Focus control apparatus and focus control method

• US 9,787,891 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2014
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kamiya, Koji, Matsumura, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): YODER III, CHRISS S
• Application Number:
  US14/534,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20150168809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 3482113, 3482117, 3482119, 348345
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/16 combined with focusing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/24 Focusing screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/36 Autofocus systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

There is provided a focus control apparatus including: an information acquisition unit that acquires focal distance information of a predetermined position on a 2-dimensional map using the 2-dimensional map of focal distances; and a focus control unit that performs focus control based on the focal distance information which is acquired by the information acquisition unit.

Claims

1. A focus control apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to

display an image on an imaging screen;

accept from a user a selection of a plurality of positions in the image and register the plurality of positions as user-registered positions;

generate a 2-dimensional map of focal distances for the user-registered positions by selecting one of the user-registered positions based on a proximity to a center of the imaging screen, sequentially ranking the user-registered positions based on a proximity to the selected one of the user-registered positions and to already ranked ones of the user-registered positions to form a sequential ranking and generating areas based on the sequential ranking;

acquire focal distance information of a predetermined position on the 2-dimensional map of focal distances; and

perform focus control based on the focal distance information which is acquired.

2. The focus control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the circuitry is configured to acquire the focal distance information corresponding to a cut-out position, which is set on the imaging screen, using the 2-dimensional map.

3. The focus control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the 2-dimensional map of the focal distances includes the focal distance information of a plurality of camera positions within an imaging range, and

wherein the circuitry is configured to acquire the focal distance information corresponding to a current camera position using the 2-dimensional map.

4. The focus control apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein current camera position information is sent to the circuitry from a potentiometer included in a tripod to which a camera apparatus is fixed.

5. The focus control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the circuitry is further configured to generate the 2-dimensional map based on the focal distances of the plurality of camera positions.

6. The focus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

perform additional adjustment on the focal distance with regard to the focal distance information which is acquired;

and

perform the focus control based on the focal distance information which is adjusted.

7. The focus control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is further configured to reduce an absolute value of a quantity of addition of the focal distance which is added as a quantity of movement of the predetermined position on the 2-dimensional map is large.

8. The focus control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is further configured to display a state of a quantity of addition which is added by the additional adjustment on a view finder.

9. The focus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

set a mode to an automatic focus control mode;

and

perform the focus control based on the acquired focal distance information when the mode is set to the automatic focus control mode.

10. A focus control method comprising:

displaying, using circuitry, an image on an imaging screen;

accepting from a user, using the circuitry, a selection of a plurality of positions in the image and registering the plurality of positions as user-registered positions;

generating a 2-dimensional map of focal distances from the user-registered positions by selecting one of the user-registered positions based on a proximity to a center of the imaging screen, sequentially ranking the user-registered positions based on a proximity to the selected one of the user-registered positions and to already ranked ones of the user-registered positions to form a sequential ranking, and generating areas based on the sequential ranking;

acquiring, using the circuitry, focal distance information of a predetermined position on the 2-dimensional map of focal distances; and

performing, using the circuitry, focus control based on the acquired focal distance information.