Patent ID: 7630013
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: (A) a driving device which drives a focus adjusting system in a direction towards which a level of a high-frequency component becomes high; and (B) a control device having a first driving mode for determining in-focus direction by controlling said focus adjusting system before a second driving mode for driving said focus adjusting system to in-focus direction, which, in said first driving mode, repeatedly drives said focus adjusting system towards which a level of a high-frequency component becomes high and, if said focus adjusting system has been driven in one direction until the number of times of the determination repeatedly performed reaches a predetermined number of times, inverts said focus adjusting system from being driven in said one direction, wherein said control device controls said driving device to drive said focus adjusting system in such a direction as to bring said focus adjusting system into an in-focus state, and wherein, if said focus adjusting system has been driven within a predetermined range for a predetermined period of time, said control device determines that said focus adjusting system is in an in-focus state.