JP4967826B2 - Focus detection apparatus and imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an accumulation control device, a focus detection device, and an imaging device.

  When focus detection is performed in a plurality of focus detection areas in the shooting screen, charge accumulation control of a plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays corresponding to the plurality of focus detection areas is performed in common to suppress an increase in circuit scale. A focus detection apparatus is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior art documents related to the invention of this application include the following.
JP 2006-171393 A

By the way, in a focus detection apparatus that can detect a focus in a plurality of focus detection areas in a shooting screen, focus detection is performed by using a specific focus detection area with priority, and focus detection is also performed in a focus detection area around the specific area. To supplement the focus detection result of a specific area. Therefore, it is necessary to appropriately perform charge accumulation control in the peripheral focus detection area.
In addition, when the focus detection area for performing focus adjustment is undecided as in the case where the camera automatically selects the optimal focus detection area, it is necessary to perform appropriate accumulation control in each of the focus detection areas. In this case, there is a problem in which area the photoelectric conversion element is preferentially controlled.

According the invention of claim 1 includes a photoelectric conversion unit having a plurality of photoelectric conversion element array corresponding to a plurality of focus detection areas set in the screen, the plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays, each group a plurality of photoelectric conversion Grouping means for grouping into a plurality of groups so that the plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays in each group correspond to different focus detection areas, and the plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays in each group; Charge storage control means for performing charge storage control in common for photoelectric conversion element arrays ; selection means for selecting a specific focus detection area from the plurality of focus detection areas; and the selected specific focus detection area And a photoelectric conversion element array corresponding to a focus detection area located around the specific focus detection area, to which the first photoelectric conversion element array belongs. A second photoelectric conversion element array is not a reference as element array, and the reference element string determination means for determining, said reference element string determination means by said first and second photoelectric conversion elements that is determined as the reference device Focus detection means for outputting a focus detection signal based on a charge accumulation signal from at least one of the columns.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately execute charge accumulation control of photoelectric conversion element arrays corresponding to a plurality of focus detection areas.

  An embodiment in which an image pickup apparatus including a storage control apparatus and a focus detection apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a single-lens reflex digital camera will be described. Note that the present invention is not limited to a single-lens reflex digital camera, and a plurality of focus detection areas are set in the shooting screen, and the focus adjustment state of the shooting lens based on the output signal of the photoelectric conversion element array corresponding to each focus detection area The present invention can be applied to all kinds of cameras having a focus detection device for detecting the above.

<< First Embodiment of the Invention >>
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the camera of the first embodiment. The photographing optical system 1 is an optical system for forming a subject image on a photographing screen, and includes an objective lens 1a, a zooming lens 1b, a diaphragm 1c, a focusing lens 1d, and the like. The quick return mirror 2 is placed in the photographing optical path of the photographing optical system 1 as shown in the figure before exposure (mirror down), and reflects a part of the light beam from the subject transmitted through the photographing optical system 1 to finder optical. Guide to systems 3-5. On the other hand, at the time of exposure, the quick return mirror 2 is retracted from the photographing optical path (mirror up), and the light flux from the subject that has passed through the photographing optical system 1 is guided to the image sensor 6. The central portion of the quick return mirror 2 is a half mirror, and a part of the light beam from the subject that has passed through the photographing optical system 1 passes through the half mirror portion and is reflected by the sub mirror 7, to the phase difference AF detection element 8. Led.

  The image sensor 6 converts the subject image formed by the photographing optical system 1 into an electrical signal and outputs an image signal. Although not shown, an infrared cut filter for cutting infrared light and an optical low-pass filter for preventing image aliasing noise are arranged on the front surface of the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 6.

  The phase difference AF detection element 8 divides subject light guided from the photographing optical system 1 through the quick return mirror 2 and the sub mirror 7 into a plurality of pairs of light beams by a mask (not shown), and then a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements. Re-imaging is performed on a line (line sensor; not shown), and a signal corresponding to a pair of subject images is output from each photoelectric conversion element line. The AF-CCD control unit 9 performs charge accumulation control, gain adjustment, data read control, data correction, and the like of the plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays of the phase difference AF detection element 8. The defocus calculation unit 10 detects the shift amount of each pair of subject image signals output from the phase difference AF detection element 8, and multiplies the shift amount of each focus detection area by a conversion coefficient to convert it to a defocus amount.

