Patent ID: 7518807
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A focus adjustment apparatus comprising: a moving unit configured to move a focusing lens; a focus adjusting unit configured to perform focus adjustment by moving the focusing lens such that the sharpness of an image obtained from an image pickup unit is increased; and an in-focus position measuring unit configured to measure an in-focus position in a different manner from the focus adjusting unit, wherein the focus adjusting unit moves the focusing lens in the direction of the in-focus position measured by the in-focus position measuring unit when the direction of movement of the focusing lens in which image sharpness is increased is matched with the direction of the current position of the focusing lens relative to the in-focus position measured by the in-focus position measuring unit, and either does not move the focusing lens in the direction of the in-focus position measured by the in-focus position measuring means, or does not move the lens all the way to the in-focus position measured by the in-focus position measuring means, when both directions are not matched with each other.