Patent ID: 7767946
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A focus detection device comprising: a micro lens array having a plurality of micro lenses; a light receiving element array having three or more light receiving elements that are all substantially a same shape that are aligned in one direction for each of the micro lenses, the three or more light receiving elements receiving via their respective micro lens, light rays from three or more partial areas of a pupil of one or more pupils, wherein each of the one or more pupils of an imaging optical system are different from each other; a signal string generator that generates at least three signal strings respectively corresponding to images of the light rays which have been transmitted through each of the three or more partial areas, based on signals outputted from the three or more light receiving elements of the light receiving element array; a focus detector that obtains, within the at least three signal strings, shift amounts of two of the signal strings corresponding to two of the three or more partial areas, for a plurality of adjacent pairs of partial areas of the three or more partial areas, and determines a focus adjustment state of the imaging optical system based on the obtained plurality of shift amounts; and wherein the plurality of shift amounts include a shift amount between a first signal string corresponding to a first partial area within the three or more partial areas and a second signal string corresponding to a second partial area different from the first partial area, and a shift amount between the first signal string and a third signal string corresponding to a third partial area different from the first partial area and the second partial area.