  The lens driving amount calculation unit 11 converts the defocus amount of each focus detection area into a lens driving amount and outputs the lens driving amount to the lens driving control unit 12. The lens drive controller 12 controls the lens drive motor 13 to adjust the focus of the focusing lens 1d.

  The viewfinder optical system includes a viewfinder screen 3, a penta roof prism 4, an eyepiece lens 5, and the like. The subject light guided from the quick return mirror 2 to the finder screen 3 before exposure forms an image on the finder screen 3, and this subject image is observed by the photographer via the penta roof prism 4 and the eyepiece 5. The subject image formed on the finder screen 3 is guided to the photometric sensor 15 through the penta roof prism 4 and the photometric lens 14, and the subject field is divided into a plurality of photometric regions and subject luminance for each photometric region. Measure.

  Various operation members 16 are provided on the camera body and the lens barrel of the embodiment. The operation member 16 includes a shutter release button, a focus detection area selection member, and the like.

  FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the focus detection areas set in the photographing screen, and FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the photoelectric conversion element arrays (photoelectric conversion element arrays) of the phase difference AF detection elements 8. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, focus detection areas are set at 11 positions in the photographing screen, and as shown in FIG. 3, eight focus detection areas are set corresponding to the 11 focus detection areas. A photoelectric conversion element array is arranged. In this embodiment, these eight photoelectric conversion element arrays are divided into four groups A to D, and “common” charge accumulation control is executed for the photoelectric conversion element arrays of each group. That is, for a plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays belonging to each group, charge accumulation starts at the same time, and charge accumulation ends at the same time. In FIG. 3, each photoelectric conversion element array is described with the numbers A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, and D2. A1 and A2, B1 and B2, C1 and C2, and D1 and D2 are photoelectric conversion element arrays that perform charge accumulation control in common.

  When the photographer selects the focus detection area at the center of the shooting screen as an area for focus adjustment using the area selection operation member 16, the focus adjustment is performed by complementing the focus detection area in the vicinity thereof. At this time, since there is a high possibility that a subject intended by the photographer (hereinafter referred to as a specific subject) exists in the vicinity of the central focus detection area, A1, B1, C1, which are photoelectric conversion element arrays around the center area of the screen. D1 is a “reference element array” that performs charge accumulation control, and other photoelectric conversion element arrays A2, B2, C2, that are commonly controlled according to the charge accumulation control of these reference element arrays A1, B1, C1, and D1, D2 charge accumulation control is performed.

  Usually, the charge accumulation time of the photoelectric conversion element array is determined based on the previous charge accumulation time of the photoelectric conversion element array and the luminance of the object scene corresponding to the photoelectric conversion element array. The reference element array described above is a photoelectric conversion element array that determines the next charge accumulation time based on the previous charge accumulation time and the subject luminance among a plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays that perform charge accumulation control in common. is there. The same charge accumulation control as that of the reference element array is performed on the photoelectric conversion element arrays other than the reference element array among the plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays that perform charge accumulation control in common. That is, in the photoelectric conversion element rows other than the reference element row, charge accumulation is started in accordance with the charge accumulation start time of the reference element row, and charge accumulation is finished in accordance with the charge accumulation end time of the reference element row.

  When the focus detection area at the center of the screen is selected as an area for focus adjustment, the charge accumulation time is determined for each of the reference element arrays A1, B1, C1, and D1, and the reference element arrays A1, B1, For the element arrays A2, B2, C2, and D2 that are respectively subjected to charge storage control common to C1 and D1, the same charge storage control as that of the reference element arrays A1, B1, C1, and D1 is performed. Is called. For example, in the element row A2 in which charge accumulation control is performed in common with the reference element row A1, charge accumulation is started in accordance with the charge accumulation start time of the reference element row A1, and charge is matched in accordance with the charge accumulation end time of the reference element row A1. Accumulation is terminated. The same applies to the other element rows B1 and B2, C1 and C2, and D1 and D2.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when the focus detection area at the left end of the shooting screen is selected as an area for focus adjustment by the area selection operation member 16, the focus adjustment is performed by complementing the surrounding focus detection area. . At this time, since there is a high possibility that a main subject is present near the focus detection area on the left end, the photoelectric conversion element arrays A2, B2, C1, and D1 around the left end area are used as reference element arrays that perform charge accumulation control. In accordance with the respective charge accumulation control of the reference element arrays A2, B2, C1, and D1, charge accumulation control of the other photoelectric conversion element arrays A1, B1, C2, and D2 that are controlled in common is performed.

