Focus adjustment apparatus and focus adjustment method

• US 8,743,270 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hamada, Masataka, Won, Jong-hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Daniels, Anthony J
• Application Number:
  US13/048,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20110221952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 348/345, 348/349
• US Class Current: 348/349
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/675 comprising setting of focusing regions

Abstract

Focus adjustment apparatus and methods for effectively auto-focusing on a subject by adaptively changing a shape of a focus area according to a determined image condition, and in particular, setting the focus area in a shape of which a width of an upper part is narrow according to the condition.

Claims

1. A focus adjustment apparatus comprising:

a focus lens;

a focus lens driver configured to drive the focus lens in an optical axis direction;

an image pickup unit configured to generate an image signal by converting image light incident through the focus lens into an electrical signal;

a determiner configured to determine whether the brightness of the image signal is low by comparing brightness information of the image signal to reference brightness information;

a focus area setting unit configured to set a first focus area if the brightness of the image signal is not low and sets a second focus area, which is greater than the first focus area and has a shape of which a width of an upper part is narrower than a width of a lower part, if the brightness of the image signal is low; and

a controller configured to control movement of the focus lens to adjust a focus on an image signal corresponding to the set focus area.

2. The focus adjustment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the focus area setting unit sets the focus area in one of a shape of which an upper part protrudes and a shape of a cross.

3. The focus adjustment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a position sensor configured to sense whether the focus adjustment apparatus is oriented in a horizontal or vertical direction relative the ground,

wherein the focus area setting unit sets a focus area having a shape of which a width of an upper part is narrower than the width of the lower part relative the ground if the focus adjustment apparatus is oriented in either of the horizontal or vertical direction.

4. The focus adjustment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an operating unit configured to input a signal to adjust at least one of the size and position of the focus area.

5. The focus adjustment apparatus of claim 4, wherein the operating unit has a touch panel configured to input the signal by a user'"'"'s touch.

6. The focus adjustment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first focus area has a shape in which the width of the upper part is not narrower than the width of the lower part.

7. A focus adjustment method comprising:

generating an image signal by converting image light incident through a focus lens into an electrical signal;

determining whether brightness of the image signal is low by comparing brightness information of the image signal to reference brightness information;

setting, using a focus area setting unit, a first focus area if the brightness of the image signal is not low, and if the brightness of the image signal is low, setting a second focus area which is greater than the first focus area and has a shape of which a width of an upper part is narrower than a width of a lower part; and

moving the focus lens to adjust a focus on an image signal corresponding to the set focus area.

8. The focus adjustment method of claim 7, wherein the focus area is set in one of a shape of which an upper part protrudes and a shape of a cross.

9. The focus adjustment method of claim 7, further comprising sensing whether a focus adjustment apparatus is oriented in a horizontal or vertical direction relative the ground,

wherein the focus area having the shape of which the width of the upper part is narrower than the width of the lower part is set relative the ground if the focus adjustment apparatus is oriented in either of the horizontal or vertical direction.

10. The focus adjustment method of claim 7, further comprising selecting, by a user, at least one of a size and a position of the focus area.

11. The focus adjustment method of claim 10, wherein the focus area is selected by the user'"'"'s touch.

12. The focus adjustment method of claim 7, wherein the first focus area has a shape in which the width of the upper part is not narrower than the width of the lower part.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions which, when read by an automated focus adjustment apparatus, cause the focus adjustment apparatus to perform a method comprising:

generating an image signal by converting image light incident through a focus lens into an electrical signal;

determining whether brightness of the image signal is low by comparing brightness information of the image signal to reference brightness information;

setting a first focus area if the brightness of the image signal is not low, and if the brightness of the image signal is low, setting a second focus area which is greater than the first focus area and has a shape of which a width of an upper part is narrower than a width of a lower part; and

moving the focus lens to adjust a focus on an image signal corresponding to the set focus area.