Automatic focusing method and apparatus for same

• US 9,225,895 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kozinski, Dawid
• Primary Examiner(s): Berardesca, Paul
• Application Number:
  US14/152,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20140293112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/287 including a sight line detecting device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/671 in combination with active ranging signals, e.g. using light or sound signals emitted toward objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/959 by adjusting depth of field during image capture, e.g. maximising or setting range based on scene characteristics

Abstract

Disclosed are an automatic focusing method which can automatically set a focus according to a change in an eyeball of a user and an apparatus for the same. The automatic focusing method includes generating distance data by calculating a distance from an eyeball of a user to a focus corresponding to a position at which the eyeball of the user looks; and determining, based on the distance data, a plane of focus including the focus.

Claims

1. An automatic focusing method comprising:

determining a manner for auto focusing among at least an electromyogram signal manner and an ultrasonic image manner, wherein the electromyogram signal manner comprises a manner for calculating a distance to an object based on an electromyogram signal generated from an eyeball and the ultrasonic image manner comprises a manner for calculating a distance to an object based on at least one ultrasonic image of the eyeball;

calculating a distance from an eyeball of a user to an object at which the eyeball of the user looks according to the determined manner; and

adjusting, based on the calculated distance, a plane of focus including the object.

2. The automatic focusing method of claim 1, wherein calculating the distance comprises:

detecting the electromyogram signal generated from the eyeball; and

generating distance data based on the electromyogram signal.

3. The automatic focusing method of claim 1, wherein calculating the distance comprises:

collecting the ultrasonic images generated by ultrasonic imaging of the eyeball;

identifying a crystalline lens of the eyeball based on the ultrasonic images;

generating oblateness data by recognizing oblateness of the crystalline lens; and

generating distance data based on the oblateness data.

4. The automatic focusing method of claim 1, further comprising:

priorly providing an image including the plane of focus to the user.

5. The automatic focusing method of claim 4, wherein priorly providing the image including the plane of focus to the user comprises:

converting the image based on the plane of focus and a preset depth of field; and

providing the converted image to the user.

6. The automatic focusing method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user input for automatic focusing.

7. The automatic focusing method of claim 6, wherein receiving the user input comprises:

detecting that the eyeball approaches a viewfinder.

8. The automatic focusing method of claim 6, wherein:

determining the manner for auto focusing comprises determining that the manner is the electromyogram signal manner,

wherein calculating the distance comprises detecting the electromyogram signal and generating distance data based on the electromyogram signal.

9. The automatic focusing method of claim 8, wherein:

determining the manner for auto focusing comprises determining that the manner is the ultrasonic image manner; and

calculating the distance comprises;

collecting the ultrasonic images by ultrasonic imaging of the eyeball;

identifying the crystalline lens included in the eyeball based on the ultrasonic images;

generating oblateness data by recognizing oblateness of the crystalline lens; and

generating distance data based on the oblateness data.

20. The automatic focusing method of claim 1, further comprising providing automatic focusing for an electronic device including a camera.

10. An automatic focusing apparatus comprising:

an eyeball measurement unit configured to detect a change generated in an eyeball of a user; and

a controller configured to;

determine a manner for auto focusing among at least electromyogram signal manner and ultrasonic image manner, wherein the electromyogram signal manner comprises a manner for calculating a distance to an object based on an electromyogram signal generated from an eyeball and the ultrasonic image manner comprises a manner for calculating a distance to an object based on at least one ultrasonic image of the eyeball;

calculate a distance from the eyeball of the user to an object at which the eyeball of the user looks according to the determined manner, and

adjust, based on the calculated distance, a plane of focus including the object.

11. The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the eyeball measurement unit comprises an electromyogram sensor configured to detect the electromyogram signal generated from the eyeball, and the controller is configured to generate the distance data based on the electromyogram signal.

12. The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the eyeball measurement unit comprises an ultrasonographic sensor configured to perform ultrasonic imaging of the eyeball and collect the ultrasonic images generated by ultrasonic imaging of the eyeball, and the controller is configured to identify a crystalline lens of the eyeball based on the ultrasonic images, generates oblateness data by recognizing oblateness of the crystalline lens, and generate distance data based on the oblateness data.

13. The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a display unit configured to priorly provide an image including the plane of focus.

14. The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to convert the image based on the plane of focus and a preset depth of field and to control the display unit to provide the converted image to the user.

15. The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display unit comprises a viewfinder, and the controller is configured to determine that a user input for automatic focusing is input when it is detected that the eyeball approaches the viewfinder.

16. The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the manner for auto focusing is the electromyogram signal manner and control an electromyogram sensor that is included in the eyeball measurement unit to detect an electromyogram signal generated from the eyeball.

17. The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the manner for auto focusing is the ultrasonic image manner, and collect the ultrasonic images generated by ultrasonic imaging of the eyeball by using an ultrasonographic sensor included in the eyeball measurement unit.

18. The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to detect a user input for automatic focusing before generating the distance data.

19. The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to provide automatic focusing for an electronic device including a camera.