  The AF-CCD control unit 9 detects the subject brightness in the photometry area corresponding to the selected focus detection area and the surrounding focus detection areas by the photometry sensor 15, and determines the previous charge accumulation time in each reference photoelectric conversion element array. The next charge accumulation time of each reference photoelectric conversion element array is determined based on the subject luminance in the focus detection area corresponding to each reference photoelectric conversion element array. For photoelectric conversion element arrays that perform charge accumulation control in common with the reference element array, the same charge accumulation time as the reference element array is set, and charge accumulation is started at the same time as the reference element array. The charge accumulation ends at the same time. After the charge accumulation control is completed, the charge accumulation data is read from the photoelectric conversion element array of the phase difference AF detection element 8 corresponding to the selected focus detection area and the surrounding focus detection areas.

  The defocus amount calculation unit 10 reads out charge accumulation data from the photoelectric conversion element array of the phase difference AF detection element 8 corresponding to the selected focus detection area and the surrounding focus detection areas, and selects the selected focus detection area and its focus detection area. An image shift amount in the surrounding focus detection area is detected, and the image shift amount in each focus detection area is multiplied by a conversion coefficient to be converted into a defocus amount. When focus detection is impossible in a pre-selected focus detection area, the amount is determined by complementing the amount of defocus detected in the surrounding focus detection area. The lens drive amount calculation unit 11 converts the defocus amount of the selected focus detection area or the defocus amount obtained by complementation into a lens drive amount and outputs the lens drive amount to the lens drive control unit 12. After the focus adjustment by the lens drive control unit 12, an image is picked up by the image pickup device 6 by shutter release, an image picked up by the image pickup device 6 is processed, and then an image is recorded on an image recording medium (not shown) such as a memory card.

  As described above, since the photoelectric conversion element array corresponding to the focus detection area selected by the area selection operation member and the surrounding focus detection area is set as the reference element array, the focus other than the selected focus detection area is set. Even in the photoelectric conversion element array in the detection area, charge accumulation control can be appropriately performed, and even when focus detection becomes impossible in the selected focus detection area, there is a probability that a main subject exists in the focus detection area around the selected area. Since it is high, an accurate focus detection result for the main subject can be obtained by using the output of the photoelectric conversion element array appropriately controlled in charge accumulation in the focus detection area around the selected area.

<< Modification of the First Embodiment of the Invention >>
Next, in the first embodiment described above, an example is shown in which the photographer determines a focus detection area for performing focus adjustment. However, depending on the autofocus mode, the camera automatically determines the focus detection area for performing focus adjustment. There is a case. Various algorithms for determining the focus detection area for focus adjustment are known. For example, a background portion is extracted from the subject based on the measurement result of the subject brightness by the photometric sensor, the main subject is recognized, and the focus is detected. A focus detection area to be adjusted can be determined. The configuration of this modification is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of focus detection areas set in the photographing screen of the modification, and FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of photoelectric conversion element arrays (photoelectric conversion element arrays) of the phase difference AF detection elements 8. As shown in FIG. 5, in the focus detection apparatus in which 11 focus detection areas are set in the shooting screen, when the camera automatically determines the area for focus adjustment, the 11 focus in the shooting screen. Weighting is performed on areas of seven points (indicated by bold lines in the figure) in the detection area. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the photoelectric conversion element arrays A to D that perform charge accumulation control in common are divided into B and B2, C1 and C2, and D1 and D2 that perform charge accumulation control in common. Let it be an element array. In this case, the photoelectric conversion element arrays A1, B1, C2, D2, and E1 are used as reference element arrays, and the other photoelectric conversion elements that are commonly controlled according to the charge accumulation control of the reference element arrays B1, C2, D2, and E1. Charge accumulation control is performed for the columns B2, C1, D1, and E2. Note that a photoelectric conversion element array A1 is provided corresponding to the center of the screen and the focus detection areas above and below it, but this photoelectric conversion element array independently performs charge accumulation control.

  As described above, even when the focus detection area for performing focus adjustment is not yet determined, the focus detection area is determined by the camera by setting the photoelectric conversion element array corresponding to the focus detection area weighted in advance as the reference element array. Then, an accurate focus detection result for the main subject can be obtained by using the output of the photoelectric conversion element array appropriately controlled for charge accumulation.

