A method of controlling a user interface using an input image is provided. The method includes storing operation executing information of each of one or more gesture forms according to each of a plurality of functions, detecting a gesture form from the input image, and identifying the operation executing information mapped on the detected gesture form to execute an operation according to a function which is currently operated.

A focus driving control unit 34 of a control unit 30 performs speed priority driving control in which a focus lens is driven to a focusing position in a driving pattern selected in advance by a user, for example, in a case in which a defocus amount of a ranging area is greater than a driving control determination threshold set in advance. In addition, the focus driving control unit 34 performs subject priority driving control in which a focus lens movement amount by which the focus lens is located at the focusing position in accordance with the defocus amount of the ranging area is set and the focus lens is driven in a case in which the defocus amount is equal to or less than the driving control determination threshold. The focus lens is driven to the focusing position in the driving pattern selected by the user. Thereafter, a focusing state can be maintained. Accordingly, it is possible to easily perform an auto-focus operation with the high degree of freedom.

Apparatus and methods employing a PDAF optical system are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes an image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels include a set of pixels configurable to be imaging pixels or focus pixels. The image sensor is configured to generate image data of a scene based on received light at the plurality of pixels. The example apparatus also includes a processor coupled to the image sensor. The processor may be configured to receive first image data of a first frame of the scene, determine at least one region of interest or region of non-interest of the first frame, select, based on the determined at least one region of interest or region of non-interest, a subset of the set of pixels to be focus pixels, and cause the selected subset of the set of pixels to operate as focus pixels.

A control apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives a captured image obtained by capturing an image in an optical finder of an image capture device in a state in which AF frames are displayed on the optical finder, a display unit that displays the captured image and a UI (user interface) for selecting at least one AF frame from AF frames displayed on the captured image, and a transmitting unit that transmits, to the image capture device, information for specifying the at least one AF frame selected via the UI.

An apparatus which is capable of displaying an image for a user to easily recognize the brightness and colors of an area of interest in the image and easily determine whether a subject is in focus. The amount of image shift between parallax image signals is calculated. The amount of blur in an area where an image shift occurs in the parallax image signals is determined based on the amount of image shift. A blurring process is performed on at least one of the parallax image signals based on the amount of blur. An image based on the display image signal generated based on the resulting parallax image signal is displayed on a display. The determined amount of blur is greater than the amount of blur shown by a subject image defocused by the amount of defocus converted from the amount of image shift.

A system for automatically maintaining focus while tracking remote flying objects includes an interface and processor. The interface is configured to receive two or more images. The processor is configured to determine a bounding box for an object in the two or more images; determine an estimated position for the object in a future image; and determine an estimated focus setting and an estimated pointing direction for a lens system.

The changing size of a person's pupil looking through a camera's viewfinder can be used to calculate more accurate exposure settings to allow for pictures to be taken more optimally exposed. Relative pupil size information can also indicate that the photographer is looking at one object in the frame with certain light values versus another object, helping auto tracking systems determine which object should be tracked. When a single object has a wide divergence of light values on it, the photographer's pupil size may help indicate which would be most appropriate to use to automatically calculate the appropriate exposure settings.

An autofocus (AF) frame integration unit generates at least two groups, each group including at least one focus detection area based on a comparison between a plurality of focus detection results, the plurality of focus detection results to be obtained corresponding to a specific time. A movement determination unit determines whether an object corresponding to a first group and a second group is moving, based on a focus detection result corresponding to the first group, generated based on a focus detection result corresponding to a first time, and a focus detection result corresponding to the second group, generated based on a focus detection result corresponding to a second time later than the first time.

A camera for detecting an object in a detection zone is provided that has an image sensor for recording image data, a reception optics having a focus adjustment unit for setting a focal position, a distance sensor for measuring a distance value from the object, and a control and evaluation unit connected to the distance sensor and the focus adjustment unit to set a focal position in dependence on the distance value, and to determine a distance value with the distance sensor via a variable measurement duration that is predefined in dependence on a provisional distance value such that a measurement error of the distance value and thus, on a recording of image data of the object, a focus deviation of the set focal position from an ideal focal position remains small enough for a required image sharpness of the image data.

An image capturing apparatus includes an area sensor on which photoelectric conversion elements are arranged two-dimensionally, and that includes a plurality of regions, a reading unit for reading, from the area sensor, signals photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion elements, a focus detection unit for performing focus detection using the signals read by the reading unit, and a control unit for performing control as to from which region of the plurality of regions the reading unit preferentially reads the signals of the photoelectric conversion elements.