Author: claimsbot

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a receiver device, traffic associated with a three-bit phase modulation scheme, the traffic including a plurality of four-bit symbols, the plurality of four-bit symbols being encoded using a four-bit phase modulation scheme;
obtaining, by the receiver device and from the traffic, a first symbol of the plurality of four-bit symbols, the first symbol including at least a first pair of bits, the first pair of bits corresponding to a first polarization;
performing, by the receiver device, a first equalization on the first pair of bits;
obtaining, by the receiver device and from the traffic, a second symbol of the plurality of four-bit symbols based on performing the first equalization, the second symbol including at least a second pair of bits, the second pair of bits corresponding to a second polarization and being delayed, for a time period, relative to the first pair of bits;
performing, by the receiver device and after at least the time period from when the first equalization is initiated, a second equalization on the second pair of bits, the second equalization restoring the second pair of bits to a condition that existed before the second pair of bits were transmitted to the receiver device;
identifying, by the receiver device, a three-bit symbol that corresponds to the equalized first pair of bits and the equalized second pair of bits, the three-bit symbol corresponding to the three-bit phase modulation scheme; and
outputting, by the receiver device, the three-bit symbol.
2. The method of claim 1, where the three-bit phase modulation scheme corresponds to a three-quadrature amplitude modulation (3QAM) scheme, and
where the four-bit phase modulation scheme corresponds to a polarization multiplexed-quadrature phase shift keying (PM-QPSK) modulation scheme.
3. The method of claim 1, where each of the plurality of four-bit symbols include:
a first bit, associated with an in-phase component, that corresponds to the first polarization,
a second bit, associated with a quadrature component, that corresponds to the first polarization,
a third bit, associated with the in-phase component, that corresponds to the second polarization, and
a fourth bit, associated with the quadrature component, that corresponds to the second polarization.
4. The method of claim 1, where the traffic is received via an optical fiber, and
where the method further includes:
determining a manner in which noise or imperfections, associated with the optical fiber, degrade the first pair of bits;
generating a set of values, with which to perform the first equalization, based on the manner in which the noise or the imperfections, associated with the optical fiber, degrade the first pair of bits; and
performing the first equalization, using the set of values, to restore the first set of bits to a condition that existed before the first set of bits were transmitted, to the receiver device, via the optical fiber.
5. The method of claim 4, where determining the manner in which noise or imperfections degrade the plurality of symbols further includes:
identifying a first polarization angle of the first pair of bits and a second polarization angle of a third pair of bits, on which equalization has been performed, the equalization on the third pair of bits being performed using the set of values;
determining a difference between the first polarization angle and the second polarization angle; and
performing the first equalization, on the first pair of bits, using the set of values when the difference between the first polarization angle and the second polarization angle is less than a threshold.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
generating a different set of values when the difference between the first polarization angle and the second polarization angle is not less than the threshold; and
performing the first equalization, on the first pair of bits, using the different set of values.
7. The method of claim 1, where performing the second equalization after the time period from when the first equalization is initiated ensures that the second equalization, on the second pair of bits, is not performed during a period of time that the first equalization is being performed on the first pair of bits.
8. The method of claim 1, where identifying the three-bit symbol further includes:
identifying a first set of four values, stored within a data structure, that matches a second set of four values that corresponds to the equalized first pair of bits and the equalized second pair of bits;
identifying a set of three values, stored within the data structure, that corresponds to the first set of four values;
generating, the three-bit symbol based on the set of three values; and
outputting the three-bit symbol based on generating the three bit symbol.
9. A system comprising:
an equalizer device to:
receive four-bit symbols, the four-bit symbols corresponding to traffic associated with a three-quadrature amplitude modulation (3QAM) scheme and being encoded based on a polarization multiplexed-quadrature phase shift keying (PM-QPSK) modulation scheme;
perform, based on receiving the four-bit symbols, a first equalization on a first symbol, of the four-bit symbols, the first symbol including at least a first pair of bits, the first pair of bits corresponding to a first polarization,
perform, after at least a first time period from when the first equalization is initiated, a second equalization on a second symbol, of the four-bit symbols, the first time period being greater than a second time period during which the first initialization is performed, and the second symbol including at least a second pair of bits, the second pair of bits corresponding to a second polarization, and
output the equalized first pair of bits and the equalized second pair of bits; and

a decoder device to:
receive the equalized first pair of bits and the equalized second pair of bits,
identify a three-bit symbol, of a set of three-bit symbols, that corresponds to a third symbol, of a set of four-bit symbols, the third symbol corresponding to the equalized first pair of bits and the equalized second pair of bits,
the set of three-bit symbols corresponding to the 3QAM scheme, and
the set of four-bit symbols corresponding to the PM-QPSK modulation scheme,

generate the identified three-bit symbol, and
output the generated three-bit symbol.