<< Second Embodiment of the Invention >>
A second embodiment will be described in which a main subject in a shooting screen is recognized, and a photoelectric conversion element array corresponding to a focus detection area at the main subject position is set as a reference element array.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the photographing operation of the second embodiment. The operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to this flowchart. The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and illustration and description thereof are omitted. In the second embodiment, for example, a case where photoelectric conversion element arrays are arranged as shown in FIG. 6 corresponding to the focus detection area shown in FIG. 5 will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 6, it is divided into four groups of photoelectric conversion element arrays A to D that perform charge accumulation control in common, and B1 and B2, C1 and C2, and D1 and D2 share photoelectric conversion element arrays. And

  When the release button 16 is half-pressed, the shooting operation shown in FIG. 7 is started, and in step 1, the background portion is extracted from the subject based on the measurement result of the subject brightness by the photometric sensor 15, and the main subject is recognized. To do. In subsequent step 2, the photoelectric conversion element array corresponding to the focus detection area of the main subject position is determined as the reference element array. As shown in FIG. 8, when a main subject (a person image indicated by hatching in the figure) is recognized, the photoelectric conversion element arrays A1, B1, C1, D1, E2, and D2 shown in FIG. 6 correspond to the main subject. Therefore, the photoelectric conversion element arrays A1, B1, C1, D1, and E2 are used as reference element arrays.

  In step 3, the AF-CCD control unit 9 determines the previous charge accumulation time of the corresponding reference element arrays A 1, B 1, C 1, D 1, E 2 corresponding to the main subject, and the subject luminance in the photometric area corresponding to the main subject. The charge accumulation times of the reference element arrays A1, B1, C1, D1, and E2 are determined based on the above. Note that the same charge accumulation time as that of the reference element array is set for the photoelectric conversion element arrays B2, C2, D2, and E1 that perform charge accumulation control in common with the reference element arrays A1, B1, C1, D1, and E2.

  In step 4, charge accumulation control is performed in each photoelectric conversion element array, and after the charge accumulation control is completed, from the photoelectric conversion element arrays A 1, B 1, C 1, D 1, E 2, D 2 corresponding to the main subject of the phase difference AF detection element 8. Read charge accumulation data. In step 5, the defocus amount calculation unit 10 detects the image shift amount in the focus detection area corresponding to the main subject based on the charge accumulation data read from the photoelectric conversion element array of the phase difference AF detection element 8. The image shift amount in the detection area is multiplied by a conversion coefficient to be converted into a defocus amount. Then, a final defocus amount is determined based on a plurality of defocus amounts. The final defocus amount, such as the closest defocus amount among multiple defocus amounts as the final defocus amount, or the average value of multiple defocus amounts as the final defocus amount. A conventionally known method can be used as the determination method.

  In step 6, the lens drive amount calculation unit 11 converts the final defocus amount into a lens drive amount, outputs the lens drive amount to the lens drive control unit 12, and performs focus adjustment by the lens drive control unit 12.

  In step 7, it is confirmed whether or not a release operation (full pressing operation) has been performed by a shutter button (not shown). If a release operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step 8, and imaging is performed by the image sensor 6. In step 9 after imaging, the captured image is processed, and in subsequent step 10, the image is recorded on an image recording medium (not shown) such as a memory card.

  As described above, the main subject in the shooting screen is recognized, and the photoelectric conversion element array corresponding to the focus detection area at the main subject position is used as the reference element array. An accurate focus detection result for the main subject can be obtained by using the output of the photoelectric conversion element array subjected to charge accumulation control.

<< Third Embodiment of the Invention >>
A third embodiment will be described in which the priority order of element rows serving as a reference for commonly performing charge accumulation control is assigned when the focus detection area for performing focus adjustment is undecided. As described above, when the focus detection area for focus adjustment is undecided, only the main subject is extracted by analyzing the scene of the subject, or the part with high brightness is excluded in advance as having an adverse effect on the accumulation control. It is possible to identify the main subject.

For example, in the focus detection area arrangement in which weighting is set as shown in FIG. 5, the screen in the photoelectric conversion element array (see FIG. 6) corresponding to the weighted focus detection area (area shown by a thick line frame in the figure). The photoelectric conversion element row close to the center is set as an element row with high priority, and the priority shown in Table 1 is set for the photoelectric conversion element row shown in FIG.

When the camera is in the right vertical position, the focus detection area is weighted as shown in FIG. 9, and the priority shown in Table 2 is set in the photoelectric conversion element array shown in FIG.

