IP Library Granted Patent US 11,493,829
Granted Patent B2
US 11,493,829 · App. 16/625,970 · Granted Nov 8, 2022

Interchangeable lens device, imaging device, imaging system, method, and program

Inventors: Tomoomi Ito (Kanagawa, JP); Yoshinori Yamatsuta (Kanagawa, JP); Shinichi Fujii (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
G03B13/36G02B7/08G02B7/09G02B7/10G03B17/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,493,829
App. No.
16/625,970
Granted
Nov 8, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a device and a method by which high-precision auto focus (AF) processing can be performed while a focus lens or a zoom lens is being operated. An interchangeable lens acquires position information regarding a focus lens and a zoom lens at a predetermined time interval during an exposure time period of detection information acquisition pixels for use in calculation of a defocus amount (DF), and outputs the position information to an imaging device. The imaging device calculates the defocus amount (DF) by using information regarding the detection information acquisition pixels, calculates a reference focus lens position (Ref_fc) by using points, on a cam curve, corresponding to the inputted lens position information, calculates a target focus lens position (Tgt_fc) in an in-focus position, from the reference focus lens position (Ref_fc) and the defocus amount (DF), and outputs the target focus lens position (Tgt_fc) to the interchangeable lens.

Claims (97)

1. An interchangeable lens device comprising:

a memory that stores a cam curve representing a relationship between a position of a zoom lens and a position of a focus lens according to a subject distance; and

a control circuitry configured to

transmit zoom lens position information indicating the position of the zoom lens and focus lens position information indicating the position of the focus lens to an imaging device,

responsive to transmitting the zoom lens position information and the focus lens position information, receive second focus lens position information from the imaging device, the second focus lens position information based on the zoom lens position information and the focus lens position information, and

perform focus control by driving the focus lens, the focus control based on the second focus lens position information and the cam curve.

2. The interchangeable lens device according to claim 1 , wherein

the control circuitry is further configured to transmit the cam curve to the imaging device.

3. The interchangeable lens device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second focus lens position information is also based on multiple sets of the zoom lens position information and multiple sets of the focus lens position information acquired from the control circuitry at a predetermined time interval during an exposure time period of a detection information acquisition pixel for use in calculation of a defocus amount.

4. The interchangeable lens device according to claim 1 , wherein

the control circuitry is further configured to

acquire a latest zoom lens position after receiving an input of the second focus lens position information from the imaging device, and

detect, from the cam curve, a corresponding point between the second focus lens position information and the latest zoom lens position, and

wherein the focus control is also based on the corresponding point that is detected.

5. The interchangeable lens device according to claim 1 , wherein

the control circuitry is further configured to

acquire lens position information regarding the focus lens and the zoom lens at least two or more times at a predetermined time interval during an exposure time period of a detection information acquisition pixel, and

output the lens position information to the imaging device.

6. The interchangeable lens device according to claim 1 , wherein

the control circuitry is further configured to

acquire lens position information regarding the focus lens and the zoom lens at a predetermined time interval during an exposure time period of a phase difference detection pixel, and

output the lens position information to the imaging device.

7. The interchangeable lens device according to claim 1 , wherein

the control circuitry is further configured to

output, to the imaging device, information concerning a time at which lens position information regarding the focus lens and the zoom lens is acquired, in association with the lens position information.

8. An imaging device comprising:

a memory that stores a cam curve representing a relationship between a position of a zoom lens and a position of a focus lens according to a subject distance; and

a focus control circuitry configured to calculate an in-focus position of the focus lens, wherein

the focus control circuitry is further configured to

receive an input of pixel information regarding a detection information acquisition pixel,

calculate a defocus amount based on the input of the pixel information,

receive, from a connected interchangeable lens device, an input of multiple sets of lens position information regarding the focus lens and the zoom lens acquired at a predetermined time interval during an exposure time period of the detection information acquisition pixel,

detect points, on the cam curve, corresponding to the multiple sets of lens position information,

calculate an average value of multiple sets of the points that are detected on the cam curve, and

calculate second focus lens position information by using the average value and the defocus amount.

9. The imaging device according to claim 8 , wherein

the focus control circuitry is further configured to

set the multiple sets of lens position information regarding the focus lens and the zoom lens acquired during a time period from start of the exposure time period of the detection information acquisition pixel to start of calculation of the defocus amount, and

calculate the average value by using the multiple sets of lens position information.

10. The imaging device according to claim 8 , wherein

the focus control circuitry is further configured to

calculate an intermediate value or a weighted average value of multiple sets constituting the points that are detected on the cam curve, and

calculate the second focus lens position information by using the intermediate value or the weighted average value and the defocus amount.

