APPARATUS, METHOD, AND MANUFACTURE FOR ITERATIVE AUTO-FOCUS USING DEPTH-FROM-DEFOCUS
First Claim
1. A method for calculating a distance from a camera to an object, comprising acts of:
- obtaining a first image of an object employing a first set of parameters;
obtaining a second image of the object employing a second set of parameters;
generating a first estimate of the distance from the camera to the object such that the first estimate is obtained from at least the first image and the second image using depth-from-defocus;
obtaining a third image of the object employing a third set of parameters, wherein the third set of parameters are based, at least in part, on the first estimate;
obtaining a fourth image of the object employing a fourth set of parameters, wherein the fourth set of parameters are based, at least in part, on the first estimate; and
generating a second estimate of the distance from the camera to the object such that the second estimate is obtained from at least the third image and the fourth image using depth-from-defocus, the calculated distance from the camera to the object being based at least in part on the second estimate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A camera with auto-focusing performs multiple iterations in which the distance from the camera to an object is estimated for the purpose of auto-focusing the camera. Each estimate is made using depth-from-defocus with at least two images used to make the estimate. When the two images are taken, the camera parameters are different. For example, the focus position, aperture, or zoom may be different between the two images. In each subsequent iteration, the previous estimate of distance from the camera to the object is used so that the parameter varied (focus position or zoom) is closer to that corresponding to the estimated distance from the camera to the object, so that the estimated distance is closer to the actual distance in each iteration.
48 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for calculating a distance from a camera to an object, comprising acts of:
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obtaining a first image of an object employing a first set of parameters; obtaining a second image of the object employing a second set of parameters; generating a first estimate of the distance from the camera to the object such that the first estimate is obtained from at least the first image and the second image using depth-from-defocus; obtaining a third image of the object employing a third set of parameters, wherein the third set of parameters are based, at least in part, on the first estimate; obtaining a fourth image of the object employing a fourth set of parameters, wherein the fourth set of parameters are based, at least in part, on the first estimate; and generating a second estimate of the distance from the camera to the object such that the second estimate is obtained from at least the third image and the fourth image using depth-from-defocus, the calculated distance from the camera to the object being based at least in part on the second estimate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A camera, comprising:
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a lens that is arranged to focus light; a sensor that is arranged to receive light and to provide images; and a controller that is arranged to receive the image, and configured to perform actions, including; receiving, from the sensor, a first image of an object employing a first set of parameters; receiving, from the sensor, a second image of the object employing a second set of parameters; generating a first estimate of a distance from the camera to the object such that the first estimate is obtained from at least the first image and the second image using depth-from-defocus; receiving, from the sensor, a third image of the object employing a third set of parameters, wherein the third set of parameters are based, at least in part, on the first estimate; receiving, from the sensor, a fourth image of the object employing a fourth set of parameters, wherein the fourth set of parameters are based, at least in part, on the first estimate; and generating a second estimate of the distance from the camera to the object such that the second estimate is obtained from at least the third image and the fourth image using depth-from-defocus. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An article of manufacture including a processor-readable medium having processor-executable code stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors, enables actions for focusing, comprising:
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calculating a distance from a camera to an object, wherein calculating the distance includes; obtaining a first image of an object employing a first set of parameters; obtaining a second image of the object employing a second set of parameters; generating a first estimate of a distance from the camera to the object such that the first estimate is obtained from at least the first image and the second image using depth-from-defocus; obtaining a third image of the object employing a third set of parameters, wherein the third set of parameters are based, at least in part, on the first estimate; obtaining a fourth image of the object employing a fourth set of parameters, wherein the fourth set of parameters are based, at least in part, on the first estimate; and generating a second estimate of the distance from the camera to the object such that the second estimate is obtained from at least the third image and the fourth image using depth-from-defocus. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification