Patent Publication Number: US-7916194-B2

Title: Image pickup apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-186025, filed Jul. 5, 2006 and is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/755,630, filed on May 30, 2007. The contents of each application are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus for use in a digital still camera, a mobile phone camera, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) camera, an image inspection apparatus, an industrial camera used for automatic control, etc., which includes a detector (what is called image pickup device, such as CCD and CMOS) and an optical system. The present invention also relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing the image pickup apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Recently, as in digital cameras, solid-state detectors, such as Charge Coupled Devices (CCD) and Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensors, have been provided on imaging planes instead of films. 
     In image pickup apparatuses including CCDs or CMOS sensors, an image of an object is optically taken by an optical system and is extracted by a detector in the form of an electric signal. Such an apparatus is used in, for example, a digital still camera, a video camera, a digital video unit, a personal computer, a mobile phone, a PDA, an image inspection apparatus, an industrial camera used for automatic control, etc. 
       FIG. 38  is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a known image pickup apparatus and the state of ray bundles. Referring to  FIG. 38 , an image pickup apparatus  1  includes an optical system  2  and a detector  3 , such as a CCD and a CMOS sensor. The optical system  2  includes object-side lenses  21  and  22 , an aperture stop  23 , and an imaging lens  24  arranged in that order from an object side (OBJS) toward the detector  3 . In the image pickup apparatus  1 , the best-focus plane coincides with the plane on which the detector  3  is disposed. FIGS.  39 A to  39 C show spot images formed on a light-receiving surface of the detector  3  included in the image pickup apparatus  1 . 
     In such an image pickup apparatus, in order to achieve a large depth of field, a method has been suggested in which light is regularly blurred by a phase plate and is reconstructed by digital processing. On the other hand, an automatic exposure control system for a digital camera in which a filtering process using a transfer function is performed has also been suggested. 
     As a focusing method, a so-called hill-climbing autofocus (AF) method is known in which a focal position is determined by acquiring a peak value of contrast. 
     In known image pickup apparatuses, it is premised that a Point Spread Function (PSF) obtained when the above-described phase plate is placed in an optical system is constant. If the PSF varies, it becomes difficult to obtain an image with a large depth of field by convolution using a kernel. 
     In particular, in lens systems like zoom systems and autofocus (AF) systems, there is a large problem in adopting the above-mentioned structure because high precision is required in the optical design and costs are increased accordingly. More specifically, in known image pickup apparatuses, a suitable convolution operation cannot be performed and the optical system must be designed so as to eliminate aberrations, such as astigmatism, coma aberration, and zoom chromatic aberration that cause a displacement of a spot image at wide angle and telephoto positions. However, to eliminate the aberrations, the complexity of the optical design is increased and the number of design steps, costs, and the lens size are increased. 
     For example, when an image obtained by shooting an object in a dark place is reconstructed by signal processing, noise is amplified at the same time. Therefore, in the optical system which uses both an optical unit and signal processing, that is, in which an optical wavefront modulation element, such as the above-described phase plate, is used and signal processing is performed, there is a problem that noise is amplified and the reconstructed image is influenced when an object is shot in a dark place. 
     In addition, when the aperture is stopped down to shoot a bright object, the phase modulation element is covered by the aperture stop and the phase variation is reduced. This affects the reconstructed image when the image reconstruction process is performed. 
     When the image is blurred on purpose as in the above-described optical system including the phase modulation element, the contrast is low. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain an in-focus state by the above-described focusing method. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the image pickup apparatus includes an element-including optical system, a detector, and a converter. The element-including optical system has an optical system, and an optical wavefront modulation element which modulates an optical transfer function. The detector picks up an object image that passes through the optical system and the optical wavefront modulation element. The converter generates an image signal with a smaller blur than that of a signal of a blurred image output from the detector by performing a filtering process of the optical transfer function to improve a contrast. A focal position of the element-including optical system is set by moving the element-including optical system to the focal position which is corresponding to a predetermined object distance using a contrast of the object based on the image signal. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an image pickup apparatus includes an adjusting device. The adjusting device adjusts a focal position by moving the element-including optical system and/or the image pickup device to a focal position. The focal position corresponds to a predetermined object distance using a contrast of the object based on an image signal obtained through the element-including optical system. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an image pickup apparatus includes two steps. In the first step, an element-including optical system was formed by placing an optical wavefront modulation element that modulates an optical transfer function in an optical system. In the second step, a focal position is adjusted by moving the element-including optical system and/or a detector to the focal position corresponding to a predetermined object distance using a contrast of an object based on an image signal detected by the detector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the structure of an image pickup apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an element-including optical system at a wide-angle position in an image pickup apparatus having a zoom function according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of the element-including optical system at a telephoto position in the image pickup apparatus having the zoom function according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the shapes of spot images formed at the image height center by the image pickup apparatus having the zoom function at the wide-angle position. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the shapes of spot images formed at the image height center by the image pickup apparatus having the zoom function at the telephoto position. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating the principle of a DEOS. 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates a spot image formed on a light-receiving surface of a detector according to the embodiment when a focal point is displaced by 0.2 mm (Defocus=0.2 mm). 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates a spot image formed on the light-receiving surface of the detector when the focal point is not displaced (Best focus). 
         FIG. 7C  illustrates a spot image formed on the light-receiving surface of the detector when the focal point is displaced by −0.2 mm (Defocus=−0.2 mm). 
         FIG. 8A  is a diagram for explaining an MTF of a first image formed by the detector and illustrates a spot image formed on the light-receiving surface of the detector included in the image pickup apparatus. 
         FIG. 8B  is a graph for explaining the MTF of the first image formed by the detector and illustrates the MTF characteristic with respect to spatial frequency. 
         FIG. 9  a block diagram illustrating the structure of an adjusting device according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a chart image obtained at a focal position. 
         FIG. 11  is a chart image obtained when the optical system is moved by +0.2 mm from the focal position. 
         FIG. 12  is a chart image obtained when the optical system is moved by −0.2 mm from the focal position. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating a point-image distribution function obtained by a phase surface. 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart of a focal-position determining procedure. 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram for explaining the focal-position determining procedure and illustrates a process of adjusting positions of the element-including optical system and the detector. 
         FIG. 16  is a graph showing contrast variation relative to a focal position in a known optical system. 
         FIG. 17  is a graph showing contrast variation relative to a focal position in an element-including optical system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a graph illustrating the MTF response obtained in a known optical system. 
         FIG. 19  is a graph illustrating the MTF response obtained in the element-including optical system including an optical wavefront modulation element. 
         FIG. 20  is a graph illustrating the shape of a wavefront aberration that can be expressed by a certain equation when an optical axis of the element-including optical system including the optical wavefront modulation element is z axis and two axes that are perpendicular to the z axis and to each other are x and y axes. 
         FIG. 21  is a graph illustrates the shape of the wavefront aberration in which the area where the wavefront aberration is 0.5λ or less is circled by a bold line. 
         FIG. 22  is a graph for explaining an MTF correction process performed by an image processing device according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 23  is another graph for explaining the MTF correction process performed by the image processing device. 
         FIG. 24  is a graph illustrating the MTF response obtained when an object is in focus and when the object is out of focus in the known optical system. 
