Focus adjustment apparatus and control method therefor

Abstract

A focus adjustment apparatus that displays an in-focus state in a display region in association with control of a focus lens position. The apparatus includes a signal generation unit configured to output a pair of image signals from a focus detection region having a plurality of corresponding display regions, the image signals being generated by photoelectrically converting light having passed through an imaging optical system, and a control unit configured to detect a phase difference of the pair of image signals output from the focus detection region, and to control a position of the focus lens based on the phase difference detection result. The control unit detects the phase difference corresponding to divided regions formed by dividing the focus detection region, and displays an in-focus state in the display region in accordance with the control of the focus lens position control based on the phase difference detection result.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A focus adjustment apparatus configured to display an in-focus state in a display region in accordance with control of a focus lens position, the focus adjustment apparatus comprising:
 an object detection unit configured to detect a specific object from an image;   a signal generation unit configured to output a pair of image signals from a focus detection region, the image signals being generated by photoelectrically converting light having passed through an imaging optical system; and   a control unit configured to detect a defocus amount based on the pair of image signals output from a first focus detection region having a plurality of corresponding display regions, and to control a position of the focus lens based on the defocus amount corresponding to the first focus detection region,   wherein the control unit determines at least one display region to indicate an in-focus state from among the display regions corresponding to the first focus detection region, in accordance with the control of the focus lens position, based on a detection result by the object detection unit.   
     
     
         2 . The focus adjustment apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines, to indicate an in-focus state, a display region where the specific object has been detected by the object detection unit. 
     
     
         3 . The focus adjustment apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the control unit determines, not to indicate an in-focus state, a display region where the specific object has not been detected by the object detection unit. 
     
     
         4 . The focus adjustment apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines, if the object detection unit has detected no specific objects in the first focus detection region, all display regions corresponding to the first focus detection region to indicate an in-focus state. 
     
     
         5 . The focus adjustment apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines, after moving the focus lens to a position at which the defocus amount of the first focus detection region becomes smaller than a predetermined value, a display region to indicate an in-focus state based on the detection result by the object detection unit. 
     
     
         6 . The focus adjustment apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal generation unit is provided with a plurality of the first focus detection regions, and generates and outputs the pair of image signals from respective first focus detection regions, and
 wherein the control unit calculates a reliability of the pair of image signals, and controls a position of the focus lens based on the defocus amount corresponding to the first focus detection region which has generated an image signal with the highest reliability.   
     
     
         7 . A control method for a focus adjustment apparatus configured to display an in-focus state in a display region in accordance with control of a focus lens position, the method comprising:
 detecting a specific object from an image;   outputting a pair of image signals from a focus detection region, the image signals being generated by photoelectrically converting light having passed through an imaging optical system;   detecting a defocus amount based on the pair of image signals output from a first focus detection region having a plurality of corresponding display regions;   controlling a position of the focus lens based on the defocus amount corresponding to the first focus detection region; and   determining at least one display region to indicate an in-focus state from among the display regions corresponding to the first focus detection region, in accordance with the control of the focus lens position, based on a detection result of the specific object.