PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a focal position controller, an endoscope, a focal position control method, etc. that enable the control of the focal positions by deciding the conditions of an object within the body viewed from the direction of its photographing by an imaging optical system.SOLUTION: The focal position controller includes an image acquirer to acquire a body interior image containing the image of an object in the body via an imaging optical system (equivalent to an A/D converter 310), a decision part to decide the conditions of the object within the body viewed from the direction of photographing it by the image optical system according to the acquired image of the object in the body (equivalent to a forward counter decision part or a static decision part), and a focal position controller to control the focal position of the imaging optical system by controlling the drive of the imaging optical system based on the decision result by the decision part.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】撮像光学系の撮像方向に対する体内被写体の状況情報を判定することにより、状況に応じた焦点位置の制御が可能な焦点位置制御装置、内視鏡装置及び焦点位置制御方法等を提供する。【解決手段】焦点位置制御装置は、撮像光学系を介した体内被写体の撮像によって、体内被写体の像を含む体内画像を取得する画像取得部(A/D変換部310に相当)と、取得された体内画像に基づいて、撮像時の撮像光学系の撮像方向に対する体内被写体の状況情報を判定する判定部(正対判定部、静止判定部に相当)と、判定部における判定結果に基づいて、撮像光学系の駆動を制御することで、撮像光学系の焦点位置を制御する焦点位置制御部を含む。【選択図】図1
