A method for contrast-based autofocus of an image capture device. The method includes obtaining sensor data representative of an image captured by the image capture device, wherein the sensor data comprises pixel values from respective sensor pixels of an image sensor of the image capture device. A subset of the pixel values is dynamically selected to generate selected sensor data representative of the subset of the pixel values. The selected sensor data is processed to generate contrast data representative of a contrast-based characteristic of at least a portion of the image. The contrast data is processed to determine a focus setting for the image capture device.

An apparatus includes a control unit configured to control a position of a focus lens of the apparatus, a setting unit configured to change a threshold for detecting a luminance change in each pixel in a predetermined range, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a signal indicating a pixel in which a luminance change that is more than or equal to the threshold has occurred, and a determination unit configured to determine an in-focus position of the focus lens based on the signal detected depending on the position of the focus lens and the set threshold.

An image pickup apparatus acquires image data after image pickup, and depth information corresponding to an object in an image with respect to the image data and performs focus adjustment control of an imaging optical system based on focus detection results. The image pickup apparatus acquires information about an AF (auto focus) region during image capturing and determines a part of the region in the image to serve as a specific region. The image pickup apparatus performs evaluation of a focus state with respect to the image data based on the depth information corresponding to the AF region and the depth information corresponding to the specific region. The image pickup apparatus executes rating processing, and the rating data corresponding to the in-focus results of the AF region and the rating data corresponding to the in-focus results of the specific region are acquired to serve as evaluation information.

An apparatus includes a calculation unit that calculates a plurality of defocus amounts corresponding to a plurality of focus detecting frames obtained by dividing an area corresponding to a display frame, and a selection unit that selects one focus detecting frame which corresponds to one defocus amount used for an AF control. The selection unit changes an AF operation for selecting the one focus detecting frame based on the number of low contrast frames to the number of focus detecting frames or based on reliability selected from part of the area and a ratio of focus detecting frames having a high reliability in the area, or performs an AF operation for selecting the one focus detecting frame so that a high contrast frame is prioritized over a low contrast frame.

An image sensor includes an imaging device, an optical system including a liquid lens, a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the liquid lens, a heater that heats the liquid lens, a temperature adjuster that controls the heater to adjust the temperature of the liquid lens to a predetermined temperature, a nonvolatile memory storing property information about the liquid lens, a refractive power controller that determines, based on a target refractive power and the property information stored in the nonvolatile memory, an application voltage applicable to the liquid lens adjusted to have the predetermined temperature and applies the application voltage to the liquid lens to control a refractive power of the liquid lens to match the target refractive power, and an image processor. The optical system, the nonvolatile memory, and the temperature sensor are disconnectable from a body module including the refractive power controller and the image processor.

An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor that captures a subject image formed to generate image data; a recorder that records first image data showing images sequentially captured by the image sensor at a shooting period; and a controller operates the image sensor with a frame period shorter than half period of the shooting period, to generate one or plural frames of second image data by capturing in another frame period than the frame period for capturing the first image data within the shooting period. The second image data shows an image used for control in the imaging apparatus, captured with a setting different from a setting for the first image data. The control is performed based on a plurality of frames of image data including the one or plural frames of second image data, the plurality of frames being obtained by multiple times of capturing in the shooting period.

An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing circuit configured to generate an image signal, a processor, and a memory storing instructions executed by the processor to perform operations including generating image data based on the image signal, determining, acquiring, calculating, and controlling. The determining determines a first exposure condition to be applied to a first region and a second exposure condition to be applied to a second region of the image capturing circuit. The acquiring acquires, based on the image data, a first evaluation value for the first region and a second evaluation value for the second region. The calculating calculates a third evaluation value for the image data based on the first and second evaluation value weighted based on the first and second exposure condition. The control performs focus control of an optical system based on the third evaluation value.

An apparatus includes a first operation member, an assigning unit configured to assign one of a plurality of functions to the first operation member, and a second operation member configured to enable a user to provide a setting relating to a specific function among the plurality of functions. The assigning unit assigns the specific function to the first operation member according to an operation of the second operation member.

An example computing system is configured to: (i) receive, from one or more sensors of a vehicle in motion over a body of water, a set of sensor data, (ii) based on the set of sensor data, determine (a) an instantaneous distance between the vehicle and a surface of the body of water and (b) an instantaneous slope of the surface of the body of water, (iii) based on at least one of the instantaneous distance or the instantaneous slope, determine a statistical representation of the surface of the body of water, and (iv) based on the determined statistical representation of the surface of the body of water, adjust one or more control surfaces of the vehicle to change one or more of a speed, altitude, heading, or attitude of the vehicle.

An imaging apparatus is able to perform limit control of limiting a drive range of a focus lens and performing control of the focus lens. When first information regarding an end position of the drive range of the focus lens in the limit control is set, a body control unit drives the focus lens from a position set as one end position of the drive range of the focus lens in the limit control on a near side and a far side to one end position of the movable range of the focus lens on a near side and a far side, and then stores information corresponding to a drive amount during the drive as the first information.