A nightvision system includes an underlying device that provides output light in a first spectrum. A transparent optical device transmits light in the first spectrum from the underlying device through the transparent optical device. The transparent optical device includes an active area of a semiconductor chip. The active area includes active elements that cause the underlying device to detect light from the underlying device and transparent regions formed in the active area which are transparent to the light in the first spectrum to allow light in the first spectrum to pass through from the underlying device to a user. An image processor processes images produced using light detected by the first plurality of active elements. An autofocus mechanism coupled to the image processor focuses the input light into the underlying device based on image processing performed by the image processor.

A nightvision system includes an underlying device that provides output light in a first spectrum. A transparent optical device transmits light in the first spectrum from the underlying device through the transparent optical device. The transparent optical device includes an active area of a semiconductor chip. The active area includes active elements that cause the underlying device to detect light from the underlying device and transparent regions formed in the active area which are transparent to the light in the first spectrum to allow light in the first spectrum to pass through from the underlying device to a user. An image processor processes images produced using light detected by the first plurality of active elements. An autofocus mechanism coupled to the image processor focuses the input light into the underlying device based on image processing performed by the image processor.

An apparatus and method for efficiently determining a final camera lens position that captures a focused input image are described. An image signal processing system of a camera capable of performing automatic focus includes a camera lens, an image sensor, a focus engine, and a lens controller. Rather than generate a single contrast value based on digital signals corresponding to a single image, the focus engine uses at least two value generators to generate multiple contrast values. The value generators are bandpass filters with different bandwidths from one another. The focus engine uses the multiple contrast values, rather than from a single contrast value, to determine a search direction for finding a final lens position of the camera lens, when to use relatively large or coarse step sizes for updating the lens position, and when to use relatively small or fine step sizes for updating the lens position.

An apparatus and method for efficiently determining a final camera lens position that captures a focused input image are described. An image signal processing system of a camera capable of performing automatic focus includes a camera lens, an image sensor, a focus engine, and a lens controller. Rather than generate a single contrast value based on digital signals corresponding to a single image, the focus engine uses at least two value generators to generate multiple contrast values. The value generators are bandpass filters with different bandwidths from one another. The focus engine uses the multiple contrast values, rather than from a single contrast value, to determine a search direction for finding a final lens position of the camera lens, when to use relatively large or coarse step sizes for updating the lens position, and when to use relatively small or fine step sizes for updating the lens position.

A focus control device includes a processor. The processor analyzes detection results of a target object in time sequence to determine whether the target object is in a lost state in which the target object is not temporarily captured into an image, sets a focus drive mode to an autofocus mode when the target object is detected, sets a first positional mode in which the focus lens is arranged at a position that is within a set range of an in-focus object plane position and is on the far point side of a central position when the target object is not detected and is not in the lost state, and sets the focus drive mode such that a lens position is nearer to a near point than in the first positional mode or sets the focus drive mode to the autofocus mode in a when the lost state is determined.

A microscope system includes an objective lens, configured to gather a first light of a target sample to enter a first optical path, wherein the first light converges, at a beamsplitter, with a second light generated by an image projection module after entering the first optical path through a lens assembly; a beamsplitter assembly, configured to respectively separate and cast light in different optical paths; a camera assembly, configured to photograph the target sample in a microscope field of view, to photograph a clearly focused image through a first optical path by using the camera assembly; an auxiliary focusing device, configured to determine a focal length matching the camera assembly; and a focusing device, configured to adjust a focal length of image light entering the camera assembly according to a defocus amount of a target sample image determined by the auxiliary focusing device.

A microscope system includes an objective lens, configured to gather a first light of a target sample to enter a first optical path, wherein the first light converges, at a beamsplitter, with a second light generated by an image projection module after entering the first optical path through a lens assembly; a beamsplitter assembly, configured to respectively separate and cast light in different optical paths; a camera assembly, configured to photograph the target sample in a microscope field of view, to photograph a clearly focused image through a first optical path by using the camera assembly; an auxiliary focusing device, configured to determine a focal length matching the camera assembly; and a focusing device, configured to adjust a focal length of image light entering the camera assembly according to a defocus amount of a target sample image determined by the auxiliary focusing device.

According to the embodiment, an optical element assembly includes a wavelength selection portion and an imaging optical element. The wavelength selection portion includes a plurality of wavelength selection regions. The wavelength selection portion is configured to emit wavelengths different among the plurality of wavelength selection regions. The imaging optical element includes a plurality of different regions. The plurality of regions of the imaging optical element has focal lengths different from each other. Each of the regions of the imaging optical element optically faces corresponding one of the wavelength selection regions of the wavelength selection portion.

Provided is a control device that includes a calculation unit that calculates, on a basis of a result of capturing a subject image passed through a focus lens by using an imaging element including a plurality of phase difference detection regions, a focus position of each of the phase difference detection regions and a determination unit that determines a position of the focus lens on a basis of an average value of the focus positions of the phase difference detection regions calculated by the calculation unit and falling within a predetermined range from the focus position on an infinity side or macro side.

Provided is a control device that includes a calculation unit that calculates, on a basis of a result of capturing a subject image passed through a focus lens by using an imaging element including a plurality of phase difference detection regions, a focus position of each of the phase difference detection regions and a determination unit that determines a position of the focus lens on a basis of an average value of the focus positions of the phase difference detection regions calculated by the calculation unit and falling within a predetermined range from the focus position on an infinity side or macro side.