Camera with multiple focus captures

• US 7,693,408 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMS (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SIIMPEL CORPORATION (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Tsai, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval; Melissa J
• Application Number:
  US11/549,414
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 396/263, 396/79
• US Class Current: 396/79
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/743 Bracketing, i.e. taking a series of images with varying exposure conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A method and system provides a series of images having different focuses. The method can include storing at least one image in a buffer while an autofocus mechanism is determining a focus of the camera. Then, at least one image can be stored in the buffer after the autofocus mechanism has determined the focus of the camera. Images in the buffer can be transferred to a flash memory. In this manner, a plurality of images, each generally having a different focus, can be provided and the user can select an image having a desired focus.

Claims

1. A method for capturing images, the method comprising:

temporarily storing a series of images, at least one of the images being captured while an autofocus mechanism is determining a focus and before a shutter release has been actuated and at least one of the images being captured after the shutter release has been actuated;

after a shutter release has been actuated, performing the following;

permanently storing at least one image that was taken before the shutter release was actuated; and

permanently storing at least one image that was taken after the shutter release was actuated.

2. A method for capturing images, the method comprising:

storing at least one image that was captured while an autofocus mechanism is determining a focus of a camera; and

storing at least one image that was captured after the autofocus mechanism has determined the focus of the camera.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein storing at least one image that was captured while an autofocus mechanism is determining a focus of a camera comprises storing at least one image in a temporary memory.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein storing at least one image that was captured while an autofocus mechanism is determining a focus of a camera comprises storing at least one image in a buffer.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein storing at least one image after the autofocus mechanism has determined the focus of the camera comprises storing at least one image in a temporary memory.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein storing at least one image after the autofocus mechanism has determined the focus of the camera comprises storing at least one image in a buffer.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

sensing that a shutter release has been actuated;

performing the following in response to actuation of the shutter release;

moving at least one image that was stored while the autofocus mechanism was determining the focus of the camera from a temporary memory to a permanent memory; and

moving at least one image that was stored after the autofocus mechanism had determined the focus of the camera from the temporary memory to the permanent memory.

8. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

sensing that a shutter release has been actuated;

performing the following in response to actuation of the shutter release;

moving at least one image that was stored while the autofocus mechanism was determining the focus of the camera from a buffer to a flash memory; and

moving at least one image that was stored after the autofocus mechanism had determined the focus of the camera from the buffer to the flash memory.

9. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein actuating a shutter release causes a plurality of images from a buffer to be stored in a flash memory.

10. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein actuating a shutter release causes all of the images stored in a buffer to be stored in a flash memory.

11. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein data compression is used to store the images.

12. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the images are first stored in a temporary memory without using data compression and are subsequently moved to a permanent memory where they are stored with data compression.

13. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein storing at least one image comprises storing a major image followed by a plurality of minor images.

14. A camera comprising:

a shutter release;

a buffer configured to store at least one image therein prior to actuating the shutter release and configured to store at least one image therein after actuating the shutter release;

a permanent memory configured to store images from the buffer;

a lens assembly for focusing the camera; and

a MEMS actuator for moving the lens assembly.

15. The camera as recited in claim 14, wherein the buffer is configured to store a plurality of images therein prior to depressing the shutter release.

16. The camera as recited in claim 14, wherein the buffer is configured to store only one image therein after depressing the shutter release.

17. The camera as recited in claim 14, wherein the buffer comprises a comparatively fast memory as compared to the permanent memory.

18. The camera as recited in claim 14, wherein the permanent memory comprises a comparatively slow memory as compared to the buffer.

19. The camera as recited in claim 14, wherein the buffer comprises a volatile memory.

20. The camera as recited in claim 14, wherein the permanent memory comprises a non-volatile memory.

21. A camera comprising:

an autofocus mechanism;

a memory; and

a controller configured to store at least one image in the memory while the autofocus mechanism is determining a focus of the camera and configured to store at least one image in the memory after the autofocus mechanism has determined a focus;

a lens assembly for focusing the camera; and

a MEMS actuator for moving the lens assembly.

22. The camera as recited in claim 21, the controller is configured to store a plurality of images in the memory while the autofocus mechanism is determining a focus of the camera.