10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:
a delay device to:
receive the equalized first pair of bits,
store the equalized first pair of bits, and
output, to the decoder, the equalized first pair of bits after at least a third time period during which the second equalization is performed, the outputting the equalized first pair of bits, after at least the third time period, causing the first pair of bits and the second pair of bits to be received by the decoder at approximately a same point in time.
11. The system of claim 9, where the first time period corresponds to a quantity of clock cycles, associated with the system, that is greater than a span of the equalizer device, the span of the equalizer device corresponding to a quantity of four-bit symbols being processed or stored, by the equalizer device, at a point in time.
12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:
a transmitter device to:
receive a three-bit symbol associated with the 3QAM scheme,
identify a third symbol, of a set of four-bit symbols, that corresponds to the received three-bit symbol, the set of four-bit symbols corresponding to the PM-QPSK modulation scheme, and
generate the third symbol.
13. The system of claim 12, where the transmitter is further to:
identify, based on the third symbol, the first pair of bits and the second pair of bits,
store the second pair of bits in a memory associated with the system,
associate the first pair of bits with a third pair of bits to create the first symbol, the third pair of bits corresponding to the second polarization, and
output the first symbol based on associating the first pair of bits with the third pair of bits.
14. The system of claim 13, where the transmitter is further to:
retrieve, from the memory and after the first time period, the second pair of bits,
associate the second pair of bits with a fourth pair of bits to create the second symbol, the fourth pair of bits corresponding to the first polarization, and
output the second symbol.
15. A receiver device comprising:
one or more processors to:
receive four-bit symbols, the four-bit symbols corresponding to traffic associated with a three-bit phase modulation scheme and being encoded based on a four-bit phase modulation scheme,
determine, based on receiving the four-bit symbols, one or more values with which to perform equalization that enable the four-bit symbols to be restored to a condition that existed prior to being transmitted to the receiver device,
perform, using the one or more values, a first equalization on a first symbol, of the four-bit symbols, the first symbol including at least a first pair of bits associated with a first polarization,
perform, after completing the first equalization on the first symbol, a second equalization on a second symbol, of the four-bit symbols, the second symbol including at least a pair of second bits associated with a second polarization,
identify a three-bit symbol, of a set of three-bit symbols, that corresponds to a third symbol, of a set of four-bit symbols, the third symbol corresponding to the equalized first pair of bits and the equalized second pair of bits,
the set of three-bit symbols corresponding to the three-bit phase modulation scheme, and
the set of four-bit symbols corresponding to the four-bit phase modulation scheme,

generate the identified three-bit symbol, and
output the generated three-bit symbol.
16. The receiver device of claim 15, where, when determining the one or more values, the one or more processors are further to:
identify an error rate associated with a third symbol, of the four-bit symbols, on which a third equalization was performed using one or more first values, the one or more first values being based on a quantity of noise or imperfections associated with an optical fiber via which, the third symbol is transmitted to the receiver device, and
perform the first equalization using the one or more first values when the error rate is less than a threshold.
17. The receiver device of claim 16, where the one or more processors are further to:
generate one or more second values when the error rate is not less than the threshold, and
perform the first equalization using the one or more second values, the one or more second values being different than the one or more first values.
18. The receiver device of claim 17, where the one or more processors are further to:
identify a particular error rate associated with the first symbol on which the first equalization was performed using the one or more first values or the one or more second values, and
perform the second equalization using at least one of:
the one or more first values or the one or more second values when the particular error rate is less than the threshold, or
one or more third values when the particular error rate is not less than the threshold, the one or more third values being based on another quantity of noise or imperfections associated with the optical fiber via which the first symbol is transmitted to the receiver device.
19. The receiver device of claim 15, where the second pair of bits are delayed, relative to the first pair of bits, for a first time period, the first time period being greater than an amount of time to perform the first equalization, and
where the one or more processors are further to:
temporarily store, in a memory associated with the receiver device, the equalized first pair of bits,
retrieve, from the memory and after the first period of time, the first pair of equalized bits, and
identify the three-bit symbol based on the retrieved equalized first pair of bits and the equalized second pair of bits.
