Sound-based focus system and focus method thereof

• US 7,986,875 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Fan, Shih-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US12/482,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20100166406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 396/77, 396/79, 396/80, 396/105
• US Class Current: 396/105
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/28 Systems for automatic generation of focusing signals
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/32 Means for focusing

Abstract

A sound-based focus system includes an imaging device and focus controller. The imaging device is configured for capturing an image. The focus controller includes a sound detecting module and a control module. The sound detecting module is configured for obtaining the position coordinates of a sound source. The control module is configured for controlling the imaging device to focus on the sound source according to the position coordinates thereof.

Claims

1. A sound-based focus system comprising:

an imaging device configured for capturing an image, comprising a focus lens and a driving unit; and

a focus controller comprising;

a sound detecting module configured for obtaining the position coordinates of sound sources;

a judging module configured for judging the number of sound sources;

a selecting module configured for selecting a sound source based on a predefined selecting condition when the number of the sound sources is more than one; and

a control module configured for controlling the driving unit to drive the focus lens to move along an optical axis of the focus lens and to adjust the orientation of the focus lens by means of rotation to aim at the sound source in order to focus on the sound source according to the position coordinates thereof.

2. The sound-based focus system of claim 1, wherein the control module controls the driving unit to drive the focus lens to focus on the detected sound source according to the position coordinates of the sound source.

3. The sound-based focus system of claim 1, wherein the control module controls the driving unit to drive the focus lens to focus on the selected sound source according to the position coordinates when the number oldie sound sources is more than one.

4. The sound-based focus system of claim 1, wherein the sound detecting module is further configured for obtaining the intensities of the sound sources.

5. The sound-based focus system of claim 4, wherein the selecting module selects a sound source having the highest intensity when the number of the sound sources is more than one.

6. The sound-based focus system of claim 4, wherein the selecting module selects a sound source having the lowest intensity when the number of the sound sources is more than one.

7. The sound-based focus system of claim 1, wherein the selecting module selects a sound source having the longest radial distance when the number of the sound sources is more than one.

8. The sound-based focus system of claim 1, wherein the selecting module selects a sound source having the shortest radial distance when the number of the sound sources is more than one.

9. A sound-based focus method comprising:

obtaining the position coordinates of sound sources;

judging the number of sound sources;

selecting a sound source based on a predefined selecting condition when the number of the sound sources is more than one; and

driving a focus lens of an imaging device to move along an optical axis of the focus lens and to adjust the orientation of the focus lens by means of rotation to aim at the sound source in order to focus on the sound source according to the position coordinates thereof.

10. The sound-based focus method of claim 9, further comprising a step of obtaining the position coordinates of the sound sources.

11. The sound-based focus method of claim 9, wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting a sound source having the longest radial distance when the number of the sound sources is more than one.

12. The sound-based focus method of claim 9, wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting a sound source having the shortest radial distance when the number of the sound sources is more than one.

13. The sound-based locus method of claim 9, further comprising a step of obtaining the intensities of the sound sources after the step of judging the number of sound sources.

14. The sound-based focus method of claim 13, wherein the selecting step comprises selecting a sound source having the highest intensity when the number of the sound sources is more than one.

15. The sound-based focus method of claim 13, wherein the selecting step comprises selecting a sound source having the lowest intensity when the number of the sound sources is more than one.