Patent ID: 6333761
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image pickup apparatus comprising:focus adjustment means;driving means for driving said focus adjustment means;image pickup means for converting an object image formed through said focus adjustment means into a video signal;extraction means for extracting from a predetermined area of the video signal a sharpness signal corresponding to a degree of focusing of said focus adjustment means;control means for performing focus adjustment by controlling said driving means on the basis of the sharpness signal extracted by said extraction means;aspect ratio varying means for varying an aspect ratio of a picked-up image;area varying means for varying the predetermined area when the aspect ratio of the picked-up image is varied by said aspect ratio varying means, said area varying means varying a dimension of said predetermined area reverse to the varying of a magnification of said picked-up image as a result of varying the aspect ratio of said picked-up image by said aspect ratio varying means.