  As a result, when the main subject is extracted and the photoelectric conversion element array that is determined not to correspond to the main subject has the first priority, the photoelectric conversion element array of the second priority is controlled for charge accumulation control. It can be a standard. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when a main subject (a person image indicated by hatching in the drawing) is captured in the shooting screen, photoelectric conversion element arrays A1, B1, C1, D1, D2, and E2 corresponding to the main subject are captured. Among them, A1, B1, and D2 are the first priority columns, so they are used as the reference element columns. However, since the element columns C2 and E1 are not the first priority columns, the second priority columns C1 and E2 are used as the reference element columns. And

なお、図１０に示す各焦点検出エリアに対応する光電変換素子列の配置は図３と同様である。この例では、撮影画面内における主要被写体を特定して主要被写体に対応する焦点検出エリアを抽出し、主要被写体に対応する焦点検出エリアを包含する光電変換素子列グループ（センサーグループ）を選択する。そして、表３から選択したセンサーグループに対応する優先センサ列を基準光電変換素子列に設定する。 FIG. 10 shows the arrangement of 11 focus detection areas set in the shooting screen, and Table 3 groups these focus detection areas into photoelectric conversion element arrays (sensor arrays) corresponding to each focus detection area. An example in which priorities are set is shown.

The arrangement of the photoelectric conversion element arrays corresponding to each focus detection area shown in FIG. 10 is the same as that in FIG. In this example, a main subject in the photographing screen is specified, a focus detection area corresponding to the main subject is extracted, and a photoelectric conversion element array group (sensor group) including a focus detection area corresponding to the main subject is selected. Then, the priority sensor array corresponding to the sensor group selected from Table 3 is set as the reference photoelectric conversion element array.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the reference element row determination operation in the case of the area arrangement shown in FIG. 10 and the priority sensor row shown in Table 3. The configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and illustration and description thereof are omitted. Further, the photographing operation of the camera is the same as the operation shown in FIG. 7, and the process shown in FIG. 11 is executed in the process of step 2 “determination of reference element array for accumulation control” in FIG.

  In step 2, based on the recognition result of the main subject in step 1, the photoelectric conversion element row corresponding to the focus detection area at the main subject position is determined as the reference element row. In step 21, it is determined whether or not the main subject position in the shooting screen is in the focus detection area 1 or 3, and if it is in the area 1 or 3, the process proceeds to step 22, and the sensor group G1 is selected from Table 3. The photoelectric conversion element arrays A1, B1, C1, and D1, which are priority sensor arrays of the sensor group G1, are selected as reference element arrays, and the process proceeds to step 3.

  If the main subject is not in the position of area 1 or 3, the process proceeds to step 23 to determine whether or not the main subject is in any of the areas 2, 5, 7, and 9. If the main subject is located in any of the areas 2, 5, 7, and 9, the process proceeds to step 24, the sensor group G2 is selected from Table 3, and the photoelectric conversion element array A1, which is the priority sensor array of the sensor group G2, B1, C1, and D2 are determined as reference element arrays, and the process proceeds to step 3.

  If the main subject is not in any of the areas 2, 5, 7, and 9, the process proceeds to step 25 to determine whether or not the main subject is in any of the areas 4, 8, and 10. If the main subject is in any of the areas 4, 8, and 10, the process proceeds to step 26, the sensor group G3 is selected from Table 3, and the photoelectric conversion element arrays A2, B2, which are the priority sensor arrays of the sensor group G3, C1 and D1 are determined as reference element arrays, and the process proceeds to Step 3.

  If the main subject is not in any of the areas 4, 8, and 10, the process proceeds to step 27 to determine whether or not the main subject is in the area 6. If the main subject is at the position of area 6, the process proceeds to step 28, the sensor group G4 is selected from Table 3, and the photoelectric conversion element arrays A1, B2, C1, and D2, which are the priority sensor arrays of the sensor group G4, are set as the reference element array. And go to Step 3.

  If the main subject is not in the position of area 6, the process proceeds to step 29, it is determined that the main subject is in area 11, sensor group G5 is selected from Table 3, and the photoelectric conversion element array which is the priority sensor array of sensor group G5 A1, B1, C2, and D2 are determined as reference element arrays, and the process proceeds to step 3.

