Autofocus device method
US7593053B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 2006 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 7, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/673
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Autofocus device has a lens-driving unit, a focal-point-position-detecting unit, and a distance measurement sensor that measures a distance to a subject. The device also has a control unit for controlling the lens-driving unit to drive the lens, thereby meeting the detected position of the focal point of the lens to an in-focus position. If a restart condition has not yet been satisfied after meeting the position of the focal point to the in-focus position to stop the focus operation, the control unit determines a switch of focusing on subjects based on the detected position of the focal point and a measured distance result by the distance measurement sensor and then restarts the focus operation based on a determination result thereof, thereby driving the lens to meet the position of the focal point to an in-focus position based on a measured distance result by the distance measurement sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.