Disclosed is a camera module that comprises a lens assembly that includes a lens base and a lens tube integrated with the lens base for receiving at least one lens; and a voice coil motor assembly for driving the lens assembly, comprising a base, two leaf springs, at least two coils, and at least two magnets. The coils are respectively fixed on two opposite sides of the base, the magnets are fixed on two opposite sides of the lens assembly respectively, and the magnets are located by inner sides of the coils respectively, the lens assembly is clamped by the leaf springs and supported on the base, the coils drive the magnets and the lens assembly to move after being energized. The camera module is simply structured, easy to assembly, less bulky and fit for the demand of thin products.

An optical system includes an objective of the zoom type and a depth-estimating optical detecting unit, the depth-estimating optical detecting unit including a matrix array of micro-lenses and a matrix-array detector, the matrix array of micro-lenses being arranged so that the image of the focal plane of the zoom is focused by the matrix array of micro-lenses on the plane of the matrix-array detector. The optical system calculates, for a first focal length of the zoom and for a given object, the estimated distance of this object and the measurement uncertainty in this estimation, depending on the first focal length and the estimated distance and, this estimated distance being known, optimizes by allowing at least one second focal length of the zoom to which a lower measurement uncertainty in this estimation corresponds to be determined.

An observation device, comprising an AF detection circuit that calculates an evaluation value showing a larger value as degree of focus increases, based on an image signal, and a controller that detects focus position where focus is achieved based on the evaluation value, wherein the controller, when peaks of the evaluation value have been detected for different focus positions, detects a minimum of the evaluation value between focus positions of the plurality of peaks, and in the event that a first difference between a first peak, among the plurality of peaks, and a focus position of the minimum, and a second difference between the minimum and a focus position of a second peak, among the plurality of peaks, are within respective specified ranges, detects a focus position where focus is achieved based on the focus position of the minimum.

An imaging device derives a change amount of image magnification corresponding to each of a plurality of F-numbers in an autofocus area on the basis of a reference value of the change amount of the image magnification in accordance with a change in position of a focus lens for each of the plurality of F-numbers, in a case where autofocus is executed; determines, as a limit F-number, an F-number corresponding to any change amount equal to or less than a threshold value of the allowed change amount of the image magnification among the derived change amounts; and sets an F-number as the limit F-number in a case where the F-number obtained from a subject luminance in a case where autofocus is executed exceeds the determined limit F-number.

An interchangeable lens attachable to a camera body, the interchangeable lens including: a focusing optical system configured to vary a focal position of the interchangeable lens; and a transmitter configured to transmit a first value and a second value to the camera body, the first value indicating a relationship between an amount of movement of the focusing optical system and an amount of movement of an image plane at a position to which the focusing optical system has moved, the second value indicating a relationship between an amount of movement of the focusing optical system and an amount of movement of the image plane, the second value being equal to or smaller than the first value.

A camera lens assembly is described. The camera lens assembly includes a support member. The camera lens assembly also includes a moving member having a major planar surface and AF terminal pads located at or near the major planar surface, wherein the moving member is mounted to the support member. And, the camera lens assembly includes an auto focus assembly having AF terminal pads, wherein the auto focus assembly is mounted to the moving member and the AF terminal pads of the auto focus assembly are electrically connected to the AF terminal pads of the moving member.

An optical element driving mechanism is provided and includes a fixed assembly, a movable assembly, a driving assembly, and a position-sensing assembly. The movable assembly corresponds to an optical element, and the movable assembly is movable relative to the fixed assembly. The driving assembly is configured to drive the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly. The position-sensing assembly is configured to sense the movement of the movable assembly relative to the fixed assembly, and the position-sensing assembly includes a sensed unit and a sensing element. The sensing element corresponds to the sensed unit. The sensed unit has a plurality of reference magnetic elements arranged in a first direction, the sensed unit and the sensing element are arranged in an arrangement direction, and the first direction is not parallel to the arrangement direction.

Provided are an imaging device capable of accelerating AF and a focusing control method thereof. A focus lens drive unit (16) that drives a focus lens (12), and an image sensor movement drive unit (120) that moves an image sensor (110) along an optical axis (L) are included. A target position of the focus lens (12) for focusing on a subject is set, and the focus lens (12) is moved toward the target position. The image sensor (110) is moved before the focus lens (12) reaches the target position such that focusing is performed. A focusing state is maintained by moving the image sensor (110) so as to follow the focus lens (12) after the focusing is performed.

An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, a storage unit configured to store track data indicating a positional relationship between a zoom lens and a focus lens when an imaging optical system focuses at a predetermined subject distance, an adjustment value acquisition unit configured to acquire adjustment values for adjusting the track data, and a focus control unit configured to control a drive of the focus lens based on the track data and the adjustment values acquired by an adjustment value acquisition unit at a time of a zoom operation. The adjustment value acquisition unit selects adjustment value acquisition processing to be performed from a plurality of pieces of adjustment value acquisition processing, based on the track data, a position of the zoom lens, and a position of the focus lens, and acquires the adjustment values based on the selected adjustment value acquisition processing.

An endoscope system includes an endoscope having a position/angle sensor and an amplifying circuit, a memory configured to store output error sensitivity data and a first wiring resistance value, and a processor including a signal processing circuit configured to process an output signal from the amplifying circuit. The signal processing circuit corrects an error of the output signal based on a value obtained by multiplying a difference between the first wiring resistance value and a processor wiring resistance value by the output error sensitivity data.