20. The receiver device of claim 15, where the second pair of bits are delayed, relative to the first pair of bits, for a first time period, the first time period being greater than an amount of time to perform the first equalization, and
where the first pair of bits and the second pair of bits are generated from a same three-bit symbol, associated with the three-bit phase modulation scheme, prior to:
the second pair of bits being delayed relative to the first pair of bits by the first time period, and
the first symbol and the second symbol being transmitted to the receiver device.
21. An optical transmitter, comprising:
one or more processors to:
receive a three-bit symbol associated with a three-bit phase modulation scheme,
identify, based on receiving the three-bit symbol, a first four-bit symbol, of a set of four-bit symbols, that corresponds to the three-bit symbol, the set of four-bit symbols corresponding to a four-bit phase modulation scheme,
generate the first four-bit symbol that corresponds to the three-bit symbol;
identify, based on the first four-bit symbol, a first pair of bits and a second pair of bits, the first pair of bits corresponding to a first polarization and the second pair of bits corresponding to a second polarization,
associate the first pair of bits with a third pair of bits to create a second four-bit symbol that corresponds to the four-bit phase modulation scheme, the third pair of bits corresponding to the second polarization,
output the second four-bit symbol,
associate, based on outputting the second four-bit symbol and after a time period from when the first pair of bits are associated with the third pair of bits, the second pair of bits with a fourth pair of bits to create a third four-bit symbol that corresponds to the four-bit phase modulation scheme,
the fourth pair of bits corresponding to the first polarization, and output the third four-bit symbol.
22. The optical transmitter of claim 21, where outputting the third four-bit symbols occurs after outputting the second four-bit symbol by at least the time period, at least the time period enabling a receiver, that receives the second four-bit symbol and the third four-bit symbol, to initiate a first equalization, on the second pair of bits, after a second equalization, on the first pair of bits, is completed.
23. The optical transmitter of claim 22, where at least the time period corresponds to another time period that the receiver delays the equalized first pair of bits, on which the second equalization was performed, relative to the equalized second pair of bits on which the first equalization was performed.
24. An optical receiver device comprising:
one or more components to:
receive traffic that includes four-bit symbols, the four-bit symbols being encoded using a four-bit phase modulation scheme,
process the traffic to recover the four-bit symbols, the recovered four-bit symbols being restored to a condition that existed before the four-bit symbols were transmitted to the optical receiver device,
decode the recovered four-bit symbol to obtain three-bit symbols, the three-bit symbols being associated with a three-quadrature amplitude modulation (3QAM) scheme, and
output the traffic based on the three-bit symbols.
25. The optical receiver device of claim 24, where, when processing the traffic to recover the four-bit symbols, the one or more components are further to:
perform a first equalization on a first symbol, of the four-bit symbols, the first symbol including at least a first pair of bits associated with a first polarization, and
perform, after completing the first equalization, a second equalization on a second symbol, of the four-bit symbols, the second symbol including at least a second pair of bits associated with a second polarization, the second polarization being different than the first polarization,
26. The optical receiver device of claim 25, where the one or more components are further to:
delay the equalized first pair of bits to cause the equalized first pair of bits and the equalized second pair of bits to be synchronized with respect to time,
create a third four-bit symbol based on the equalized first pair of bits and equalized second pair of bits that are synchronized with respect to time,
decode the third four-bit symbol to create a three-bit symbol, of the three-bit symbols associated with the 3QAM scheme, and
output the three-bit symbol.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A tissue ablation probe, comprising:
an electrically conductive probe shaft;
at least one electrode carried by a distal end of the probe shaft; and
an electrically insulative outer sheath disposed on the probe shaft, wherein the sheath has thickened regions forming alternating ribs and depressions that longitudinally extend along the probe shaft.
2. The tissue ablation probe of claim 1, wherein the ribs and depressions extend substantially the entire length of the probe shaft.
3. The tissue ablation probe of claim 1, wherein the sheath is fixably disposed on the probe shaft.
4. The tissue ablation probe of claim 1, wherein the probe shaft is cylindrical.
5. The tissue ablation probe of claim 1, wherein the depressions are concave.
6. The tissue ablation probe of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector carried by a proximal end of the probe shaft, wherein the electrical connector is electrically coupled to the at least one electrode through the probe shaft.
7. The tissue ablation probe of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode is a single electrode formed at an exposed region of the probe shaft.
8. The tissue ablation probe of claim 1, wherein the probe shaft is a cannula, and further comprising an inner probe shaft slidably disposed within the cannula, wherein the at least one electrode is disposed on the inner probe shaft and deployable from the cannula.
