Method for progressively determining depth from defocused images
US8644697B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 14, 2011 |
| Grant date | Feb 4, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 6, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T7/529
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for automatically progressively determining focus depth estimates for an imaging device from defocused images. After a depth-from-defocus (DFD) system generates sometimes-noisy estimates for focus depth and optionally a confidence level that the focus depth estimate is correct, embodiments of the present invention process a sequence of such input DFD measures to iteratively decrease the likelihood of focus depth ambiguity and to increase an overall focus depth estimate confidence level. Automatic focus systems for imaging devices may use the outputs of the embodiments to operate more quickly and accurately, either directly or in combination with other focus depth estimation methods, such as calculated sharpness measures. A depth map of a 3D scene may be estimated for creating a pair of images based on a single image.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.