         FIG. 25  is a graph illustrating the MTF response obtained when an object is in focus and when the object is out of focus in the element-including optical system including the optical wavefront modulation element according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 26  is a graph illustrating the MTF response obtained after data reconstruction in the image pickup apparatus according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 27  is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in a kernel data ROM (optical magnification). 
         FIG. 28  is a diagram illustrating another example of data stored in a kernel data ROM (F number). 
         FIG. 29  is a diagram illustrating another example of data stored in a kernel data ROM (object distance). 
         FIG. 30  is a flowchart of an optical-system setting process performed by an exposure controller. 
         FIG. 31  illustrates a first example of the structure including a signal processor and a kernel data storage ROM. 
         FIG. 32  illustrates a second example of the structure including a signal processor and a kernel data storage ROM. 
         FIG. 33  illustrates a third example of the structure including a signal processor and a kernel data storage ROM. 
         FIG. 34  illustrates a fourth example of the structure including a signal processor and a kernel data storage ROM. 
         FIG. 35  illustrates an example of the structure of the image processing device in which object distance information and exposure information are used in combination. 
         FIG. 36  illustrates an example of the structure of the image processing device in which zoom information and the exposure information are used in combination. 
         FIG. 37  illustrates an example of a filter structure applied when the exposure information, the object distance information, and the zoom information are used in combination. 
         FIG. 38  is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a known image-pickup lens apparatus and the state of ray bundles. 
         FIG. 39A  illustrates a spot image formed on a light-receiving surface of an image pickup device in the image-pickup lens apparatus shown in  FIG. 38  when a focal point is displaced by 0.2 mm (Defocus=0.2 mm). 
         FIG. 39B  illustrates a spot image formed on the light-receiving surface of the image pickup device in the image-pickup lens apparatus shown in  FIG. 38  when the focal point is not displaced (Best focus). 
         FIG. 39C  illustrates a spot image formed on the light-receiving surface of the image pickup device in the image-pickup lens apparatus shown in  FIG. 38  when the focal point is displaced by −0.2 mm (Defocus=−0.2 mm). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an image pickup apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment includes an element-including optical system  110 , a detector  120 , an analog front end (AFE) unit  130 , an image processing device  140 , a signal processor (DSP)  150 , an image display memory  160 , an image monitoring device  170 , an operating unit  180 , and a controller  190 . 
     The element-including optical system  110  supplies an image obtained by shooting an object OBJ to the detector  120 . The element-including optical system  110  includes a variable aperture  110   a.    
     The detector  120  includes a CCD or a CMOS sensor. The detector  120  receives an image from the element-including optical system  110  and outputs first image information representing the image formed thereon. The output is sent to the image processing device  140  via the AFE unit  130  as a first image (FIM) electric signal. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a CCD is shown as an example of the detector  120 . 
     The focal position is adjusted by moving the element-including optical system and/or the image pickup device to a focal position corresponding to a predetermined object distance using a contrast of the object based on the image signal. The image signal is repeatedly detected through the element-including optical system  110  which includes an optical system and an optical wavefront modulation element for modulating the optical transfer function (OTF). 
     The AFE unit  130  includes a timing generator  131  and an analog/digital (A/D) converter  132 . 
     The timing generator  131  generates timing for driving the CCD in the detector  120 . The A/D converter  132  converts an analog signal input from the CCD into a digital signal, and outputs the thus-obtained digital signal to the image processing device  140 . 
     The image processing device (two-dimensional convolution means)  140  receives the digital signal representing the picked-up image from the AFE unit  130 , subjects the signal to a two-dimensional convolution process, and outputs the result to the signal processor  150 . The signal processor  150  performs a filtering process of the optical transfer function (OTF) on the basis of the information obtained from the image processing device  140  and exposure information obtained from the controller  190 . The exposure information includes aperture information. The image processing device  140  has a function of generating an image signal with a smaller blur than that of a blurred image signal that is obtained from the detector  120 . In addition, the signal processor  150  has a function of performing noise-reduction filtering in the first step. 
     The image processing device  140  has a function of improving the contrast by performing a filtering process of the optical transfer function (OTF). 
     Processes performed by the image processing device  140  will be described in detail below. 
     The signal processor (DSP)  150  performs processes including color interpolation, white balancing, YCbCr conversion, compression, filing, etc., stores data in the memory  160 , and displays images on the image monitoring device  170 . 
     The controller  190  performs exposure control, receives operation inputs from the operating unit  180  and the like, and determines the overall operation of the system on the basis of the received operation inputs. Thus, the controller  190  controls the AFE unit  130 , the image processing device  140 , the signal processor  150 , the variable aperture  110   a , etc., so as to perform arbitration control of the overall system. 
     The structures and functions of the element-including optical system  110  and the image processing device  140  according to the present embodiment will be described below. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  are schematic diagrams illustrating the element-including optical system  110  having a zoom function (hereinafter sometimes called an element-including zoom optical system) in the image pickup apparatus.  FIG. 2  shows a wide-angle position and  FIG. 3  shows a telephoto position. 
     The element-including zoom optical system  110  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  includes an object-side lens  111 , an imaging lens  112 , and a movable lens group  113 . The object-side lens  111  is disposed at the object side (OBJS). The imaging lens  112  is provided for forming an image on the detector  120 . The movable lens group  113  is placed between the object-side lens  111  and the imaging lens  112 . The movable lens group  113  includes an optical wavefront modulation element  113   a  for changing the wavefront shape of light that passes through the imaging lens  112  to form an image on a light-receiving surface of the detector  120 . The optical wavefront modulation element  113   a  is, for example, a phase plate having a three-dimensional curved surface. An aperture stop (not shown) is also placed between the object-side lens  111  and the imaging lens  112 . 
     In the present embodiment, for example, the variable aperture  110   a  is provided and the aperture size (opening) thereof is controlled by the exposure control (device). 
     Although a phase plate is used as the optical wavefront modulation element in the present embodiment, any type of optical wavefront modulation element may be used as long as the wavefront shape can be changed. For example, an optical element having a varying thickness (e.g., a phase plate having a three-dimensional curved surface), an optical element having a varying refractive index (e.g., a gradient index wavefront modulation lens), an optical element having a coated lens surface or the like so as to have varying thickness and refractive index (e.g., a wavefront modulation hybrid lens or a structure in which a lens surface functions as a phase plane), a liquid crystal device capable of modulating the phase distribution of light (e.g., a liquid-crystal spatial phase modulation device), etc., may be used as the optical wavefront modulation element. 
     According to the present embodiment, a regularly blurred image is obtained using a phase plate as the optical wavefront modulation element. However, lenses included in normal optical systems that can form a regularly blurred image similar to that obtained by the optical wavefront modulation element may also be used. In such a case, the optical wavefront modulation element can be omitted from the optical system. In this case, instead of dealing with blur caused by the phase plate as described below, blur caused by the optical system will be dealt with. 
     The element-including zoom optical system  110  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is obtained by placing the optical phase plate  113   a  in a 3× zoom system of a digital camera. 
     The phase plate  113   a  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is an optical lens by which light converged by an optical system is regularly blurred. Due to the phase plate, an image that is not in focus at any point thereof can be formed on the detector  120 . 
     In other words, the phase plate  113   a  forms light with a large depth (which plays a major role in image formation) and flares (blurred portions). 
     A system for performing digital processing of the regularly blurred image so as to reconstruct a focused image is called a wavefront-aberration-control optical system or a Depth Expansion Optical System (DEOS). In the present embodiment, the function of this system is provided by the image processing device  140 . 
     The basic principle of the DEOS will be described below. As shown in  FIG. 6 , when an object image f is supplied to the DEOS H, an image g is generated. 
     This process can be expressed by the following equation:
 
