JP2008039854A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (10)

Drive and motion means you drive the focus lens,
A moving range setting means for setting a range for moving the focus lens;
The focus lens is moved within a range set by the moving range setting means, a focus state is determined based on an output signal from the imaging means obtained while moving the range and the focus lens , and the determined focus state is obtained. based on a control means for controlling said drive means to move said focus lens in-focus position where the subject image is in-focus state,
Prediction means for predicting a focus position in the next shooting based on a plurality of focus positions of the focus lens controlled by the control means ;
The moving range setting means sets the range around the in-focus position predicted by the predicting means, and sets the predicted in-focus position and the in- focus position with respect to an image photographed after the in-focus position is predicted . A focus adjustment device that sets a range wider than a range set when the interval exceeds the threshold when the interval is equal to or less than a preset threshold. It said movement range setting means, if the distance is less than the threshold value, according to the entire range capable of determining the focus state while moving the focus lens to claim 1, characterized in that to set as the range Focus adjustment device.   The moving range setting means sets the range so that an in-focus state can be obtained by the control means within a predetermined time except when the interval is equal to or less than the threshold value. 3. The focus adjusting apparatus according to 1 or 2. The movement range setting means sets the range so that when the interval exceeds the threshold, the control means obtains a focused state within a shorter time as the image plane movement amount of the subject increases. The focus adjusting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: It said movement range setting means, focusing according to the range to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that to set the upper limit can range determination of the focus lens focus state while moving the apparatus. The threshold value, the focus adjusting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a value based on the detection error of the position of at least the focus position and predicted.   The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the threshold value is zero. The predicting means predicts a focus position in the next shooting based on a plurality of focus positions of the focus lens with respect to a plurality of images obtained by the continuous shooting in continuous shooting. focusing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A focusing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the image pickup apparatus characterized by having an imaging unit. A moving range setting step in which the moving range setting means sets a range in which the focus lens is moved;
Control means, the focus lens is moved a range set by the movement range setting step, determining a focus state based on the output signal from the range, the image pickup unit obtained while moving the focus lens, the determination A control step of controlling the focus lens to move to a focus position at which the subject image is in focus based on the focused state ;
A predicting unit predicting a focus position in the next shooting based on a plurality of focus positions of the focus lens controlled in the control step ;
In the moving range setting step, the range is set with the focus position predicted in the prediction step as a center, and the predicted focus position and a focus position with respect to an image photographed after prediction of the focus position are determined . A focus adjustment method, wherein when the interval is equal to or smaller than a preset threshold, a range wider than the range set when the threshold is exceeded is set.