Method of performing automatic focus and a related digital image capturing device

• US 7,693,403 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Altek Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Chun-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US11/691,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20080124063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 396/48, 396/77, 396/79, 348/345
• US Class Current: 396/48
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/36 Autofocus systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

A method of performing an automatic focusing procedure is used with a digital image capturing device. The method includes the steps of: executing an image capturing procedure; activating a pre-control signal by a processor; activating a control signal by a timing generator; executing an automatic focusing procedure; clearing the pre-control signal and the control signal immediately after the automatic focusing procedure is executed; and executing an exposure procedure.

Claims

1. A method of performing an automatic focusing procedure for a digital image capturing device, the method comprising:

activating a pre-control signal with a processor;

activating a control signal with a timing generator;

executing an image capturing procedure according to the control signal, wherein executing the image capturing procedure comprises executing a charge dumping procedure for refreshing exposed photo diodes of the digital image capturing device and executing a dynamic adjusting procedure for continuously refreshing the exposed photo diodes of the digital image capturing device;

executing an automatic focusing procedure; and

clearing the pre-control signal and the control signal with the processor after the automatic focusing procedure has executed.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising checking to determine if the pre-control signal has been activated by the timing generator.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein executing the image capturing procedure further comprises executing an exposure procedure.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising utilizing a focusing motor to perform the automatic focusing procedure.

5. A digital image capturing device with an automatic focusing capability, the digital image capturing device comprising:

a processor;

a digital image capturing module having a plurality of photo diodes electrically connected to the processor;

a timing generator electrically connected to the digital image capturing module for controlling the digital image capturing module to execute an image capturing procedure; and

a focusing motor electrically connected to the processor, wherein the processor controls the timing generator and the focusing motor to achieve the following means;

executing an exposure procedure for exposing the photo diodes to become exposed photo diodes;

activating a pre-control signal by the processor;

activating a control signal by the timing generator;

executing an image capturing procedure according to the control signal, wherein the image capturing procedure comprises a charge dump procedure for refreshing the exposed photo diodes and a dynamic adjusting procedure for continuously refreshing the exposed diodes;

executing automatic focusing procedure; and

clearing the pre-control signal and the control signal with the processor after the automatic focusing procedure is executed.

6. The digital image capturing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the image capturing procedure comprises the exposure procedure.

7. The digital image capturing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the timing generator is also used to determine if the pre-control signal is activated.

8. The digital image capturing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the digital image capturing device is a digital camera or a digital video camera.