A MEMS auto focus miniature camera module includes an image sensor and an optical train including at least one movable lens and one or more fixed lenses or fixed lens groups on either side of the movable lens. The movable lens provides an auto focus feature of the camera module. A MEMS actuator translates the movable lens through an auto focus range to adjust focus.

A motor control, device that controls a motor, includes: a plurality of processors, each being adapted to generate information for generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal; a plurality of PWM signal generation circuits, each being provided corresponding to each of the processors and adapted to generate the PWM signal on the basis of the information that has been generated by the corresponding processor; and a switch circuit that selectively gives the information generated by each of the processors to any of the PWM signal generation circuits.

An autofocus lens system includes no conventional moving parts and has excellent speed and low power consumption. The system includes a small electronically-controlled focusing-module lens. The focusing-module lens includes two adjustable polymeric surfaces (e.g., two adjustable-surface lenses in a back-to-back configuration). The curvature of the surfaces can be adjusted to change focus. The performance of the autofocus lens system is extended by adding a conventional first and second lens, or lens group, on either side of the focusing-module lens. What results is an autofocus lens system with excellent near field and far field performance.

An autofocus lens system includes no conventional moving parts and has excellent speed and low power consumption. The system includes a small electronically-controlled focusing-module lens. The focusing-module lens includes two adjustable polymeric surfaces (e.g., two adjustable-surface lenses in a back-to-back configuration). The curvature of the surfaces can be adjusted to change focus. The performance of the autofocus lens system is extended by adding a conventional first and second lens, or lens group, on either side of the focusing-module lens. What results is an autofocus lens system with excellent near field and far field performance.

Methods and apparatus for implementing a camera having a depth which is less than the maximum length of the outer lens of at least one optical chain of the camera are described. In some embodiments a light redirection device, e.g., a mirror, is used to allow a relatively long optical chain with a relatively large non-circular outer lens. In some embodiments the light redirection device has a depth, e.g., front of camera to back of camera dimension, which is less than the maximum length of the aperture of the outer lens in the aperture's direction of maximum extent. Multiple optical chains with non-circular outer lenses arranged in different directions may and in some embodiments are used to capture images with the captured images being combined to generate a composite image.

A focus adjustment device obtains a correction value for correcting a result of autofocus, from aberration information regarding at least one of an astigmatism, a chromatic aberration, and a spherical aberration of an imaging optical system, and focus detection information regarding the autofocus. The focus adjustment device then controls a position of a focusing lens that the imaging optical system has, based on a result of the autofocus corrected using the correction value. By correcting the result of the autofocus while considering at least a focus condition of a photographic image, a focus detection error caused by an aberration of the optical system can be accurately corrected.

A drive controller for controlling driving of a movable optical member of a lens apparatus, including: a position acquirer acquiring a position of the movable optical member; an instruction inputter receiving a first driving command for driving the movable optical member from an external apparatus; and a controller determining a driving amount so that the movable optical member is driven to a position different from a position corresponding to the first driving command based on the first driving command and the position of the movable optical member every unit time, and outputs a second driving command to the lens apparatus so that the movable optical member is driven by the driving amount within the unit time, wherein the controller sets the driving amount within the unit time larger as a difference between the position corresponding to the first driving command and the position of the movable optical member becomes larger.

An imaging apparatus, comprising a detection element that outputs analog signals in accordance with position of the operation member, an A/D converter that converts the analog signals to digital values, and a controller that detects position of the operation member, wherein the controller, when it is determined that the operation member is stopped, compares an average value of a first number of digital values with a first threshold value, and determines that the operation member is moving if it has been determined that the average value is greater than the first threshold value, and when it is determined that the operation member is moving, compares a difference between a newest digital value and a digital value that was acquired a second number previously with a second threshold value, and determines that the operation member has stopped if it is determined that the difference is smaller than the second threshold value.

A lens control apparatus and a control method thereof are disclosed. The lens control apparatus includes a microprocessor which obtains a correction defocus amount so that the correction defocus amount obtained by the microprocessor when a zoom speed is a first speed is greater than the correction defocus amount obtained by the microprocessor when a zoom speed is a second speed which is less than the first speed.

In a focus adjustment method for an imaging apparatus, that, in order to focus on a single or a plurality of point light sources, acquires plurality of image data while moving a focus lens in an optical axis direction and carries out focus adjustment based on the image data, brightness values of pixels within a given evaluation region are detected based on the image data, high brightness evaluation values are calculated based on the brightness values, symmetry of the high brightness evaluation values are calculated for movement of the focus lens, and focus adjustment is carried out based on an extreme value calculated based on the symmetry.