 g=H*f  
 
where ‘*’ indicates convolution.
 
     In order to obtain the object from the generated image g, the following process is necessary:
 
 f=H− 1* g  
 
     A kernel size and a coefficient of the H function will be described below. 
     ZPn, ZPn−1, . . . indicate zoom positions and Hn, Hn−1, . . . indicate the respective H functions. 
     Since the corresponding spot images differ from each other, the H functions can be expressed as follows: 
     
       
         
           
             Hn 
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     The difference in the number of rows and/or columns in the above matrices is called the kernel size, and each of the numbers in the matrices is called the coefficient. 
     Each of the H functions may be stored in a memory. Alternatively, the PSF may be set as a function of object distance and be calculated on the basis of the object distance, so that the H function can be obtained by calculation. In such a case, a filter optimum for an arbitrary object distance can be obtained. Alternatively, the H function itself may be set as a function of object distance, and be directly determined from the object distance. 
     In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the image taken by the element-including optical system  110  is picked up by the detector  120 , and is input to the image processing device  140  when the aperture is open. The image processing device  140  acquires a coefficient that corresponds to the element-including optical system  110  and generates an image signal with a smaller blur than that of the blurred-image signal from the detector  120  using the acquired coefficient. 
     In the present embodiment, as described above, the term “blur” refers to the phenomenon in which an image that is not in focus at any point thereof is formed on the detector  120  due to the phase plate  113   a  placed in the optical system, and in which light with a large depth (which plays a major role in image formation) and flares (blurred portions) are formed by the phase plate  113   a . Since the image is blurred and blurred portions are formed, the term “blur” has a meaning similar to that of “aberration”. Therefore, in the present embodiment, blur is sometimes explained as aberration. 
     In the present embodiment, the DEOS is used so that a high-definition image can be obtained, the structure of the optical system can be simplified, and the costs can be reduced. 
     Features of the DEOS will be described in more detail below. 
       FIGS. 7A to 7C  show spot images formed on the light-receiving surface of the detector  120 . 
       FIG. 7A  shows the spot image obtained when the focal point is displaced by 0.2 mm (Defocus=0.2 mm),  FIG. 7B  shows the spot image obtained when the focal point is not displaced (Best focus), and  FIG. 7C  shows the spot image obtained when the focal point is displaced by −0.2 mm (Defocus=−0.2 mm). 
     As is clear from  FIGS. 7A to 7C , in the image pickup apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment, light with a large depth (which plays a major role in image formation) and flares (blurred portions) are formed by the phase plate  113   a.    
     Thus, the first image FIM formed by the image pickup apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment is in light conditions with an extremely large depth. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are diagrams for explaining a Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) of the first image formed by the image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment.  FIG. 8A  shows a spot image formed on the light-receiving surface of the detector included in the image pickup apparatus.  FIG. 8B  shows the MTF characteristic with respect to spatial frequency. 
     In the present embodiment, a final, high-definition image is obtained by a correction process performed by the image processing device  140  including, for example, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). Therefore, as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the MTF of the first image is basically low. 
     In the present embodiment, positions where the element-including optical system  110  and the detector  120  are attached are adjusted by an adjusting device (manufacturing device)  200  shown in  FIG. 9  such that a contrast detected in the element-including optical system  110  including the optical wavefront modulation element for modulating the optical transfer function (OTF) becomes equal to or more than a predetermined threshold. 
     Thus, in the process of assembling the image pickup apparatus  100 , the positions where the element-including optical system  110  and the detector  120  are attached are adjusted by making a detected contrast equal to or more than a predetermined threshold so that a normal optical image can be obtained. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the adjusting device  200  includes a lens adjustment driver  210 , a sensor  220  that corresponds to the detector  120  shown in  FIG. 1 , an analog front end (AFE) unit  230 , a RAW buffer memory  240 , a contrast detector  250 , a focus adjustment controller  260 , and an image display  270 . 
     The lens adjustment driver  210  includes an element-including optical system  212  which has an optical system and an optical wavefront modulation element. A motor driver  213  drives the element-including optical system  212  along an optical axis thereof, thereby setting the lens position at a desired position. 
     The AFE unit  230  includes a timing generator  232  and an A/D converter  231 . 
     The timing generator  232  is controlled by the focus adjustment controller  260  so as to generate timing for driving a CCD included in the sensor (detector)  220 . The A/D converter  231  converts an analog signal input from the CCD into a digital signal, and outputs the thus-obtained digital signal to the RAW buffer memory  240 . 
     The timing generator  232  is also controlled by the focus adjustment controller  260  so as to supply a drive signal for adjusting the position of the element-including optical system  212  relative to the sensor  220  to adjust the focus to the motor driver  213 . 
     The contrast detector  250  measures the contrast on the basis of data stored in the RAW buffer memory  240  while the element-including optical system  212  is at a certain position. 
     The contrast detector  250  repeatedly detects the contrast of the object based on the image signal while the element-including optical system  212  is being driven. 
     The focus adjustment controller  260  outputs a control signal for controlling and changing the position of the lens system  212  to the timing generator  232  included in the AFE unit  230  and causes the contrast detector  250  to measure the contrast while the lens system  212  is at the controlled position. 
     The focus adjustment control is performed by moving the element-including optical system  212  and/or the image pickup device to a focal position corresponding to a predetermined object distance using the contrast (measurement result) obtained by the contrast detector  250 . 
     The focus adjustment controller  260  records a position at which the contrast of the object detected by the contrast detector  250  while the element-including optical system  212  is being driven becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. Then, the element-including optical system  212  is driven in forward and/or backward directions from the recorded position, and is then driven in a direction in which the contrast is increased from the predetermined threshold. Then, the element-including optical system  212  is further driven and a position at which the contrast becomes equal to or less than the predetermined threshold again is recorded. The thus recorded two positions are used to determine the focal position. For example, a midpoint between the two positions can be determined as the focal position. When the focal position is determined, the focus adjustment controller  260 , for example, displays a message indicating that the focal position is determined. 
     The operation of “driving the optical system” refers to an operation of moving a lens along an optical axis, for example, for a normal lens in the optical system. For a liquid lens in the optical system, the operation of “driving the optical system” refers to an operation of applying a voltage to the liquid so that an effect equivalent to that obtained when the normal lens is moved along the optical axis can be obtained. 
     A portion at which the contrast is detected includes a region where the intensity is high in the point image distribution obtained by the optical wavefront modulation element (phase modulation element). The region where the intensity is high in the point image distribution obtained by the optical wavefront modulation element (phase modulation element) corresponds to a region where the influence of the phase modulation element is small. The “region where the influence of the phase modulation element is small” will be explained below. 
     A chart image shown in  FIG. 10  is obtained when, for example, the phase of the phase modulation element is expressed as follows:
 
