Autofocus device and method
US7536096B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 13, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 19, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 22, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/673
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An autofocus device comprising a lens-driving unit, a focal-point-position-detecting unit that detects a position of a focal point of the lens, and a distance measurement sensor. The sensor measures a distance to a subject based on a reference field of view for distance measurement and a field of view for distance measurement being offset outwardly from the reference field of view and/or a field of view for distance measurement having a field of view that is different from the reference field of view. The device has a control unit that controls the lens-driving unit to drive the lens to meet the position of the focal point of the lens to an in-focus position thereof. The focusing operation starts by setting the lens drive based on a representative value selected from measured distance results obtained by the distance measurement sensor and the position of the focal point of the lens.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.