DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING FOCUS OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20160241776A1
• Filed: 02/11/2016
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Sungeun
• Granted Patent: US 10,009,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/161 Detection; Localisation; Normalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/672 based on the phase difference signals

Abstract

An electronic device comprising: a memory; a display; a camera; and at least one processor operatively coupled to the memory, configured to: acquire a preview image by using the camera; display the preview image on the display; identify a plurality of areas in the preview image that satisfy a predetermined condition; and modify a focus detection area associated with the camera to include the plurality of areas.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a memory;

a display;

a camera; and

at least one processor operatively coupled to the memory, configured to;

acquire a preview image by using the camera;

display the preview image on the display;

identify a plurality of areas in the preview image that satisfy a predetermined condition; and

modify a focus detection area associated with the camera to include the plurality of areas.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the camera includes a pixel sensor and a phase-difference detection sensor that senses a phase-difference value associated with the preview image,

the at least one processor is further configured to calculate a depth associated with at least one subject depicted in the preview image based on the phase-difference value, and

the plurality of areas is identified based on the depth.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein:

the at least one processor is further configured to obtain brightness information associated with the preview image, and

the plurality of areas is identified based on the brightness information if the focus detection area is less than a threshold.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one processor is further configured to obtain brightness information associated with the preview image, and

the plurality of areas is identified based on the brightness information.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the camera includes a pixel sensor and a phase-difference detection sensor that senses a phase-difference value associated with the preview image, and

the at least one processor includes an image analyzing module configured to identify a location of a subject depicted in the preview image, a depth processing module configured to identify a depth associated with the subject, and a focus processing module configured to modify the focus detection area based on the depth and the location of the subject.

6. An electronic device comprising:

a memory;

a camera;

an input/output module; and

at least one processor operatively coupled to the memory, configured to;

acquire an image in accordance with a focus detection area while the electronic device is in a first focus state;

display the image on the input/output module;

detect an input for tracking a subject depicted in the image, the input selecting an area in the image in which the subject is depicted;

transition the electronic device into a second focus state for tracking the subject in response to the input; and

modify the focus detection area based on subject image property information associated with the area.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein, when the electronic device is in the first focus state,the focus detection area is located in a central position of the image.

8. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein detecting the input for transitioning the electronic device into the second focus state includes sensing a signal generated by the input/output module and identifying a location of the input based on the signal.

9. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to identify the subject based on the input.

10. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transition the electronic device into the first focus state in response to detecting a subsequent input.

11. A method for use in an electronic device, comprising:

acquiring a preview image by using a camera of the electronic device;

displaying the preview image on a display of the electronic device;

identifying a plurality of areas in the preview image that satisfy a predetermined condition; and

modifying a focus detection area associated with the camera to include the plurality of areas.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the focus detection area is modified based on a depth associated with at least one subject that is depicted in the preview image.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising obtaining brightness information associated with the preview image, and the plurality of areas is identified based on the brightness information if the focus detection area is less than a threshold.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

obtaining first image property information associated with a first subject located in the focus detection area;

dividing the preview image into multiple element areas, and obtaining second image property information associated with a second subject that is located in a reference element area that is within a predetermined distance from the focus detection area;

wherein identifying the plurality of areas includes detecting a match between the first image property information and the second image property information, and

wherein the focus detection area is configured to include the first subject and the second subject.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second image property information includes depth information associated with the second subject.

16. A method for use in an electronic device, comprising:

acquiring an image in accordance with a focus detection area while the electronic device is in a first focus state;

displaying the image on a display of the electronic device;

detecting an input for tracking a subject depicted in the image, the input selecting an area in the image in which the subject is depicted;

transitioning the electronic device into a second focus state for tracking the subject in response to the input; and

modifying the focus detection area based on subject image property information associated with the area.

17. The method of claim 16,wherein, when the electronic device is in the first focus state,the focus detection area is located in a central position of the image.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting the input for transitioning the electronic device into the second focus state includes sensing a signal generated by an input/output module of the electronic device and identifying a location of the input based on the signal.

19. The method of an claim 16, further comprising moving the focus detection area in accordance with movements of the subject while the electronic device is in the second focus state.

20. The method of claim 19, transition the electronic device into the first focus state in response to detecting a subsequent input.