Automatic focus adjusting apparatus

Claim 2

An automatic focus adjusting apparatus, comprising: (A) focus detection means for outputting a focus signal which varies according to a focusing state; (B) focus adjusting means being capable of setting a first focus adjusting mode in which a focus lens is driven with a high speed in the direction of increasing of the level of said focus signal, and a second focus adjusting mode, different from said first focus adjusting mode in focus adjusting algorithm, in which a focal point is detected by wobbling said focus lens with a predetermined period in the direction of an optical axis; (C) switching means for comparing the level of said focus signal outputted from said focus detection means with a predetermined threshold value and for switching between said first focus adjusting mode and said second focus adjusting mode according to the result of the comparison during the drive of said focus lens toward an in-focus position and until said focus lens reaches said in-focus position; and (D) control means for controlling a timing of a switching operation of said switching means by changing said predetermined threshold value on the basis of a depth of field.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first focus adjusting mode is a mode in which said focus lens is hill-climbing controlled.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said focus detection means output a high frequency component of a video signal as the focus signal representing the focusing state, and wherein said first focus adjusting mode hill-climbing controls said focus lens in the direction of increasing of the level of said high frequency component.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second focus adjusting mode is a mode in which said focus lens is wobbled with said predetermined period and front-focus, rear-focus and in-focus are discriminated according to phase of changing of the level of said focus signal corresponding to the wobbling.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said focus detection means outputs an edge component of a video signal as the focus signal representing the focusing state, and wherein said second focus adjusting mode discriminates the focal point on the basis of phase of changing of the level of said edge component corresponding to the wobbling of said focus lens.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means operates the depth of field from a focal distance and an iris value.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means increases said predetermined threshold value when the depth of field is large and reduces said predetermined threshold value when the depth of field is small.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said focus detection means uses a high frequency component of a video signal and an edge component of an object image as the focus signal, and wherein said switching means switches between the modes by comparing said predetermined threshold value and said edge component.

Claim 10

An automatic focus adjusting apparatus, comprising: (A) image pick-up means for outputting an image pick-up signal; (B) focus detection means for outputting a focus signal which varies according to a focusing state, from said image pick-up signal; (C) focus adjusting means being capable of setting a first focus adjusting mode in which a focus lens is controlled with an open loop in the direction of increasing of the level of the focus signal and a second focus adjusting mode different from said first focus adjusting mode in focus adjusting algorithm, in which said focus lens is controlled with a closed loop; (D) switching means for comparing the level of said focus signal outputted from said focus detection means with a predetermined threshold value and for switching between said first focus adjusting mode and said second focus adjusting mode according to the result of the comparison during the drive of said focus lens toward an in-focus position and until said focus lens reaches said in-focus position; and (E) control means for controlling a timing of a switching operation of said switching means switching between said first focus adjusting mode and said second focus adjusting mode by changing said predetermined threshold value on the basis of a depth of field.

Claim 11

An automatic focus adjusting apparatus, comprising: (A) image pick-up means for outputting an image pick-up signal; (B) focus detection means for outputting a focus signal which varies according to a focusing state, from said image pick-up signal; (C) focus adjusting means being capable of setting a first focus adjusting mode in which a focus lens is controlled with an open loop in the direction of increasing of the level of the focus signal and a second focus adjusting mode different from said first focus adjusting mode in focus adjusting algorithm, in which said focus lens is controlled with a closed loop; (D) switching means for comparing the level of said focus signal outputted from said focus detection means with a predetermined threshold value and for switching between said first focus adjusting mode and said second focus adjusting mode according to the result of the comparison during the drive of said focus lens toward an in-focus position and until said focus lens reaches said in-focus position; and (E) control means for controlling a timing of a switching operation of said switching means switching between said first focus adjusting mode and said second focus adjusting mode by changing said predetermined threshold value on the basis of a depth of field.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first focus adjusting mode is a mode in which said focus lens is hill-climbing controlled in the direction of increasing of the level of said focus signal.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said focus signal is a high frequency component of said image pick-up signal.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second focus adjusting mode is a mode in which said focus lens is wobbled with a predetermined period in the direction of an optical axis and front focus, rear focus and in focus are discriminated according to phase of changing of the level of said focus signal corresponding to the wobbling.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said focus signal is an edge component of said image pick-up signal.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said control means operates the depth of field from a focal distance and an iris value.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said control means increases said predetermined threshold value when the depth of field is large and reduces said predetermined threshold value when the depth of field is small.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said focus detection means uses a high frequency component of said image pick-up signal and an edge component of an object image as said focus signal, and wherein said switching means switches between the modes by comparing said predetermined threshold value and said edge component.

Claim 19

A video camera, comprising: (A) an image pickup lens including a focus lens and a zoom lens; (B) image pick-up means for outputting an image pick-up signal by photoelectrically converting an object image focused by said image pick-up lens; (C) focus detection means for outputting a first focus signal having a sharp characteristic which varies according to a focusing state, and a second focus signal having a broad characteristic; and (D) switching control means for controlling a switching operation based on an output of said focus detection means between a first focus adjusting mode in which said focus lens is driven with a high speed on the basis of said first focus signal and a second focus adjusting mode different from said first focus adjusting mode in focus adjusting algorithm, in which said focus lens is driven with a low speed on the basis of said second focus signal and for controlling a timing of said switching operation, according to information of depth of fields during the drive of said focus lens.

Claim 20

A video camera, comprising: (A) an image pickup lens including a focus lens and a zoom lens; (B) image pick-up means for outputting an image pick-up signal by photoelectrically converting an object image focused by said image pick-up lens; (C) focus detection means for outputting a first focus signal having a sharp characteristic which varies according to a focusing state, and a second focus signal having a broad characteristic; and (D) switching control means for controlling a switching operation based on an output of said focus detection means between a first focus adjusting mode in which said focus lens is driven with a high speed on the basis of said first focus signal and a second focus adjusting mode different from said first focus adjusting mode in focus adjusting algorithm, in which said focus lens is driven with a low speed on the basis of said second focus signal and for controlling a timing of said switching operation, according to information of depth of fields during the drive of said focus lens.

Claim 21

A video camera according to claim 17, wherein said first focus signal is a high frequency component of said image pick-up signal.

Claim 22

A video camera according to claim 18, wherein said first focus adjusting mode is a mode in which said focus lens is hill-climbing controlled in the direction of increasing of the level of said high frequency component.

Claim 23

A video camera according to claim 17, wherein said second focus signal is an edge component of said image pick-up signal.

Claim 24

A video camera according to claim 20, wherein said second focus adjusting mode is a mode in which said focus lens is wobbled with a predetermined period in the direction of an optical axis and front-focus, rear-focus and in-focus are discriminated according to phase of changing of the level of said edge component corresponding to the wobbling.

Claim 25

A video camera according to claim 20, wherein said control means switches between said first focus adjusting mode and said second focus adjusting mode on the basis of a result of comparison of the level of said edge component and a predetermined threshold value and changes said predetermined threshold value according to the depth of field.