Apparatus and method for auto-focusing in a mobile terminal
US7499095B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2005 |
| Grant date | Mar 3, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 30, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/67
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for auto-focusing in a mobile terminal having a camera module which can automatically photograph an image in optimum focus when the camera function is used are provided. The apparatus and method comprise detecting the subject by performing a preview mode in a camera mode; detecting and storing a focus value while moving the lens by increasing/decreasing electrical current in stages based on a focus characteristic of the detected subject, determining based on a presently-detected focus value and a previously-stored focus value if a slope has changed, and detecting an optimum focus value from a focus value at which the slope has changed; and performing a tracking mode to track a focus in a predetermined zone which includes the detected focus value at a center of the zone. Therefore, the value of electrical current, which is applied to the camera module including the lens that moves to perform the auto-focusing for photographing an image in optimum focus, is controlled according to a distance between a subject and a lens so that the occurrence of unwanted sound caused by motion of the lens can be prevented.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.