 z =exp{ i× (α( x   3   +y   3 )+β( x   2   y+xy   2 )+χ( x   5   +y   5 )+δ( x   4   y+xy   4 )+ε( x   3   y   2   +x   2   y   3 ))}
     α=−0.00025785   β=0.0063043   χ=0.039457   δ=−0.019513   ε=−0.0086456   

     Charts obtained when the optical system is moved by ±0.2 mm are shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . In  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the “region where the influence of the phase modulation element is small” is surrounded by the dashed lines. When an image of a point light source is obtained using the phase modulation element with the phase expressed as above, an asymmetric image is obtained as shown in  FIG. 13 . A region other than the region where the image is blurred by the phase modulation element is called the “region where the influence of the phase modulation element is small”. 
     Next, a procedure for determining the focal position will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
     First, the element-including optical system  212  is attached to an image pickup apparatus. 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the relative positions of the element-including optical system  212  and the sensor  220  are adjusted along x and y axes so that a chart can be taken. 
     After the position adjustment along the x and y axes, a start position is determined (ST 201 ) and a contrast is measured at that position (ST 202 ). 
     Then, it is determined whether or not the contrast is equal to or less than the threshold (ST 203 ). If the contrast is more than the threshold, the element-including lens system  212  is driven (ST 204 ) and the contrast is measured again (ST 205 ). 
     If the contrast is equal to or less than the threshold, the position A of the element-including optical system  212  is stored (ST 206 ). Then, the element-including optical system  212  is driven (ST 207 ) and the contrast is measured again (ST 208 ). Then, it is determined whether or not the contrast is equal to or less than the threshold (ST 209 ). If the contrast is more than that threshold, the element-including optical system  212  is driven (ST 207 ) and the contrast is measured again (ST 208 ). If the contrast is equal to or less than the threshold, the focal position is calculated (ST 210 ) and the element-including optical system  212  is driven (ST 211 ). 
     In the above-described step of driving the element-including optical system  212 , the element-including lens system  212  is driven along the z axis (optical axis). 
     In the present embodiment the contrast may be repeatedly detected. However, if the detected contrast is equal to or less than the threshold, further driving of the lens may be omitted. In such a case, the processes performed in steps ST 206  to ST 211  may be omitted. In addition, if the contrast detected first is equal to or less than the threshold, the processes of steps ST 204  and ST 205  may also be omitted. 
       FIG. 16  shows an example of variation in the contrast value when a known optical system is driven.  FIG. 17  shows an example of variation in the contrast value when the element-including optical system according to the present embodiment is driven. In  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the horizontal axis shows the focal position and the vertical axis shows the contrast ratio. As is clear from  FIGS. 16 and 17 , compared to the known optical system, in the element-including optical system according to the present embodiment, variation in the contrast is reduced. Accordingly, the focused state can be easily obtained and shooting at the predetermined object distance can be performed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 19 , the effect of the phase modulation element  113   a , that is, phase variation, is reduced and a response similar to that of a known optical system can be obtained. Therefore, as described above, the focal position can be adjusted by adjusting the attachment positions so as to increase the response. When such an adjustment is performed, a larger depth of field can be obtained compared to the case in which the adjustment is not performed. 
     When the optical axis of the optical system including the optical wavefront modulation element according to the present embodiment is defined as z axis and two axes that are perpendicular to the z axis and to each other are defined as x and y axes,  FIG. 20  shows the shape of wavefront aberration that is expressed as follows:
 
 Z= α′( x   3   +y   3 )
 
where |x|≦1 and |y|≦1 are satisfied and Z indicates the wavefront aberration.
 