9. The tissue ablation probe of claim 1, wherein the probe shaft is rigid.
10. A tissue ablation assembly, comprising:
a delivery cannula having a lumen extending therethrough; and
the tissue ablation probe of claim 1 removably disposed within the lumen, wherein the sheath has an outer periphery having a size substantially the same as a diameter of the lumen.
11. The tissue ablation assembly of claim 10, wherein the depressions and an inner surface of the delivery cannula cooperate to form a plurality of lumens that longitudinally extend within the delivery cannula.
12. A method of ablating tissue, comprising:
introducing the tissue ablation probe of claim 1, through a delivery device into a tissue region, wherein at least a portion of one of the ribs is sheared off by movement of the tissue ablation probe through the delivery device without exposing an underlying region of the probe shaft; and
ablating the tissue region with the at least one electrode.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the tissue ablation probe is percutaneously introduced into the tissue region.
14. A tissue ablation probe assembly, comprising:
a cannula having a delivery lumen extending therethrough; and
a tissue ablation probe configured to be removably received within the cannula, the tissue ablation probe having an outer electrically insulative surface having a plurality of longitudinally extending depressions that cooperate with an inner surface of the cannula to form a plurality of lumens; and
at least one fluid inlet port coupled to the plurality of lumens.
15. The tissue ablation probe assembly of claim 14, wherein the tissue ablation probe comprises an electrically conductive probe shaft, at least one electrode carried by a distal end of the probe shaft; and an electrically conductive sheath disposed on the probe shaft, wherein the sheath has thick regions forming alternating ribs and depressions that longitudinally extend along the probe shaft.
16. The tissue ablation probe assembly of claim 15, wherein the sheath is fixably disposed on the probe shaft.
17. The tissue ablation probe assembly of claim 15, wherein the probe shaft is cylindrical.
18. The tissue ablation probe of claim 14, wherein the depressions are concave.
19. A method of ablating tissue using the tissue ablation probe assembly of claim 14, comprising:
introducing the cannula into a patient adjacent a tissue region;
introducing the tissue ablation probe through the cannula into contact with the tissue region;
introducing a fluid into the at least one infusion port, whereby the fluid flows through the lumens into contact with the tissue region; and ablating the tissue region with the tissue ablation probe.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the fluid is electrically conductive.

1. A bezoar-forming unit for forming at least one temporary bezoar in a gastrointestinal organ of an animal, including a mammal, to fill a space in the organ, comprising at least one fiber, fiber-based configuration, or combinations thereof, whereby the at least one fiber, fiber-based configuration, or combinations thereof, is of a shape and size to form the at least one temporary bezoar once the unit is positioned in the gastrointestinal organ.
2. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a dissolvable container for containing therein the at least one fiber, fiber-based configuration, or combinations thereof.
3. The bezoar-forming unit of claim 2, whereby the dissolvable container is positioned in the gastrointestinal organ by ingestion.
4. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 1, whereby when the bezoar is formed it is sufficiently large so as to be retained in the gastrointestinal organ.
5. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber, fiber-based configuration, or combinations thereof, comprises a material that is biodegradable over time.
6. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber, fiber-based configuration, or combinations thereof, comprises a material that can act as an anti-inflammatory agent for the gastrointestinal mucosa.
7. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber, fiber-based configuration, or combinations thereof, comprises a material that is degradable by a specific substance or combination of substances.
8. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unit can be self-administrable in the case of humans or administrable autonomously.
9. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber, fiber-based configuration, or combinations thereof, has been impregnated with at least one specific medicinal substance for release in the gastrointestinal organ.
10. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber, fiber-based configuration, or combinations thereof, has been impregnated with at least one substance that can absorb and retain at least one unwanted substance from the gastrointestinal liquid of the gastrointestinal organ.
11. A method for forming a temporary bezoar in a gastrointestinal organ of an animal, including a mammal, comprising:
administering to the animal or mammal a first unit comprising a first dissolvable container having at least one fiber, fiber-based configuration, or combinations thereof, contained therein, which at least one fiber, fiber-based configuration, or combinations thereof, unfolds from a first dimension to a second dimension once it is released from the container into the organ; and
administering to the animal or mammal at least one second unit, the at least one second unit comprising a second dissolvable container having at least one fiber, fiber configuration, or combinations thereof, contained therein;
wherein the at least one fiber, fiber-based configuration, or combinations thereof, of the first unit is of a shape and size that permits the at least one fiber, fiber configuration, or combinations thereof, of the second unit to attach, connect or tangle thereto when it is released from the second container into the organ and form the temporary bezoar.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:
allowing the temporary bezoar to disintegrate naturally in the gastrointestinal organ or physically removing the temporary bezoar from the gastrointestinal organ when the therapy is to be discontinued.
