Apparatus and method for compensating auto-focus of image capture device by utilizing red-eye eliminating function

• US 6,614,995 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd
• Original Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd
• Inventors: Tseng, Li-Wen
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Arthur A.
• Application Number:
  US09/994,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20030099470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 396/61, 396/106, 396/157, 396/158, 396/97
• US Class Current: 396/61
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/32 using active means, e.g. light emitter including both an active and a passive focus detecting device G02B7/285; using ultrasound G02B7/40
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash units

Abstract

There are provided an apparatus and a method for compensating auto-focus of image capture device by utilizing red-eye eliminating function. An auto-focus module preliminarily determines a first distance from an object to the image capture device based on a first focal length evaluation value of the object, so as to perform a rough adjustment of the focal length. Whenever a red-eye eliminating device flashes to eliminate red-eye effect, the image sensor captures the image of the object so as to obtain a second focal length evaluation value of the object. The auto-focus module determines a second distance from the object to the image fetching device based on the second focal length evaluation value of the object, thereby performing a fine adjustment of the focal length.

Claims

1. An apparatus for compensating an auto-focus of an image capture device by utilizing a red-eye eliminating function, comprising:

an image sensor for capturing an image of an object so as to determine a focal length evaluation value of the object;

a focal length adjuster for adjusting a focal length of the image capture device;

a red-eye eliminating device capable of flashing for providing a red-eye eliminating function; and

an auto-focus module for preliminarily determining a distance from the object to the image capture device based on the focal length evaluation value of the object captured by the image sensor to drive the focal length adjuster for performing a rough adjustment of the focal length of the image capture device, and when the red-eye eliminating device flashes for eliminating a red-eye effect, further determining the distance from the object to the image capture device based on the focal length evaluation value of the object captured by the image sensor to drive the focal length adjuster, thereby performing a fine adjustment of the focal length of the image capture device, wherein

the red-eye device flashes a plurality of times, and

whenever the red-eye device flashes said plurality of times, the auto-focus module drives the focal length adjuster to perform a fine adjustment of the focal length of the image capture device for each flash.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the red-eye eliminating device flashes to provide brightness larger than a predefined first value, the focal length adjuster is driven by the auto-focus module to set the focal length to a predefined short distance.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the red-eye eliminating device is a flashlight module.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the red-eye eliminating device flashes to provide brightness smaller than a predefined second value, the focal length adjuster is driven by the auto-focus module to set the focal length to a predefined long distance.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the red-eye eliminating device is a flashlight module.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the red-eve eliminating device is a flashlight module and the flashlight module comprises:

a flashlight tube capable of flashing;

a photo detector for detecting brightness from the flashlight tube and converting the brightness into a voltage signal; and

a comparator for comparing the voltage signal and voltage values representing predefined first and second values.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, after preliminarily determining the distance from the object to the image capture device, the auto-focus module drives the focal length adjuster to set the focal length to a first focal involution range.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein, after further determining the distance from the object to the image capture device, the auto-focus module drives the focal length adjuster to set the focal length to a second focal involution range smaller than the first focal involution range.

9. A method for compensating auto-focus of an image capture device by utilizing a red-eye eliminating function, the image capture device including an image sensor, a focal length adjuster, a red-eye eliminating device, and an auto-focus module, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) using the image sensor to capture the image of an object so as to obtain a first focal length evaluation value, and using the auto-focus module to preliminarily determine a first distance from the object to the image capture device based on the first focal length evaluation value, thereby driving the focal length adjuster to perform a rough adjustment of the focal length of the image capture device;

(B) driving the red-eye eliminating device to flash a plurality of times to eliminate a red-eye effect; and

(C) whenever the red-eye eliminating device flashes to eliminate the red-eye effect, using the image sensor to capture the image of the object so as to obtain a second focal length evaluation value of the object, and using the auto-focus module to determine a second distance from the object to the image fetching device based on the second focal length evaluation value of the object, thereby driving the focal length adjuster to perform fine adjustment of the local length of the image capture device,

wherein whenever the red-eye device flashes said plurality of times, the auto-focus module drives the focal length adjuster to perform the fine adjustment of the focal length of the image capture device for each flash.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein, in step (C), when the red-eye eliminating device flashes to provide brightness larger than a predefined first value, the focal length adjuster is driven by the auto-focus module to set the focal length to a predefined short distance.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the predefined short distance is one meter.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein, when the red-eye eliminating device flashes to provide brightness smaller than a predefined second value, the focal length adjuster is driven by the auto-focus module to set the focal length to a predefined long distance.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the predefined long distance is three meters.