Patent ID: 6972799
Filing Date: 2005-12-06
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An auto focusing apparatus comprising: an image pickup section which has an imaging plane on which a subject image is formed, and generates an image signal; a focusing section for selectively executing: (i) an ordinary mode of reading an image signal from an entirety of the imaging plane of said image pickup section and performing focusing at an ordinary frame rate, and (ii) a high speed mode of reading an image signal from a predetermined portion of the imaging plane of said image pickup section and performing focusing at a high speed frame rate; an operation section for instructing a release operation; and a control section for preferentially selecting the high speed mode depending on an image signal from the predetermined portion of the imaging plane, first after a start of the release operation, and for selecting the ordinary mode depending on an image signal from the entirety of the imaging plane, when the control section determines to fail to allow the focusing in the high speed mode.