13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second dissolvable containers comprise an ingestible capsule and are administered orally.
14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein when the at least one fiber, fiber configuration, or combinations thereof, of the first unit is in the second dimension, it will be of a sufficiently large size so as to be retained in the gastrointestinal organ.
15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one fiber, fiber configuration, or combinations thereof, of the first unit is two-dimensional in shape.
16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one fiber, fiber configuration, or combinations thereof, of the first unit is three-dimensional in shape.
17. A bezoar-forming unit for forming a temporary bezoar in a gastrointestinal organ of an animal, including a mammal, to fill a space in the organ, comprising:
a dissolvable container; and
a saclike member having a first dimension and a second dimension contained within the dissolvable container in the first dimension, the saclike member being made from a permeable material and comprising at least one fiber or fiber configuration attached thereto and at least one swellable agglomerate contained therein;
whereby when the at least one swellable agglomerate swells, the saclike member goes from the first dimension to the second dimension to form the temporary bezoar.
18. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one attached fiber or fiber configuration facilitates the attachment of additional fibers or fiber configurations to it in the process of the natural peristalsis of the gastrointestinal organ.
19. The bezoar-forming unit of claim 17, wherein the at least one swellable agglomerate does not exceed about 1.0 cm in diameter when swelled.
20. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the saclike member is made from a fluid permeable material.
21. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 20, wherein the container is made from a permeable absorbable mesh having radial fibers woven therethrough.
22. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one swellable aggregate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of a swelling bentonite, microcrystalline hydrogels, super-absorbent polymers, polyolefins and various mixtures thereof.
23. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein the temporary bezoar is destroyed by natural biodegradation.
24. The bezoar-forming unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one the fiber or fiber configuration has been impregnated with at least one specific medicinal substance for slow release in the gastrointestinal organ.
25. A method for forming a temporary bezoar in a gastrointestinal organ of an animal, including a mammal, comprising:
administering a bezoar-forming unit comprising a dissolvable container and a saclike member having a first dimension and a second dimension contained therein, the saclike member being made from a permeable material and comprising at least one fiber or fiber configuration attached thereto and at least one swellable agglomerate contained therein;
dissolving the container once the bezoar-forming unit is positioned in the organ so that the saclike member is released in the organ; and
allowing the at least one swellable agglomerate to swell such that the saclike member goes from the first dimension to the second dimension, thereby forming the temporary bezoar.
26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
administering at least one bezoar-enlarging unit, the at least one bezoar-enlarging unit comprising a dissolvable container having at least one fiber, fiber configuration, or combinations thereof, contained therein, whereby the at least one fiber, fiber configuration, or combinations thereof, of the bezoar-enlarging unit is allowed to attach, connect or tangle with the at least one fiber or fiber configuration of the bezoar-forming unit to form the temporary bezoar.
27. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein a plurality of bezoar-enlarging unit are administered according to a predetermined dosing regimen.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A focus detection apparatus comprising:
an image pickup part configured to include (a) first pixels photoelectrically converting a first image formed by a light flux passing through a first pupil area of an image-forming optical system to produce a first image signal and (b) second pixels photoelectrically converting a second image formed by a light flux passing through a second pupil area of the image-forming optical system to produce a second image signal;
a first signal processor configured to perform a first process to smooth the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters for the first and second image signals;
a second signal processor configured to perform a second process to sharpen the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters for the first and second image signals; and
a calculating part configured to calculate a defocus amount of the image-forming optical system by using the first and second image signals on which the first process or the second process has been performed,
wherein the calculating part is configured to calculate the defocus amount by using the first and second image signals on which the first process has been performed when a contrast value obtained from an output signal from the image pickup part is higher than a predetermined value, and calculate the defocus amount by using the first and second image signals on which the second process has been performed when the contrast value is lower than the predetermined value.
