Patent ID: 8456566
Filing Date: 2013-06-04
Classification: G02B,G03B,H04N

Abstract:
1. An optical apparatus including a lens system having a focus lens and an image pickup element which converts an image formed by the lens system into an image signal, the apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to control operation of the apparatus; an auto-focus unit configured to move the focus lens to bring the image into an in-focus state; a displacement detection unit configured to detect a displacement of the optical apparatus in the direction of the optical axis of the lens system; a displacement calculation unit configured to calculate a displacement amount of the optical apparatus in the direction of the optical axis of the lens system based on the output from the displacement detection unit; an image pickup time setting unit operable to set a predetermined total image pickup time corresponding to one or more of the parameters: aperture size, focal length, and the position of the object to be captured; an image combination unit configured to combine a plurality of the image signals obtained with the image pickup element; an image position correction unit configured to correct positional shifts among the plurality of images before the plurality of images are combined; a storage unit configured to store the displacement amount calculated by the displacement calculation unit in the in-focus state; and a focus-range setting unit configured to calculate an acceptable range of the displacement amount within which it is assumed that the image remains in an in-focus state based on a focal length, and an object distance obtained on the basis of the position of the focus lens in the in-focus state, wherein the image pickup element is operable to pick up a plurality of object images until a total image pickup time controlled with the control unit reaches the predetermined total image pickup time set with the image pickup time setting unit, and the image combination unit is operable to combine the plurality of image signals obtained with the image pickup element and to generate a single image; and wherein the control unit is operable to capture one or more images in a given time period from the pickup element only when the displacement amount calculated by the displacement calculation unit is within said acceptable range.