     In an area where the wavefront aberration is 0.5λ or less, the phase variation is small and an OTF similar to that of a normal optical system can be obtained. Therefore, the attachment positions are adjusted by stopping down the aperture until the wavefront aberration is reduced to about 0.5λ. 
       FIG. 21  shows the shape of the wavefront aberration in which the area where the wavefront aberration is 0.5λ or less is circled by the bold line. 
     In the above description, λ is a wavelength in the visible light region or infrared region. 
       FIG. 20  simply shows an example of the shape of the wavefront aberration, and the present invention is not limited to this as long as the phase can be expressed as follows: 
             z   =     exp   ⁢     {     ⅈ   ×     (       ∑     j   =   1       ⁢       C   j     ⁢     x   m     ⁢     y   n         )       }             
where m and n are integers and
 
               j   =       [         (     m   +   n     )     2     +   m   +     3   ⁢   n       ]     2       ,          x        ≤   1     ,       and   ⁢           ⁢        y          ≤   1           
are satisfied, when the optical axis of the optical system is defined as z axis and two axes perpendicular to the z axis and to each other are defined as x and y axes.
 
     As described above, the image processing device  140  receives the first image FIM from the detector  120  and performs a predetermined correction process for lifting the MTF of the first image with respect to the spatial frequency. Accordingly, a final high-definition image FNLIM is generated. 
     In the MTF correction process performed by the image processing device  140 , the MTF of the first image, which is basically low as shown by the curve A in  FIG. 22 , is changed to an MTF closer to, or the same as, that shown by the curve B in  FIG. 22  by performing post-processing including edge emphasis and chroma emphasis using the spatial frequency as a parameter. The characteristic shown by the curve B in  FIG. 22  is obtained when, for example, the wavefront shape is not changed using the optical wavefront modulation element as in the present embodiment. 
     In the present embodiment, all of the corrections are performed using the spatial frequency as a parameter. 
     In the present embodiment, in order to obtain the final MTF characteristic curve B from the optically obtained MTF characteristic curve A with respect to the special frequency as shown in  FIG. 22 , the original image (first image) is corrected by performing edge emphasis or the like for each spatial frequency. For example, the MTF characteristic shown in  FIG. 22  is processed with an edge emphasis curve with respect to the spatial frequency shown in  FIG. 23 . 
     More specifically, in a predetermined spatial frequency range, the degree of edge emphasis is reduced at a low-frequency side and a high-frequency side and is increased in an intermediate frequency region. Accordingly, the desired MTF characteristic curve B can be virtually obtained. 
     As described above, basically, the image pickup apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment includes the element-including optical system  110  and the detector  120  for obtaining the first image. In addition, the image pickup apparatus  100  also includes the image processing device  140  for forming the final high-definition image from the first image. The element-including optical system  110  is provided with an optical wavefront modulation element or an optical element, such as a glass element and a plastic element, having a surface processed so as to perform wavefront formation, so that the wavefront of light can be changed (modulated). The light with the modulated wavefront forms an image, i.e., the first image, on the imaging plane (light-receiving surface) of the detector  120  including a CCD or a CMOS sensor. The image pickup apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the image pickup apparatus  100  functions as an image-forming system that can obtain a high-definition image from the first image through the image processing device  140 . 
     In the present embodiment, the first image obtained by the detector  120  is in light conditions with an extremely large depth. Therefore, the MTF of the first image is basically low, and is corrected by the image processing device  140 . 
     The image-forming process performed by the image pickup apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment will be discussed below from the wave-optical point of view. 
     When a spherical wave emitted from a single point of an object passes through an imaging optical system, the spherical wave is converted into a convergent wave. At this time, aberrations are generated unless the imaging optical system is an ideal optical system. Therefore, the wavefront shape is changed into a complex shape instead of a spherical shape. Wavefront optics is the science that connects geometrical optics with wave optics, and is useful in dealing with the phenomenon of wavefront. 
     When the wave-optical MTF at the focal point is considered, information of the wavefront at the exit pupil position in the imaging optical system becomes important. 
     The MTF can be calculated by the Fourier transform of wave-optical intensity distribution at the focal point. The wave-optical intensity distribution is obtained as a square of wave-optical amplitude distribution, which is obtained by the Fourier transform of a pupil function at the exit pupil. 
     The pupil function is the wavefront information (wavefront aberration) at the exit pupil position. Therefore, the MTF can be calculated if the wavefront aberration of the optical system  110  can be accurately calculated. 
     Accordingly, the MTF value at the imaging plane can be arbitrarily changed by changing the wavefront information at the exit pupil position by a predetermined process. Also in the present embodiment in which the wavefront shape is changed using the optical wavefront modulation element, desired wavefront formation is performed by varying the phase (the light path length along the light beam). When the desired wavefront formation is performed, light output from the exit pupil forms an image including portions where light rays are dense and portions where light rays are sparse, as is clear from the geometrical optical spot images shown in  FIGS. 7A to 7C . In this state, the MTF value is low in regions where the spatial frequency is low and an acceptable resolution is obtained in regions where the spatial frequency is high. When the MTF value is low, in other words, when the above-mentioned geometrical optical spot images are obtained, aliasing does not occur. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a low-pass filter. Then, flare images, which cause the reduction in the MTF value, are removed by the image processing device  140  including the DSP or the like. Accordingly the MTF value can be considerably increased. 
     Next, an MTF response of the present embodiment and that of a known optical system will be discussed below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 27 ,  28 , and  29 , in the element-including optical system including the optical wavefront modulation element, variation in the MTF response obtained when the object is out of focus is smaller than that in an optical system free from the optical wavefront modulation element. The MTF response is increased by subjecting the image formed by the element-including optical system including the optical wavefront modulation element to a process using a convolution filter. 
     The OTF (MTF) value is preferably 0.1 or more at the Nyquist frequency shown in  FIG. 25 . The reason for this will be described below. In order to obtain the OTF shown in  FIG. 25  after reconstruction, the gain is increased by the reconstruction filter. However, at this time, the sensor noise is also increased. Therefore, preferably, reconstruction is performed without largely increasing the gain in a high-frequency range around the Nyquist frequency. 
     In a normal optical system, sufficient resolution can be obtained if the MTF value at the Nyquist frequency is 0.1 or more. 
     Therefore, if the MTF value is 0.1 or more before reconstruction, it is not necessary to increase the gain at the Nyquist frequency by the reconstruction filter. If the MTF value is less than 0.1 before reconstruction, the reconstructed image is largely influenced by noise. 
     The structure of the image processing device  140  and processes performed thereby will be described below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image processing device  140  includes a RAW buffer memory  141 , a convolution operator  142 , a kernel data storage ROM  143  that functions as memory means, and a convolution controller  144 . 