2. A focus detection apparatus comprising: an image pickup part configured to include (a) first pixels photoelectrically converting a first image formed by a light flux passing through a first pupil area of an image-forming optical system to produce a first image signal and (b) second pixels photoelectrically converting a second image formed by a light flux passing through a second pupil area of the image-forming optical system to produce a second image signal; a first signal processor configured to perform a first process to smooth the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters for the first and second image signals; a second signal processor configured to perform a second process to sharpen the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters for the first and second image signals; and a calculating part configured to calculate a defocus amount of the image-forming optical system by using the first and second image signals on which the first process or the second process has been performed, wherein the calculating part is configured to calculate a provisional value of the defocus amount by using the first and second image signals on which the first and second processes have not been performed, and wherein the calculating part is configured to calculate the defocus amount by using the first and second image signals on which the first process has been performed when an absolute value of the provisional value is smaller than a predetermined value, and calculate the defocus amount by using the first and second image signals on which the second process has been performed when the absolute value of the provisional value is greater than the predetermined value.
3. A focus detection apparatus comprising:
an image pickup part configured to include (a) first pixels photoelectrically converting a first image formed by a light flux passing through a first pupil area of an image-forming optical system to produce a first image signal and (b) second pixels photoelectrically converting a second image formed by a light flux passing through a second pupil area of the image-forming optical system to produce a second image signal;
a first signal processor configured to perform a first process to smooth the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters for the first and second image signals;
a second signal processor configured to perform a second process to sharpen the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters for the first and second image signals; and
a calculating part configured to calculate a defocus amount of the image-forming optical system by using the first and second image signals on which the first process or the second process has been performed,
wherein the image-forming optical system includes an aperture stop whose aperture value is variable, and
wherein the calculating part is configured to calculate the defocus amount by using the first and second image signals on which the first process has been performed when the aperture value is greater than a predetermined value, and calculate the defocus amount by using the first and second image signals on which the second process has been performed when the aperture value is smaller than the predetermined value.
4. An image pickup apparatus comprising:
a focus detection apparatus according to claim 1; and
an image generator configured to produce an image based on an output signal from the image pickup part.
5. A focus detection method using an image pickup part configured to include (a) first pixels photoelectrically converting a first image formed by a light flux passing through a first pupil area of an image-forming optical system to produce a first image signal and (b) second pixels photoelectrically converting a second image formed by a light flux passing through a second pupil area of the image-forming optical system to produce a second image signal, the method comprising:
a step of performing a first process to smooth the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters for the first and second image signals;
a step of performing a second process to sharpen the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters for the first and second image signals; and
a calculating step of calculating a defocus amount of the image-forming optical system by using the first and second image signals on which the first process or the second process has been performed,
wherein, in the calculating step, the defocus amount is calculated by using the first and second image signals on which the first process has been performed when a contrast value obtained from an output signal from the image pickup part is higher than a predetermined value, and the defocus amount is calculated by using the first and second image signals on which the second process has been performed when the contrast value is lower than the predetermined value.
6. A focus detection method using an image pickup part configured to include (a) first pixels photoelectrically converting a first image formed by a light flux passing through a first pupil area of an image-forming optical system to produce a first image signal and (b) second pixels photoelectrically converting a second image formed by a light flux passing through a second pupil area of the image-forming optical system to produce a second image signal, the method comprising:
a step of performing a first process to smooth the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters for the first and second image signals;
a step of performing a second process to sharpen the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters for the first and second image signals; and
a calculating step of calculating a defocus amount of the image-forming optical system by using the first and second image signals on which the first process or the second process has been performed,
wherein, in the calculating step, a provisional value of the defocus amount is calculated by using the first and second image signals on which the first and second processes have not been performed, and
wherein, in the calculating step, the defocus amount is calculated by using the first and second image signals on which the first process has been performed when an absolute value of the provisional value is smaller than a predetermined value, and the defocus amount is calculated by using the first and second image signals on which the second process has been performed when the absolute value of the provisional value is greater than the predetermined value.
7. A focus detection method using an image pickup part configured to include (a) first pixels photoelectrically converting a first image formed by a light flux passing through a first pupil area of an image-forming optical system to produce a first image signal and (b) second pixels photoelectrically converting a second image formed by a light flux passing through a second pupil area of the image-forming optical system to produce a second image signal, the method comprising:
a step of performing a first process to smooth the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters for the first and second image signals;
a step of performing a second process to sharpen the first and second image signals by using mutually different filters for the first and second image signals; and
a calculating step of calculating a defocus amount of the image-forming optical system by using the first and second image signals on which the first process or the second process has been performed,
wherein the image-forming optical system includes an aperture stop whose aperture value is variable, and
wherein, in the calculating step, the defocus amount is calculated by using the first and second image signals on which the first process has been performed when the aperture value is greater than a predetermined value, and the defocus amount is calculated by using the first and second image signals on which the second process has been performed when the aperture value is smaller than the predetermined value.