Patent ID: 7940322

Claim:
A focus detecting device comprising: a focus detecting optical system which forms a plurality of object images; a plurality of photoelectric conversion element arrays each of which includes a plurality of pixels, wherein the photoelectric conversion element arrays subject each of the plural object images formed by the focus detecting optical system to photoelectric conversion, and wherein the photoelectric conversion element arrays are arranged in parallel with each other in an arrangement direction of the pixels; an electric charge transfer path which transfers an electric charge obtained by the photoelectric conversion performed by the photoelectric conversion element arrays; and a focus detecting section which performs focus detection with respect to a plurality of focus areas based on a signal associated with the electric charge transferred by the electric charge transfer path; wherein the photoelectric conversion element arrays each include a plurality of effective pixel regions corresponding to the plural focus areas and which are arranged in the arrangement direction of the pixels of the photoelectric conversion element arrays, and ineffective pixel regions which are arranged between the plural effective pixel regions; and wherein the focus detecting device further comprises: a plurality of monitor photodiodes which are provided between the photoelectric conversion element arrays and which are arranged so as to correspond to the plurality of effective pixel regions, the monitor photodiodes monitoring an electric charge amount obtained by each of the photoelectric conversion element arrays; and a plurality of monitor photodiode charge detecting sections each of which is arranged in a space formed by each of the ineffective pixel regions and the effective pixel regions, wherein the monitor photodiode charge detecting sections detect electric charges of the plural monitor photodiodes.