Autofocusing optical imaging device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating an optical imager comprising:
- (a) capturing an image of a target in a set up mode with an image sensor;
(b) determining the proper focus setting of a lens to bring a target in focus with the image sensor;
(c) storing a position of the lens for the determined proper focus setting;
(d) repeating steps (a) through (c) until a desired number of lens positions have been stored, wherein lens positions that have been stored include minimum and maximum recorded lens positions;
(e) capturing an operating image in an autofocus mode;
(f) moving the lens between the minimum and maximum previously recorded lens positions to obtain the proper focus setting for the operating image;
(g) capturing a focused image at the proper focus setting; and
,(h) processing the focused image,wherein the minimum and maximum recorded lens positions represents a motion range which is less than the maximum possible optical imager lens motion range.
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Abstract
An optical imager includes: an image sensor for capturing images of targets and outputting image signals; a lens for focusing the target on the image sensor as a function of lens position; a memory for storing predetermined lens positions determined from predetermined target sizes; and a controller for determining current target size based on captured images and positioning the lens at a predetermined lens position by correlating current target size with predetermined target sizes.
618 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of operating an optical imager comprising:
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(a) capturing an image of a target in a set up mode with an image sensor; (b) determining the proper focus setting of a lens to bring a target in focus with the image sensor; (c) storing a position of the lens for the determined proper focus setting; (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) until a desired number of lens positions have been stored, wherein lens positions that have been stored include minimum and maximum recorded lens positions; (e) capturing an operating image in an autofocus mode; (f) moving the lens between the minimum and maximum previously recorded lens positions to obtain the proper focus setting for the operating image; (g) capturing a focused image at the proper focus setting; and
,(h) processing the focused image, wherein the minimum and maximum recorded lens positions represents a motion range which is less than the maximum possible optical imager lens motion range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An optical imager comprising:
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an image sensor for capturing images of targets and outputting image signals; a lens for focusing a target on the image sensor at focus points as a function of lens position; a memory for storing predetermined lens positions determined from the focus points, wherein the lens positions include a minimum recorded lens position and a maximum recorded lens position that define a predetermined lens motion range, the predetermined lens motion range being smaller than the actual lens motion range; and
,a controller that begins lens positioning at a center of the predetermined lens motion range. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification