Patent ID: 7697057
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image-pickup apparatus, comprising: a photographing optical system including a focusing device; an image-pickup device having a first driving mode for outputting charges in a predetermined number of pixels, and a second driving mode for outputting charges in a number of pixels fewer than the predetermined number of pixels in the first driving mode; an image display device; and an auto focus arithmetic control unit configured to carry out auto focus calculation and control according to an output signal from the image-pickup device, wherein during a preview, the image-pickup device is driven in the first driving mode, and a first image data obtained is displayed on the image display device, during an auto focus operation, the auto focus arithmetic control unit is configured to drive the image-pickup device in the second driving mode, and a second image data of a portion of an area which is used for the auto focus calculation and which includes a plurality of blocks is updated and outputted to the image display device, and is enlarged to be displayed on the image display device, the auto focus arithmetic control unit is further configured to detect a focus position of the plurality of blocks, and right after the auto focus operation, the auto focus arithmetic control unit is configured to control the image display device to display blocks that have been focused in the portion of the area used for the auto focus calculation to indicate a focused area in the enlarged image displayed, and the focus area is framed with an On Screen Display for a predetermined period prior to returning to the preview mode.