  In Step 3 of FIG. 7, as described above, the charge accumulation time of the reference element array is determined based on the previous charge accumulation time of the reference element array determined in Step 2 and the subject luminance in the photometric area corresponding to the main subject. decide. Thereafter, the photographing operation after step 4 in FIG. 7 is executed.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, a plurality of focus detection areas are divided into a plurality of groups, and priority is given to setting the reference element array from among the photoelectric conversion element arrays of the focus detection areas belonging to each group. Since the order is set and the reference element row is set according to the priority order of the focus detection area group in which the main subject is present in the screen, the photoelectric charge control is appropriately performed in the focus detection area corresponding to the main subject. An accurate focus detection result for the main subject can be obtained using the output of the conversion element array.

Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the camera of 1st Embodiment The figure which shows the arrangement of the focus detection areas set in the shooting screen The figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the photoelectric conversion element row | line | column corresponding to the focus detection area arrangement | positioning shown in FIG. The figure which shows the case where the focus detection area of the screen left end is selected from the several focus detection area shown in FIG. 2 to the area which performs a focus adjustment. The figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the focus detection area set in the imaging | photography screen of a modification. The figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the photoelectric conversion element row | line | column corresponding to the focus detection area arrangement | positioning shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the imaging | photography operation | movement of 2nd Embodiment. The figure explaining the setting method of the reference | standard element row | line | column of 2nd Embodiment The figure which shows the weight of a focus detection area in case a camera attitude | position is a right vertical position The figure which shows the focus detection area arrangement | positioning of 3rd Embodiment. Flowchart showing the photographing operation of the third embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shooting optical system 8 Phase difference AF detection element 9 AF-CCD control part 10 Defocus amount calculating part 16 Operation member

Claims (10)

Photoelectric conversion means having a plurality of photoelectric conversion element array corresponding to a plurality of focus detection areas set on the screen,
The plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays are grouped into a plurality of groups so that each group includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays and the plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays in each group correspond to different focus detection regions. Grouping means to
Charge storage control means for performing charge storage control in common for the plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays of each of the plurality of groups ;
Selecting means for selecting a specific focus detection region from the plurality of focus detection regions ;
A first photoelectric conversion element array corresponding to the selected specific focus detection area, and a photoelectric conversion element array corresponding to a focus detection area located around the specific focus detection area, wherein A reference element array determining means for determining, as a reference element array, a second photoelectric conversion element array that is not a group to which the photoelectric conversion element array belongs ;
Focus detection means for outputting a focus detection signal based on a charge accumulation signal from at least one of the first and second photoelectric conversion element arrays determined as the reference element by the reference element array determination means. A focus detection device . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 1,
The focus detection apparatus , wherein the selection unit includes an operation member that selects the specific focus detection region by a manual operation . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The focus detection apparatus, wherein the charge accumulation control unit determines a charge accumulation time based on a field luminance of the reference element array . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The selection means includes subject recognition means for recognizing a specific subject in the screen, and selects a focus detection area at a specific subject position recognized by the subject recognition means as the specific focus detection area. Feature focus detection device. In the focus detection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Before SL plurality of focus detection areas are located on one side in a portion of the plurality of focus detection areas is the screen, the plurality of focus detection areas other part is positioned on the other side in the screen,
Each of the groups includes a pair of photoelectric conversion element rows,
In the pair of photoelectric conversion element arrays, one photoelectric conversion element array corresponds to each of the plurality of focus detection areas, and the other photoelectric conversion element array corresponds to the plurality of focus detection areas of the other part. A focus detection apparatus characterized by correspondingly . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 5 ,
The plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays include photoelectric conversion element arrays that do not belong to any of the plurality of groups . The focus detection apparatus according to claim 5 or 6,
The charge accumulation control means sets a priority order for the pair of photoelectric conversion element arrays in each of the plurality of groups, and changes a photoelectric conversion element array as a reference for the accumulation control according to the priority order. A focus detection device. The focus detection apparatus according to claim 7 ,
The charge accumulation control means, wherein when the photoelectric conversion element array which is selected according to the priority of each group does not correspond to the particular subject position recognized by the object recognizing means, low in each group The focus detection device is characterized in that the photoelectric conversion element array having the priority order is changed to a photoelectric conversion element array as a reference for the accumulation control. The focus detection apparatus according to claim 7,
  When it is determined that the photoelectric conversion element array selected according to the priority order of each group is not suitable for focus detection, the charge accumulation control unit has the lower priority of the photoelectric conversion elements of each group. A focus detection apparatus characterized in that a column is changed to a photoelectric conversion element column as a reference for the accumulation control. An imaging apparatus comprising the focus detection apparatus according to claim 1.

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