     The convolution controller  144  is controlled by the controller  190  so as to turn on/off the convolution process, control the screen size, and switch kernel data. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 24 ,  25 , and  26 , the kernel data storage ROM  143  stores kernel data for the convolution process that are calculated in advance on the basis of the PSF in of the optical system. The kernel data storage ROM  143  acquires exposure information, which is determined when the exposure settings are made by the controller  190 , and the kernel data is selected through the convolution controller  144 . 
     The exposure information includes aperture information. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 27 , kernel data A corresponds to an optical magnification of 1.5, kernel data B corresponds to an optical magnification of 5, and kernel data C corresponds to an optical magnification of 10. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 28 , kernel data A corresponds to an F number, which is the aperture information, of 2.8, and kernel data B corresponds to an F number of 4. The F numbers 2.8 and 4 are out of the above-described area where the wavefront aberration is 0.5λ or less. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 29 , kernel data A corresponds to an object distance of 100 mm, kernel data B corresponds to an object distance of 500 mm, and kernel data C corresponds to an object distance of 4 m. 
     The filtering process is performed in accordance with the aperture information, as in the example shown in  FIG. 28 , for the following reasons. 
     That is, when the aperture is stopped down to shoot an object, the phase plate  113   a  that functions as the optical wavefront modulation element is covered by the aperture stop. Therefore, the phase is changed and suitable image reconstruction cannot be performed. 
     Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a filtering process corresponding to the aperture information included in the exposure information is performed as in this example, so that suitable image reconstruction can be performed. 
       FIG. 30  is a flowchart of a switching process performed by the controller  190  in accordance with the exposure information including the aperture information. 
     First, exposure information (RP) is detected (ST 101 ), and is supplied to the convolution controller  144 . 
     The convolution controller  144  sets the kernel size and the numerical coefficient in a register on the basis of the exposure information RP (ST 102 ). 
     The image data obtained by the detector  120  and input to the two-dimensional convolution operator  142  through the AFE unit  130  is subjected to the convolution operation based on the data stored in the register. Then, the data obtained by the operation is transmitted to the signal processor  150  (ST 103 ). 
     The signal processor  150  and the kernel data storage ROM  143  of the image processing device  140  will be described in more detail below. 
       FIGS. 31 to 34  are block diagrams illustrating first to fourth examples of the image processing device  140 . For simplicity, the AFE unit and the like are omitted. These examples correspond to the case in which filter kernel data is prepared in advance in association with the exposure information. 
     Referring to  FIG. 31 , the image processing device  140  receives the exposure information that is determined when the exposure settings are made from an exposure information detector  153  and selects kernel data through the convolution controller  144 . The two-dimensional convolution operator  142  performs the convolution process using the kernel data. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 32 , the image processing device  140  performs a first noise-reduction filtering process ST 1 . The first noise-reduction filtering process ST 1  is prepared in advance as the filter kernel data in association with the exposure information. 
     The exposure information determined when the exposure settings are made is detected by the exposure information detector  153  and the kernel data is selected through the convolution controller  144 . 
     After the first noise-reduction filtering process ST 1 , the two-dimensional convolution operator  142  performs a color conversion process ST 2  for converting the color space and then performs the convolution process (OTF reconstruction filtering process) ST 3  using the kernel data. 
     Then, a second noise-reduction filtering process ST 4  is performed and the color space is returned to the original state by a color conversion process ST 5 . The color conversion processes may be, for example, YCbCr conversion. However, other kinds of conversion processes may also be performed. 
     The second noise-reduction filtering process ST 4  may be omitted. 
       FIG. 33  is a block diagram illustrating the case in which an OTF reconstruction filter is prepared in advance in association with the exposure information. 
     The exposure information determined when the exposure settings are made is obtained by the exposure information detector  153  and the kernel data is selected through the convolution controller  144 . 
     After a first noise-reduction filtering process ST 11  and a color conversion process ST 12 , the two-dimensional convolution operator  142  performs a convolution process ST 13  using the OTF reconstruction filter. 
     Then, a second noise-reduction filtering process ST 14  is performed and the color space is returned to the original state by a color conversion process ST 15 . The color conversion processes may be, for example, YCbCr conversion. However, other kinds of conversion processes may also be performed. 
     One of the first and second noise-reduction filtering processes ST 11  and ST 14  may also be omitted. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 34 , noise-reduction filtering processes are performed and a noise reduction filter is prepared in advance as the filter kernel data in association with the exposure information. 
     A second noise-reduction filtering process ST 24  may also be omitted. 
     The exposure information determined when the exposure settings are made is acquired by the exposure information detector  153  and the kernel data is selected through the convolution controller  144 . 
     After a first noise-reduction filtering process ST 21 , the two-dimensional convolution operator  142  performs a color conversion process ST 22  for converting the color space and then performs the convolution process ST 23  using the kernel data. 
     Then, the second noise-reduction filtering process ST 24  is performed in accordance with the exposure information and the color space is returned to the original state by a color conversion process ST 25 . The color conversion processes may be, for example, YCbCr conversion. However, other kinds of conversion processes may also be performed. 
     The first noise-reduction filtering process ST 21  may also be omitted. 
     In the above-described examples, the filtering process is performed by the two-dimensional convolution operator  142  in accordance with only the exposure information. However, the exposure information may also be used in combination with, for example, object distance information, zoom information, or shooting-mode information so that a more suitable coefficient can be extracted or a suitable operation can be performed. 
       FIG. 35  shows an example of the structure of an image processing device in which the object distance information and the exposure information are used in combination. An image pickup apparatus  100 A generates an image signal with a smaller blur than that of a blurred image signal obtained from a detector  120 . As shown in  FIG. 35 , the image pickup apparatus  100 A includes a convolution device  301 , a kernel/coefficient storage register  302 , and an image processing operation unit  303 . 
     In the image pickup apparatus  100 A, the image processing operation unit  303  reads information regarding an approximate distance to the object and exposure information from an object-distance-information detection device  400 , and determines a kernel size and a coefficient for use in an operation suitable for the object position. The image processing operation unit  303  stores the kernel size and the coefficient in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302 . The convolution device  301  performs the suitable operation using the kernel size and the coefficient so as to reconstruct the image. 
