Patent · US Active

Autofocus

US9477138B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
3References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 10, 2013
Grant dateOct 25, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 27, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N23/673
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer readable media to provide improved autofocus operations are described. In general, techniques are disclosed that show how to improve contrast-based autofocus operations by applying a novel threshold-and-select action to window-specific focus scores. More particularly, techniques disclosed herein may evaluate a multi-window autofocus area over a burst collected group of images. For each captured image, focus scores for each window within an autofocus area may be collected, aggregated and then consolidated to identify a single focus metric and its associated lens position for each window. The window-specific focus scores may be reviewed and selection of a “best” autofocus lens position made using a selection criteria. The specified criteria may be used to bias the selection to either a front-of-plane (macro) or back-of-plane (infinity) focus position.

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