Camera with auto focus capability

• US 8,049,812 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Whillock, Rand P., Determan, Gary E., Jelinek, Jan, Jacobson, Vincent C., Ahrens, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Daniels, Anthony J
• Application Number:
  US11/681,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20080075445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 348345-356
• US Class Current: 348/348
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/28 Systems for automatic generation of focusing signals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/36 using image sharpness techniques , e.g. image processing techniques for generating autofocus signals image data processing per se G06T; in cameras having a solid state image sensor H04N23/67
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically focusing a camera that may rely upon ambient light for auto focusing and flash illumination for image capture. A correction factor may be determined that is based at least in part on a range between the camera and a desired subject. The camera focus may be adjusted in accordance with the correction factor prior to capturing a capture image using flash illumination.

Claims

1. A camera system comprising:

a camera having a lens, the camera having an auto focus mode, wherein the auto focus mode relies upon a first wavelength or first range of wavelengths of light to automatically focus the camera to a first focus setting;

a range sensor that is configured to determine a range between a subject and the camera;

an offset computation module that determines an offset value based at least in part on the range between the subject and the camera determined by the range sensor, the offset value being effective for correcting focus of the camera from the first focus setting at the first wavelength or first range of wavelengths of light to a second focus setting at a second wavelength or second range of wavelengths of light; and

a focus actuator configured to adjust a focus setting of the camera in accordance with the offset value to the second focus setting, the second focus setting being used in capturing an image of the subject using the second wavelength or second range of wavelengths of light.

2. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera also has a non auto focus mode for the lens, and a control switch that is configured to switch the camera between the auto focus mode and the non-auto focus mode.

3. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the auto focus mode relies upon ambient light to automatically focus the camera to the first focus setting.

4. The camera system of claim 3, wherein the camera is configured to take pictures of the subject using infrared light.

5. A method of capturing an image of a subject, the method comprising steps of:

pointing a camera at the subject;

achieving focus of the camera on the subject at a first focus setting using ambient light;

determining a range to the subject;

adjusting the achieved focus of the camera from the first focus setting to a second focus setting based at least in part on the range to the subject determined in the determining step; and

capturing an infrared image of the subject using the second focus setting.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein achieving focus of the camera at the first focus setting comprises engaging an auto focus mode of the camera.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein adjusting the achieved focus of the camera from the first focus setting to the second focus setting comprises actuating an actuator.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein adjusting the achieved focus of the camera from the first focus setting to the second focus setting comprises determining a correction factor based on the range to the subject, and then actuating an actuator to adjust the focus of the camera based on the correction factor.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the range to the subject is done before achieving focus of the camera at the first focus setting.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the range to the subject is done while achieving focus of the camera at the first focus setting.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the range to the subject is done after achieving focus of the camera at the first focus setting.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein calculating a correction factor is done at a time after determining the range to the subject.

13. A method of focusing a camera having ambient and flash illumination capability, the method comprising the steps of:

pointing the camera at a subject;

achieving a focus of the camera on the subject using ambient light, resulting in a first focus setting;

determining a subject range between the camera and the subject;

determining a correction factor based at least in part on the subject range determined in the determining step; and

adjusting the camera focus from the first focus setting to a second focus setting based on the correction factor, and using the second focus setting to capture an image of the subject using a flash illumination.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein capturing an image of the subject using flash illumination comprises capturing an infrared image of the subject.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the camera focus from the first focus setting to the second focus setting comprises activating a non-auto focus mode and then adjusting the focus.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein determining a subject range comprises using a range sensor.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein determining a subject range comprises using a photographic analysis technique.