     In the image pickup apparatus including the phase plate (wavefront coding optical element) as the optical wavefront modulation element, a suitable image signal without aberration can be obtained by image processing when the focal distance is within a predetermined focal distance range. However, when the focal distance is outside the predetermined focal distance range, there is a limit to the correction that can be achieved by the image processing. Therefore, the image signal includes aberrations for only the objects outside the above-described range. 
     When the image processing is performed such that aberrations do not occur in a predetermined small area, blurred portions can be obtained in an area outside the predetermined small area. 
     According to the present embodiment, a distance to the main object is detected by the object-distance-information detection device  400  which includes a distance detection sensor. Then, an image correction process is performed in accordance with a detected distance. 
     The above-described image processing is performed by the convolution operation. To achieve the convolution operation, a single, common coefficient may be stored and a correction coefficient may be stored in association with the focal distance. In such a case, the coefficient is corrected using the correction coefficient so that a suitable convolution operation can be performed using the corrected coefficient. 
     Alternatively, the following structures may also be used. 
     That is, a kernel size and a coefficient for the convolution operation may be directly stored in advance in association with the focal distance, and the convolution operation may be performed using the thus-stored kernel size and coefficient. Alternatively, the coefficient may be stored in advance as a function of focal distance. In this case, the coefficient to be used in the convolution operation may be calculated from this function in accordance with the focal distance. 
     More specifically, in the apparatus shown in  FIG. 35 , the following structure may be used. 
     That is, the kernel/coefficient storage register  302  functions as conversion-coefficient storing means and stores at least two coefficients corresponding to the aberration caused by at least the phase plate  113   a  in association with the object distance. The image processing operation unit  303  functions as coefficient-selecting means for selecting one of the coefficients stored in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302 . More specifically, the image processing operation unit  303  selects a coefficient that corresponds to the object distance on the basis of information generated by the object-distance-information detection device  400  that functions as object-distance-information generating means. 
     Then, the convolution device  301 , which functions as converting means, converts the image signal using the coefficient selected by the image processing operation unit  303  which functions as the coefficient-selecting means. 
     Alternatively, as described above, the image processing operation unit  303  functions as conversion-coefficient calculating means and calculates the coefficient on the basis of the information generated by the object-distance-information detection device  400  which functions as the object-distance-information generating means. The thus-calculated coefficient is stored in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302 . 
     Then, the convolution device  301 , which functions as the converting means, converts the image signal using the coefficient obtained by the image processing operation unit  303  which functions as the conversion-coefficient calculating means and stored in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302 . 
     Alternatively, the kernel/coefficient storage register  302  functions as correction-value storing means and stores at least one correction value in association with a zoom position or an amount of zoom of the element-including zoom optical system  110 . The correction value includes a kernel size of an object aberration image. 
     The kernel/coefficient storage register  302  also functions as second conversion-coefficient storing means and stores a coefficient corresponding to the aberration caused by the phase plate  113   a  in advance. 
     Then, the image processing operation unit  303  functions as correction-value selecting means and selects a correction value from one or more correction values stored in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302  that functions as the correction-value storing means. More specifically, the image processing operation unit  303  selects a correction value that corresponds to the object distance on the basis of the distance information generated by the object-distance-information detection device  400  that functions as the object-distance-information generating means. 
     Then, the convolution device  301 , which functions as the converting means, converts the image signal using the coefficient obtained from the kernel/coefficient storage register  302 , which functions as the second conversion-coefficient storing means, and the correction value selected by the image processing operation unit  303 , which functions as the correction-value selecting means. 
     Referring to  FIG. 36 , an image pickup apparatus  100 B generates an image signal with a smaller blur than that of a blurred image signal obtained from a detector  120 . 
     Similar to the image pickup apparatus  100 A shown in  FIG. 35 , the image pickup apparatus  100 B includes a convolution device  301 , a kernel/coefficient storage register  302 , and an image processing operation unit  303 . 
     In the image pickup apparatus  100 B, the image processing operation unit  303  reads information regarding the zoom position or the amount of zoom and the exposure information from the zoom information detection device  500 . The kernel/coefficient storage register  302  stores kernel size data and coefficient data, and transmits a kernel size and a coefficient suitable for the exposure information and the zoom position obtained from the image processing operation unit  303  to the convolution device  301 . Accordingly, the convolution device  301  performs a suitable operation so as to reconstruct the image. 
     As described above, in the case in which the phase plate, which functions as the optical wavefront modulation element, is included in the zoom optical system of the image pickup apparatus, the generated spot image differs in accordance with the zoom position of the zoom optical system. Therefore, in order to obtain a suitable in-focus image by subjecting an out-of-focus image (spot image) obtained by the phase plate to the convolution operation performed by the DSP or the like, the convolution operation that differs in accordance with the zoom position must be performed. 
     Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the zoom information detection device  500  is provided so that a suitable convolution operation can be performed in accordance with the zoom position and a suitable in-focus image can be obtained irrespective of the zoom position. 
     In the convolution operation performed by the image processing device  100 B, a signal, common coefficient for the convolution operation may be stored in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302 . 
     Alternatively, the following structures may also be used. 
     That is, a correction coefficient may be stored in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302  in association with the zoom position, and the coefficient may be corrected using the correction coefficient. Accordingly, the following structures may be adopted. 
     (1) The structure in which a suitable convolution operation is performed using a corrected coefficient (by the convolution device  301 ). 
     (2) The structure in which a kernel size and a coefficient for the convolution operation are directly stored in advance in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302  in association with the zoom position, and the convolution operation is performed using the thus-stored kernel size and coefficient (by the convolution device  301 ). 
     (3) The structure in which the coefficient is stored in advance in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302  as a function of zoom position, and the convolution operation is performed on the basis of a calculated coefficient (by the convolution device  301 ). 
     More specifically, in the apparatus shown in  FIG. 36 , the following structure may be used. 
