Granted Patent B2

US 12,563,293 · App. 18/611,750 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Inventor: Hinako Suzuki (Saitama, JP)

Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation

H04N23/675G03B13/36

Abstract

Claims (58)

1 . An automatic focus control device that performs focusing calculation for calculating a focusing position of a focus lens based on a signal for calculation read out from an imaging element, the automatic focus control device comprising:

a processor,

wherein the processor is configured to:

detect, from an image, a specific region including a target portion of a target subject of the focusing calculation and a peripheral portion of the target portion;

set a high contribution degree region where a degree of contribution to the focusing calculation is higher than other regions in the specific region, based on a combination of the target subject and the target portion; and

perform, in a case where the high contribution degree region is set, the focusing calculation in accordance with the setting.

2 . The automatic focus control device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the specific region has a rectangular shape.

3 . The automatic focus control device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor is configured to:

reduce a region used for the focusing calculation from the specific region to the high contribution degree region; and

perform the focusing calculation using the reduced high contribution degree region.

4 . The automatic focus control device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the processor is configured to:

perform the focusing calculation using only the reduced high contribution degree region.

5 . The automatic focus control device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the processor is configured to:

make a reduction magnification of the high contribution degree region in a first direction different from a reduction magnification of the high contribution degree region in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

6 . The automatic focus control device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the processor is configured to:

change a reduction magnification of the high contribution degree region according to a size of the specific region.

7 . The automatic focus control device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the processor is configured to:

control the reduction according to an inclination of the target portion with respect to the specific region.

8 . The automatic focus control device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the processor is configured to:

control the reduction according to an orientation of the target subject with respect to the imaging element.

9 . The automatic focus control device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the imaging element includes a phase difference detection pixel that outputs the signal for calculation for detecting a phase difference of subject light, and

in a case where a direction suitable for detecting the phase difference differs according to an orientation of the imaging element,

the processor is configured to:

change a reduction magnification of the high contribution degree region according to the orientation of the imaging element.

10 . The automatic focus control device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the processor is configured to:

perform the reduction in a case where the target subject is a person or an animal and the target portion is a pupil of the person, a body of the person, a pupil of the animal, or a body of the animal.

11 . The automatic focus control device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the processor is configured to:

in a case where the target subject is a person, an animal, or a vehicle and the target portion is a face of the person, a face of the animal, or a cab seat of the vehicle,

not perform the reduction in a case where the target portion is not inclined with respect to the specific region, and

perform the reduction in a case where the target portion is inclined with respect to the specific region.

12 . The automatic focus control device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the processor is configured to:

in a case where the target subject is a vehicle and the target portion is a head of the vehicle or a body of the vehicle,

not perform the reduction in a case where the target portion is not inclined with respect to the specific region and the target subject does not face a front, and

perform the reduction in a case where the target portion is not inclined with respect to the specific region and the target subject faces the front, and in a case where the target portion is inclined with respect to the specific region.

13 . The automatic focus control device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor is configured to:

set a degree of contribution of the other regions other than the high contribution degree region to a value larger than zero and lower than a degree of contribution of the high contribution degree region.

14 . An imaging apparatus comprising:

the automatic focus control device according to claim 1 .

15 . An operation method of an automatic focus control device that performs focusing calculation for calculating a focusing position of a focus lens based on a signal for calculation read out from an imaging element, the operation method comprising:

detecting, from an image, a specific region including a target portion of a target subject of the focusing calculation and a peripheral portion of the target portion;

setting a high contribution degree region where a degree of contribution to the focusing calculation is higher than other regions in the specific region, based on a combination of the target subject and the target portion; and

performing, in a case where the high contribution degree region is set, the focusing calculation in accordance with the setting.

16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing an operation program of an automatic focus control device that performs focusing calculation for calculating a focusing position of a focus lens based on a signal for calculation read out from an imaging element, the operation program causing a computer to execute a process comprising:

detecting, from an image, a specific region including a target portion of a target subject of the focusing calculation and a peripheral portion of the target portion;

setting a high contribution degree region where a degree of contribution to the focusing calculation is higher than other regions in the specific region, based on a combination of the target subject and the target portion; and

performing, in a case where the high contribution degree region is set, the focusing calculation in accordance with the setting.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (9)