Video mode hidden autofocus

• US 8,289,377 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMS (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMS (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Tsai, Richard, Liu, Xiaolei
• Primary Examiner(s): Osman, Ramy M
• Application Number:
  US11/848,996
• Time in Patent Office: 1,873 Days
• Field of Search: 348/51, 348/64, 348/221.1, 348/222.2, 348/262, 348/47, 348/345, 396/77, 396/79, 396/140
• US Class Current: 348/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method

Abstract

A method and system for hiding objectionable frames during autofocusing are disclosed. A personal electronic device such as a cameral telephone can have two cameras that have overlapping fields of view. One camera can provide imaging. The other camera can facilitate autofocusing in a manner wherein images produced thereby are not viewed by a user. Because the autofocus frames are hidden, the user is not distracted or annoying thereby.

Claims

1. A personal electronic device comprising:

a plurality of cameras;

a display configured to cooperate with the plurality of cameras so as to not display images that are provided by a one of the plurality of cameras that is performing an autofocus process while displaying images from another of the plurality of cameras that is not performing the autofocusing process;

an autofocus processor configured to use images from the one of the plurality of cameras for performing the autofocusing process; and

wherein the plurality of cameras are configured to image overlapping scenes.

2. The personal electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the autofocus processor is configured to use images from the plurality of cameras for autofocusing.

3. The personal electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of cameras comprise:

an imaging camera configured to store an image; and

an autofocusing camera configured to facilitate autofocusing.

4. The personal electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of cameras comprise:

an imaging camera configured to store an image; and

an autofocusing camera configure to facilitate autofocusing, the autofocusing camera having a lower resolution that the imaging camera.