     That is, the kernel/coefficient storage register  302  functions as conversion-coefficient storing means and stores at least two coefficients corresponding to the aberration caused by the phase plate  113   a  in association with the zoom position or the amount of zoom in the element-including zoom optical system  110 . The image processing operation unit  303  functions as coefficient-selecting means for selecting one of the coefficients stored in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302 . More specifically, the image processing operation unit  303  selects a coefficient that corresponds to the zoom position or the amount of zoom of the element-including zoom optical system  110  on the basis of information generated by the zoom information detection device  500  that functions as zoom-information generating means. 
     Then, the convolution device  301 , which functions as a converting means, converts the image signal using the coefficient selected by the image processing operation unit  303  which functions as the coefficient-selecting means. 
     Alternatively, as described above with reference to  FIG. 35 , the image processing operation unit  303  functions as a conversion-coefficient calculating means and calculates the coefficient on the basis of the information generated by the zoom information detection device  500  which functions as the zoom-information generating means. The thus-calculated coefficient is stored in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302 . 
     Then, the convolution device  301 , which functions as the converting means, converts the image signal on the basis of the coefficient obtained by the image processing operation unit  303 , which functions as the conversion-coefficient calculating means, and stores it in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302 . 
     Alternatively, the kernel/coefficient storage register  302  functions as correction-value storing means and stores at least one correction value in association with the zoom position or the amount of zoom of the element-including zoom optical system  110 . The correction value includes a kernel size of an object aberration image. 
     The kernel/coefficient storage register  302  also functions as second conversion-coefficient storing means and stores a coefficient corresponding to the aberration caused by the phase plate  113   a  in advance. 
     Then, the image processing operation unit  303  functions as correction-value selecting means and selects a correction value from one or more correction values stored in the kernel/coefficient storage register  302 , which functions as the correction-value storing means. More specifically, the image processing operation unit  303  selects a correction value that corresponds to the zoom position or the amount of zoom of the element-including zoom optical system on the basis of the zoom information generated by the zoom information detection device  500  that functions as the zoom-information generating means. 
     Then, the convolution device  301 , which functions as the converting means, converts the image signal using the coefficient obtained from the kernel/coefficient storage register  302 , which functions as the second conversion-coefficient storing means, and the correction value selected by the image processing operation unit  303 , which functions as the correction-value selecting means. 
       FIG. 37  shows an example of a filter structure used when the exposure information, the object distance information, and the zoom information are used in combination. In this example, a two-dimensional information structure is formed by the object distance information and the zoom information, and the exposure information elements are arranged along the depth. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show an example of an element-including optical system, and an element-including optical system according to the present invention is not limited to that shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In addition,  FIGS. 4 and 5  show examples of spot shapes, and the spot shapes of the present embodiment are not limited to those shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     The kernel data storage ROM is not limit to those storing the kernel sizes and values in association with the optical magnification, the F number, and the object distance information, as shown in  FIGS. 27 ,  28 , and  29 . In addition, the number of kernel data elements to be prepared is not limited to three. 
     Although the amount of information to be stored is increased as the number of dimensions thereof is increased to three, as shown in  FIG. 37 , or more, a more suitable selection can be performed on the basis of various conditions in such a case. The information to be stored includes the exposure information, the object distance information, the zoom information, etc., as described above. 
     In the image pickup apparatus including the phase plate as the optical wavefront modulation element, as described above, a suitable image signal without aberration can be obtained by image processing when the focal distance is within a predetermined focal distance range. However, when the focal distance is outside the predetermined focal distance range, there is a limit to the correction that can be performed by the image processing. Therefore, the image signal includes aberrations for only the objects outside the above-described range. 
     When the image processing is performed such that aberrations do not occur in a predetermined small area, blurred portions can be obtained in an area outside the predetermined small area. 
     As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image pickup apparatus  100  includes the element-including optical system  110  and the detector  120  for forming a first image. In addition, the image pickup apparatus  100  also includes the image processing device  140  for forming a final high-definition image from the first image. 
     The focal position of the element-including optical system  110  is adjusted by the movement to a focal position corresponding to a predetermined object distance using a contrast of the object based on the image signal. The image signal is repeatedly detected through the element-including optical system which includes an optical system and an optical wavefront modulation element for modulating the optical transfer function (OTF). Accordingly, the focused state can be obtained by detecting the contrast in a region where the contrast is relatively high, and shooting at the predetermined object distance can be performed. 
     In addition, the optical system can be simplified and can be easily manufactured, and the costs can be reduced. Furthermore, a high-quality reconstruction image in which the influence of noise is small can be obtained. 
     In addition, the kernel size and the coefficient used in the convolution operation are variable, and suitable kernel size and coefficient can be determined on the basis of the inputs from the operating unit  180 . Accordingly, it is not necessary to take the magnification and defocus area into account in the lens design and the reconstructed image can be obtained by the convolution operation with high accuracy. 
     The image pickup apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment may be applied to a small, light, inexpensive DEOS for use in consumer appliances such as digital cameras and camcorders. 
     In addition, in the present embodiment, the image pickup apparatus  100  includes the element-including optical system  110  and the image processing device  140 . The element-including optical system  110  includes the optical wavefront modulation element for changing the wavefront shape of light that passes through the imaging lens  112  to form an image on the light-receiving surface of the detector  120 . The image processing device  140  receives a first image FIM from the detector  120  and subjects the first image to a predetermined correction process for lifting the MTF relative to the special frequency so as to obtain a final high-definition image FNLIM. Thus, there is an advantage in that a high-definition image can be obtained. 
     In the present embodiment, the element-including optical system  110  and the image processing device  140  are provided. The element-including optical system  110  includes the optical wavefront modulation element  113   a  for changing the wavefront shape of light that passes through the imaging lens  112  to form an image on the light-receiving surface of the detector  120 . The image processing device  140  receives a first image FIM from the detector  120  and subjects the first image to a predetermined correction process for lifting the MTF relative to the special frequency so as to obtain a final high-definition image FNLIM. Thus, the image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment has an advantage in that a high-definition image can be obtained.