/345
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/36 using image sharpness techniques , e.g. image processing techniques for generating autofocus signals image data processing per se G06T; in cameras having a solid state image sensor H04N23/67
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/32 Means for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method

Abstract

An imaging apparatus, comprises: an imaging section; a detecting section to detect an image area of a subject from an image imaged by the imaging section; an area setting section to set one or a plurality of evaluation areas to calculate focusing evaluation values in the image area of the subject detected by the detecting section; a calculating section to calculate the focusing evaluation values with regard to the one or the plurality of evaluation areas set by the area setting section; and a focusing section to be in focus based on a calculated result by the calculating section.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

an imaging section;

a detecting section to detect an image area of a subject from an image imaged by the imaging section;

an area setting section to set one or a plurality of evaluation areas to calculate focusing evaluation values in the image area of the subject in response to detecting an image area by the detecting section;

a calculating section to calculate the focusing evaluation values with regard to the one or the plurality of evaluation areas set by the area setting section; and

a focusing section to be in focus based on a calculated result by the calculating section, wherein

a number of the one or the plurality of evaluation areas set by the area setting section is determined according to a size of the subject detected by the detecting section; and

the area setting section sets the one evaluation area when the size of the subject is equal to or less than a predetermined size, and sets the plurality of evaluation areas when the size of the subject is larger than the predetermined size.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second judging section to judge whether a ratio of a size of the image area of the subject detected by the detecting section to the imaged image is equal to or more than a predetermined ratio or not, wherein

the area setting section sets the plurality of evaluation areas when the second judging section judges that the ratio of the size of the image area of the subject to the imaged image is equal to or more than the predetermined ratio.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the area setting section sets each of the plurality of evaluation areas at the positions where the evaluation areas overlap with the image area of the subject or at the positions where the evaluation areas intersect with the contour part of the image area A of the subject.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a specifying section to specify a focus distance range containing the most peak positions of the plurality of focusing evaluation values, calculated by the calculating section, when the area setting section sets the plurality of evaluation areas; and

a focusing controlling section to control the focusing section based on the focus distance range specified by the specifying section.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an average distance calculating section to calculates an average of focus distances corresponding to the peak positions of the plurality of focusing evaluation values in the range specified by the specifying section, wherein

the focusing section is in focus at the average focus distance calculated by the average distance calculating section.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an intermediate distance calculating section to calculate a distance of an intermediate point of the focus distance range specified by the specifying section, wherein

the focusing section is in focus at the distance of the intermediate point calculated by the intermediate distance calculating section.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display section to display the image imaged by the imaging section in order, the display section to display the one or the plurality of evaluation areas set by the area setting section.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operation section capable of performing a half pressing operation for instructing imaging by the imaging section; and

a display section to display the image imaged by the imaging section in order, the display section to display a focused area frame by relating the focused area to an evaluation area existing at a focus distance to be in focus by the focusing section when the operation section is performed to the half pressing operation.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third judging section to judge whether to perform re-setting of the evaluation areas or not based on the focusing evaluation values calculated by the calculating section when the area setting section sets the one evaluation areas; and

an area re-setting section to re-set an area that is different from an evaluation area has already been set by the area setting section, the re-set area set as the evaluation area in which the focusing evaluation value should be calculated when the third judging section judges performing re-setting the evaluation areas.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the area setting section sets a position of center of gravity of the image area of the subject detected by the detecting section as the evaluation area.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the area re-setting section re-sets a position intersecting with a contour part of the image area of the subject detected by the detecting section as the evaluation area.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a display section to display an image; and

a display controlling section to make the display section display a frame showing the evaluation area set by the area setting section or the area re-setting section to be superimposed on the imaged image.

15. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of the one or the plurality of evaluation areas increases with an increase in the size of the subject.

13. A focusing method, comprising the steps of:

detecting an image area of a subject from an image imaged by an imaging section of an imaging apparatus;

setting one or a plurality of evaluation areas to calculate focusing evaluation values in the image area of the subject in response to detecting the image area of the subject;

calculating the focusing evaluation values with regard to the one or the plurality of evaluation areas set at the step of setting; and

performing focusing based on a calculated result at the step of calculating, wherein

a number of the one or the plurality of evaluation areas is determined according to a size of the subject based on the detecting an image area; and

setting the one evaluation area when the size of the subject is equal to or less than a predetermined size, and setting the plurality of evaluation areas when the size of the subject is larger than the predetermined size.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium recording a program for enabling a computer equipped in an imaging apparatus to realize the functions as:

a detecting section to detect an image area of a subject from an imaged image;

an area setting section to set one or a plurality of evaluation areas to calculate focusing evaluation values in the image area of the subject in response to the detection section detecting the image area;

a calculating section to calculate the focusing evaluation values with regard to the one or the plurality of evaluation areas set by the area setting section; and

a focusing controlling section to be in focus based on a calculated result by the calculating section, wherein

a number of the one or the plurality of evaluation areas set by the area setting section is determined according to a size of the subject detected by the detecting section; and

the area setting section sets the one evaluation area when the size of the subject is equal to or less than a predetermined size, and sets the plurality of evaluation areas when the size of the subject is larger than the predetermined size.