11. The imaging device according to claim 8 , wherein

the detection information acquisition pixel includes a phase difference detection pixel, and

the focus control circuitry is further configured to

receive the input of the pixel information regarding the phase difference detection pixel, and

calculate the defocus amount based on the input of the pixel information.

12. An imaging system comprising an interchangeable lens and an imaging device, wherein the interchangeable lens is configured to

acquire lens position information regarding a focus lens and a zoom lens at a predetermined time interval during an exposure time period of a detection information acquisition pixel for use in calculation of a defocus amount, and

output the lens position information to the imaging device, and

the imaging device is configured to

receive an input of pixel information regarding the detection information acquisition pixel,

calculate the defocus amount based on the input of the pixel information,

calculate second focus lens position information by using the lens position information from the interchangeable lens and the defocus amount, and

output the second focus lens position information to the interchangeable lens,

wherein

the imaging device includes a memory that stores a cam curve representing a relationship between a position of the zoom lens and a position of the focus lens according to the subject distance, and

the imaging device is further configured to

detect points, on the cam curve, corresponding to multiple sets of the lens Position information,

calculate an average value of multiple sets of the points that are detected on the cam curve, and

calculate the second focus lens position information by using the average value and the defocus amount.

13. An imaging system comprising an interchangeable lens and an imaging device, wherein the interchangeable lens is configured to

acquire lens position information regarding a focus lens and a zoom lens at a predetermined time interval during an exposure time period of a detection information acquisition pixel for use in calculation of a defocus amount, and

output the lens position information to the imaging device, and

the imaging device is configured to

receive an input of pixel information regarding the detection information acquisition pixel,

calculate the defocus amount based on the input of the pixel information,

calculate second focus lens position information by using the lens position information from the interchangeable lens and the defocus amount, and

output the second focus lens position information to the interchangeable lens,

the interchangeable lens includes a memory that stores a cam curve representing a relationship between a position of the zoom lens and a position of the focus lens according to the subject distance, and

the interchangeable lens is further configured to

acquire a latest zoom lens position after receiving an input of the second focus lens position information from the imaging device,

detect, from the cam curve, a corresponding point between the second focus lens position information and the latest zoom lens position, and

perform focus control based on the corresponding point that is detected.

14. A focus control method comprising:

transmitting, with a control circuitry of an interchangeable lens, zoom lens position information indicating a position of a zoom lens and focus lens position information indicating a position of a focus lens to an imaging device;

responsive to transmitting the zoom lens position information and the focus lens position information, receiving second focus lens position information from the imaging device, the second focus lens position information based on the zoom lens position information and the focus lens position information; and

performing, with the control circuitry, focus control on a basis of the second focus lens position information that is received and a cam curve.

15. A focus control method comprising:

receiving, with a focus control circuitry of an imaging device, an input of pixel information regarding a detection information acquisition pixel;

calculating, with the focus control circuitry, a defocus amount based on the input of the pixel information;

receiving, with the focus control circuitry, from a connected interchangeable lens device, an input of multiple sets of lens position information regarding a focus lens and a zoom lens acquired at a predetermined time interval during an exposure time period of the detection information acquisition pixel;

detecting points, with the focus control circuitry, on a cam curve, corresponding to the multiple sets of lens position information;

calculating, with the focus control circuitry, an average value of multiple sets of the points that are detected on the cam curve; and

calculating, with the focus control circuitry, second focus lens position information by using the average value and the defocus amount.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a program that, when executed by a control circuitry of an interchangeable lens device, causes the control circuitry to perform focus control processing comprising:

transmitting zoom lens position information indicating a position of to zoom lens and focus lens position information indicating a position of a focus lens to an imaging device;

responsive to transmitting the zoom lens position information and the focus lens position information, receiving second focus lens position information from the imaging device, the second focus lens position information based on the zoom lens position information and the focus lens position information; and

performing the focus control on a basis of the second focus lens position information and a cam curve.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a program that, when executed by an imaging device, causes the imaging device to perform focus control processing comprising:

receiving an input of pixel information regarding a detection information acquisition pixel and calculation of a defocus amount;

receiving, from a connected interchangeable lens device, an input of multiple sets of lens position information regarding a focus lens and a zoom lens acquired at a predetermined time interval during an exposure time period of the detection information acquisition pixel;

detecting points, on a cam curve, corresponding to the multiple sets of lens position information;

calculating an average value of multiple sets of the points that are detected on the cam curve; and

calculating second focus lens position information by using the average value and the defocus amount.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 22, 2022
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060830/0147 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2020
From: ITO, TOMOOMI; YAMATSUTA, YOSHINORI; FUJII, SHINICHI
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052196/0509 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2017-124826 · Jun 27, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200174342A1 · Jun 4, 2020