Image pick-up device

Claim 2

A pick-up device according to claim 1, wherein said information concerning the pick-up condition is the depth of field.

Claim 3

A pick-up device according to claim 1, wherein said information concerning the pick-up condition is a parameter variable with the iris value.

Claim 4

A pick-up device according to claim 1, wherein said information concerning the pick-up condition is a parameter variable with the focal distance.

Claim 5

A pick-up device according to claim 2, wherein said control means selects a moving direction of said detection region within said picked-up picture, by combining some of upward or downward, left or right, and diagonal directions so as to be optimum to that situation, depending on the depth of field.

Claim 6

A pick-up device according to claim 5, wherein comprising a table storing the information of the depth of field, in which said control means selects a corresponding value from within said table depending on the iris value and the depth of field.

Claim 7

A pick-up device according to claim 6, wherein said control means restricts the degree of freedom for the moving direction of said detection region when the depth of field is deep, while it increases the degree of freedom for the moving direction of said detection region when the depth of field is shallow.

Claim 8

A pick-up device according to claim 1, wherein further comprising object decision means for detecting the contrast of an object image, in which said control means resets said detection region to an initial position when said contrast is low.

Claim 9

A pick-up device according to claim 1, wherein further comprising pick-up means, in which said position detection means detects the sharpness information of an object image from a pick-up signal output by said pick-up means, and decides that the peak detection position of said sharpness information is an object position.

Claim 10

A pick-up device according to claim 8, wherein said sharpness information contains a high-frequency component and an edge width component of a pick-up signal.

Claim 11

A pick-up device according to claim 1, wherein said detection region is a focusing detection region for detecting the focusing state.

Claim 12

A pick-up device capable of moving a detection region set on a picked-up picture, by following the movement of an object image, comprising: (A) position detection means for detecting an object position on said picked-up picture; (B) region setting means for controlling a setting position of said detection region based on the output of said position detection means; and (C) control means for controlling the response speed of movement of said detection region with the information of the pick-up condition.

Claim 13

A pick-up device according to claim 12, wherein said information of said pick-up condition is the depth of field.

Claim 14

A pick-up device according to claim 13, wherein said control means provides a higher response speed of movement when the depth of field is shallower.

Claim 15

A pick-up device according to claim 14, wherein said control means changes the size of said detection region, depending on said depth of field.

Claim 16

A pick-up device according to claim 14, wherein said control means fixes said detection region when the depth of field is maximum.

Claim 17

A pick-up device according to claim 12, wherein further comprising object decision means for detecting the contrast of an object, in which said control means resets said detection region to an initial position when the contrast is low.

Claim 18

A pick-up device capable of moving a detection region set on a picked-up picture, by following the movement of an object image, comprising: (A) position detection means for detecting an object position on said picked-up picture; (B) region setting means for controlling a setting position of said detection region based on the output of said position detection means; and (C) control means for controlling the moving direction and response speed of movement of said detection region with the information of the depth of field.

Claim 19

A pick-up device according to claim 18, wherein said control means further changes the size of said detection region, depending on said information of the depth of field.

Claim 20

A pick-up device according to claim 18, wherein said control means selects a moving direction of said detection region within said picked-up picture, by combining some of upward or downward, left or right, and diagonal directions so as to be optimum to that situation, depending on the depth of field.

Claim 21

A pick-up device according to claim 20, wherein comprising a table storing the information of the depth of field, in which said control means selects a corresponding value from within said table, depending on the iris value and the depth of field.

Claim 22

A pick-up device according to claim 21, wherein said control means restricts the degree of freedom for the moving direction of said detection region when the depth of field is deep, while it increases the degree of freedom for the moving direction of said detection region when the depth of field is shallow.

Claim 23

A pick-up device according to claim 18, wherein said information of said pick-up condition is the depth of field.

Claim 24

A pick-up device according to claim 23, wherein said control means makes said detection region large when said depth of field is deep, while it makes said detection region small when it is shallow.

Claim 25

A pick-up device according to claim 18, wherein said detection region is a focusing detection region for detecting the focusing state.

Claim 26

A focusing detection device comprising: (A) region setting means for setting a focusing detection region on a picked-up picture; (B) object tracking means for moving a setting position of said focusing detection region following an object image, by detecting the movement of said object image and controlling said region setting means; (C) focus control means capable of setting a first focus detection mode for performing the focusing operation with said focusing detection region fixed at a predetermined position, and a second focus detection mode for performing the focusing operation with said detection region tracking the object; and (D) display means for displaying said focusing detection region within a monitor screen, in which said first focus detection mode and said second focus detection mode have different displays.

Claim 27

A focusing detection device according to claim 26, wherein said display means displays by lighting said detection region within said monitor screen when in said first focus detection mode, while it displays by blinking said detection region when in said second focus detection mode.

Claim 28

A focusing detection device according to claim 27, wherein said first focus detection mode is one for performing the automatic focus detection with said detection region fixed.

Claim 29

A focusing detection device according to claim 27, wherein said second focus detection mode is one for performing the automatic focusing adjustment operation with said detection region tracking an object image.

Claim 30

A focusing detection device comprising: (A) region setting means for setting a predetermined detection region on a picked-up picture; (B) focusing detection means for performing the focusing detection of an object image within said detection region; (C) object tracking means for moving a setting position of said detection region following the object image, by detecting the movement of said object image and controllig said region setting means; (D) decision means for deciding the operation state for said object tracking means based on the output of said focusing detection means; and (E) display means for displaying the operation state for said object tracking means based on a result of decision with said decision means.

Claim 31

A focusing detection device according to claim 30, wherein said display means displays said detection region within a monitor screen differently depending on the operation state of said object tracking means.

Claim 32

A focusing detection device according to claim 31, wherein said display means displays by blinking said detection region within a monitor screen, in which it has different blinking periods for said detection region depending on the operation state of said object tracking means.

Claim 33

A focusing detection device according to claim 32, wherein said display means has a slower blinking period far off a focusing point, while it has a faster blinking period near the focusing point.