An automatic focus system for an optical microscope that facilitates faster focusing by using at least two cameras. The first camera can be positioned in a first image forming conjugate plane and receives light from a first illumination source that transmits light in a first wavelength range. The second camera can be positioned at an offset distance from the first image forming conjugate plane and receives light from a second illumination source that transmits light in a second wavelength range.

A method, system, and computer program product to obtain a focus point of a current scene. The method includes performing a first focus procedure in a first direction via a main lens of a main camera of an image capturing device having at least two cameras. The method further includes concurrently performing a second autofocus procedure in a second direction that is opposite the first direction via at least one auxiliary lens of at least one auxiliary camera. The method further includes identifying a focus point within autofocus data collected during the first and second focus procedure. The method further includes, in response to determining the focus point was identified by the at least one auxiliary camera: terminating the first focus procedure; and automatically synchronizing a position of the main lens to that of the at least one auxiliary lens.

A focus monitoring arrangement (1000) is provided for a scatterometer or other optical system. A first focus sensor (510) provides a first focus signal (S1-S2) indicating focus relative to a first reference distance (z1). A second focus sensor (1510) for providing a second focus signal (C1-C2) indicating focus relative to a second reference distance (z2). A processor (1530) calculates a third focus signal by combining the first focus signal and the second focus signal. By varying the proportions of the first and second focus signals in calculating the third focus signal, an effective focus offset can be varied electronically, without moving elements.

An image processing apparatus includes a first phase difference detector configured to detect two phase differences in a range that contains a phase difference that provides the highest correlation between a pair of image signals, a comparator configured to compare a signal representative of a matching degree when the pair of image signals have a first phase difference among the two phase differences, and a signal representative of a matching degree when the pair of image signals have a second phase difference among the two phase differences, a signal separator configured to separate a pair of signal components relating to a specific object from the pair of image signals, based on a comparison result by the comparator, and a second phase difference detector configured to detect a phase difference that provides the highest correlation between the pair of signal components separated by the signal separator.

A focus detection apparatus includes a first setting unit configured to set a first focus detection area and a second focus detection area, a first focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection of a phase difference detection method on each of the first and second focus detection areas by using the pair of parallax image signals, a reliability acquisition unit configured to obtain reliability of the focus detection of the first and second focus detection areas by the first focus detection unit, a second setting unit configured to determine a third focus detection area by using the reliability of the focus detection of the first and second focus detection areas, obtained by the reliability acquisition unit, and a second focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection by using the third focus detection area.

An autofocus control system for an image capture device comprises one or more processors configured to receive a set of image data, determine whether the set of image data has at least one diagonal edge, and output a first signal in response to detecting at least one diagonal edge in the image data. The one or more processors are configured for analyzing a plurality of phase detection (PD) data from a plurality of PD pixels and outputting a phase difference value and a confidence level, including setting the confidence level to a predetermined value in response to the first signal. A PD autofocus controller is responsive to at least one of the phase difference value or the confidence level for outputting a lens position control signal.

An imaging device comprises an image sensor on which phase difference detection pixels are formed, a rapid shooting controller that carries out rapid shooting of still pictures by causing operation of the image sensor, and generates and stores image data based on image signals output by the image sensor, and a controller for focusing control that carries out the rapid shooting and causes operation of the image sensor between one exposure of the rapid shooting and the next to carry out first focus detection based on focus detection signals generated by the phase difference detection pixels, carries out second focus detection based on focus detection signals generated by the phase difference detection pixels as a result of the rapid shooting, and carries out focus adjustment based on results of the first focus detection and results of the second focus detection.

A handheld device can include an image capture subsystem and a depth sensing subsystem. The image capture subsystem includes an image capture light source operable to emit visible light and an image capture camera operable to capture an image of a scene illuminated by the visible light emitted by the visible light source. The depth sensing subsystem includes a depth light source operable to emit infrared light and a depth camera operable to capture reflected infrared light, including at least some of the infrared light emitted from the depth light source, after reflecting off objects in the scene. The image capture light source, the depth light source, and the depth camera are housed in a single integrated structure including a single transparent panel through which the visible and infrared light are emitted onto the scene, and through which the depth camera receives the reflected infrared light from the scene.

An imaging device includes an imaging optical system that includes a first optical system and a second optical system having independent characteristics; an imaging element that includes plural light-receiving sensors that pupil-split light passed through a corresponding optical system among the first optical system and the second optical system to receive the light; an image generation unit that generates a first captured image from an imaging signal output from the light-receiving sensors corresponding to the first optical system and generates a second captured image from an imaging signal output from the light-receiving sensors corresponding to the second optical system; a focus adjustment unit that adjusts a focus state of each of the first optical system and the second optical system in an independent manner; and a focus controller that controls the focus adjustment unit based on importance degree information.

A method, system, and computer program product to obtain a focus point of a current scene. The method includes performing a first focus procedure in a first direction via a main lens of a main camera of an image capturing device having at least two cameras. The method further includes concurrently performing a second autofocus procedure in a second direction that is opposite the first direction via at least one auxiliary lens of at least one auxiliary camera. The method further includes identifying a focus point within autofocus data collected during the first and second focus procedure. The method further includes, in response to determining the focus point was identified by the at least one auxiliary camera: terminating the first focus procedure; and automatically synchronizing a position of the main lens to that of the at least one auxiliary lens.