Patent ID: 6818875
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: G01C,G02B

Abstract:
An auto-focusing apparatus comprising:a light receiving device comprising array of photoelectric conversion elements, said light receiving device separating an image of an object formed via an optical system into two separate images to re-form said two separate images on said array of photoelectric conversion elements so as to output two sets of image data, said optical system including a focusing optical system; a driving device which drives said focusing optical system along an optical axis thereof; an operation device which performs a predetermined operation for determining a phase difference between said two separate images while shifting at least part of one of said two sets of image data relative to the other of said two sets of image data; and a controller which limits a range of shifting of said at least part of one of said two sets of image data relative to said other of said two sets of image data in accordance with an amount of movement of said focusing optical system and a moving direction thereof, when said operation device performs said predetermined operation in accordance with said two sets of image data output from said light receiving device while said driving device drives said focusing optical system along said optical axis.