Patent · US Active

Two-dimensional polynomial model for depth estimation based on two-picture matching

US8199248B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateJan 30, 2009
Grant dateJun 12, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 18, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B27/0012
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus and method for electronically estimating focusing distance between a camera (still and/or video camera) and a subject. Images at different focal positions of a calibration target are collected with distances between subject positions. In one aspect, histogram matching is performed to reduce noise error. A focus matching model is then generated in response to detected blur differences between successive images of the calibration target. The focus matching model is preferably converted to a polynomial equation of a desired order to smooth out image collection noise. The focus matching model is stored for access during operation. In use, the distance to subject is estimated in response to capturing images, detecting blur differences between the images and entering the blur difference information into the matching model.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.