| CPC A61B 1/00188 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00096 (2013.01); G02B 23/243 (2013.01); G06T 7/0012 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10068 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |

|
1. A focus control device comprising:
one or more processors configured to:
acquire images from an endoscope, the endoscope including a focus lens configured to change an in-focus object plane position of an in-vivo image, and an imaging element configured to capture light and output signal based on the captured light, wherein the images from the endoscope are generated based on the signal;
detect target object information from the images;
analyze detection results of a target object in time sequence to determine whether the target object is in a lost state in which the target object is not temporarily captured in the images;
control the focus lens of the endoscope to automatically focus on the target object in a case where the target object is detected;
arrange the focus lens at a first fixed position that is within a set range of an in-focus object plane position and is on the far point side of a central position in a case where the target object is not detected and is not in the lost state; and
set the focus lens of the endoscope at a second fixed position that is nearer to a near point than the first fixed position or control the focus lens of the endoscope so as to automatically focus on the target object in a case where the lost state is determined.
|