Focal point detection device of camera and method of detecting focal point thereof

Abstract

A focal point detection device of a camera comprises: an imaging optical system which is driven for focusing; a focal point detection section which detects a focal point state of an object image corresponding to each of a plurality of focal point detection regions arranged in an imaging screen; a group selection section which selects two or more focal point detection regions from the plurality offocal point detection regions as a group; a judgment section which determines a focal point detection region in which detection of the focal point state of the object image by the focal point detection section is enabled in the selected group; an automatic focal point detection region selection section which selects, when focal point detection regions in which detection of the focal point state of the object image is enabled are present in the selected group as a result of the determination, a focal point detection region in the selected group, and selecting, when no focal point detection region in which detection of the focal point state of the object image is enabled is present in the selected group, a focal point detection region outside the selected group; and a control section which causes the imaging optical system to drive in accordance with the focal point state corresponding to the focal point detection region selected by the automatic focal point detection region selection section.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a focus detection device of a camera having a plurality of focus detection areas, and a focus detection method using such a focus detection device. Background technique [0002] A focus detection device capable of detecting the focus state of a subject image corresponding to a plurality of focus detection areas in a shooting screen is known. In this type of focus detection device, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-48050, by performing focus detection area selection in which the focus detection area in the center of the shooting screen is prioritized, the selection of the center with a high probability of the existence of the main subject is improved. Possibility of focus detection area. [0003] Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-262319, focus detection can be performed in a focus detection area closer to the user's intention. In this Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-262319, the fo...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0005] In addition, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-262319, when there is no subject in the group selected by the user, in single AF or the like, the priority of the shutter release operation is turned off in autofocus (AF: Auto Focus) setting, the shutter release operation cannot be performed because the focus cannot be

In this case, there is a possibility of missing the shutter timing

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