I see two things in the patent. Which is it? They seem to be totally different goals made possible by the same physical sensor design.
1. A calibration mode that uses contrast detect to memorize a correction for phase detect autofocusing, and applies the correction as in AFMA. At the time focusing is performed a quick check of focusing accuracy is done.
"According to this example, the calibration mode (adjustment mode) for adjusting a focusing position can be performed. A user can use a highly precise micro adjustment value in comfort with constituting the focusing position used as the maximum of a contrast value for high degree of accuracy and a short time, so that acquisition is possible. Thus, according to this example, it becomes possible to perform highly precise focal positioning at a high speed more. "
2. A Lytro light field like process that allows focusing after the image is captured using a computer.
"The refocusing technology of changing the focusing position of a captured image after photographing is known. Refocusing technology is carried out by photoing simultaneously a plurality of parallax images which carried out pupil division of the exit pupil of a taking lens to a plurality of regions, and responded to the divided pupil area. A Patent document 3 has disclosed the image sensor provided with one micro lens and a plurality of divided photoelectric conversion parts to one pixel. A plurality of parallax images which responded to a pupil area which is mutually different using each signal which carried out light reception by a plurality of divided photoelectric conversion parts are generable. A Patent document 4 has disclosed the imaging device which adds all the signals which carried out light reception by a plurality of divided photoelectric conversion parts, and generates a captured image.
A plurality of photoed parallax images are equivalent to the Light Field (LF) data which is the spatial distribution and the angular distribution information on light intensity. The nonpatent literature 1 has disclosed the refocusing technology of changing the focusing position of a captured image after photographing by synthesizing the image in a different virtual image formation face from an imaging surface using LF data."
AH This makes it all obvious.