Before an observation region of an imaging optical system 14 reaches an observation position in the cultivation container 50, a vertical position of the cultivation container 50 at the observation position is precedently detected by an auto-focus displacement sensor. In a case where an objective lens is moved in an optical axis direction on the basis of the position, an error between the precedently detected vertical position of the stage 51 at the observation position and a vertical position of the stage 51 at a time point when the observation region of the imaging optical system 14 is scanned up to the observation position is acquired, and the objective lens is moved in the optical axis direction on the basis of the error.

The focus detection accuracy is improved in an imaging apparatus that detects focus of each of a plurality of lenses.

A main side focus control section detects, as a main side in-focus position, a main side lens position where focus is achieved in a main side detection region inside a main side image. A parallax acquisition section acquires parallax proportional to a distance by finding the distance on the basis of the main side in-focus position. A subordinate side detection region setup section sets a subordinate side detection region position in a subordinate side image on the basis of the parallax and the main side detection region position. A subordinate side focus control section detects, as a subordinate side in-focus position, a subordinate side lens position where focus is achieved in the subordinate side detection region.

Autofocusing a camera while zooming may include zooming the lens to a first zoom position, measuring a first object distance from the camera to an object on which to focus, determining a first focus start position using the first object distance, performing a first autofocus using the first focus start position as a starting point, thereby determining a first focus position. A first lookup object distance may be determined based on the first determined focus position. A first correction factor may be calculated as a ratio between the first lookup object distance and the first object distance. The lens may be zoomed to a second zoom position, and a second focus position may be determined using a second object distance based on the first object distance and a second correction factor based on depths of field at the second and first zoom positions.

An imaging apparatus capable of obtaining a focus detection result from a focus detection area in which an object is more appropriately captured during focus detection using a signal from an image sensor is provided. The imaging apparatus includes an image sensor configured to periodically capture an image, the image sensor including a plurality of pixels each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units with respect to a microlens, a setting unit configured to set a plurality of focus detection areas, wherein each of the plurality of focus detection areas corresponds to respective areas of the image sensor. The setting unit is configured to provide a plurality of division patterns for forming a plurality of focus detection areas, and switch the division patterns each time an image is captured by the image sensor.

Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for operating a multiple camera system. In some embodiments, a primary camera may be selected from a plurality of cameras using object distance estimates, distance error information, and minimum object distances for some or all of the plurality of cameras. In other embodiments, a camera may be configured to use defocus information to obtain an object distance estimate to a target object closer than a minimum object distance of the camera. This object distance estimate may be used to assist in focusing another camera of the multi-camera system.

A full-range image detecting system including a planar light source, an image capturing device, a light sensing device, a processing unit and a measuring module is provided. The planar light source projects a photo image with periodical variations onto an object. The image capturing device captures a reflective photo image reflected from the object. The light sensing device detects the coordinates of at least three measuring points on the object for fitting a plane. The processing unit calculates a phase variation of the reflective photo image after phase shift, a relative altitude of the surface profile of the object according to the phase variation, and an absolute altitude of the surface profile of the object with respect to the plane to obtain an information of absolute coordinate. The measuring module detects the surface of the object according to the information of absolute coordinate of the object.

A control apparatus includes a focus detector configured to perform focus detection based on an image signal obtained via a first optical system, the first optical system having a shallowest depth of field in a plurality of optical systems having focal lengths different from each other, and a controller configured to perform focus control of the plurality of optical systems based on an output signal from the focus detector.

Method for adjusting a stereoscopic imaging device including for each sensor, tagging, in an image arising from the sensor, one and the same reference object, evaluating a quantity representative of a focus of the optical system associated with the sensor on the reference object, in order to adjust settings of each of the optical systems associated with a respective sensor of the stereoscopic imaging device.

A focus adjustment device comprising: a first detector 221 which detects a focused state by a contrast detection system; second detectors 222a, 222b which detect a focused state by a phase difference detection system; and a control unit 21 which controls the first detector 221 and second detectors 222a, 222b so as to detect the focused state by the second detectors 222a, 222b when detecting the focused state by the first detector 221.

Focusing of a monitoring camera (100) with day and night functionality comprises selecting a focusing day mode or a focusing night mode based on the camera being in day mode or night mode. In focusing day mode, an IR laser range meter (110) will measure a reference distance continuously, and in the focusing night mode the IR laser range meter will only measure reference distance in response to a focus trigger signal being activated, and during a predetermined time period. The focus distance of the camera is set based on the measured reference distance.