AUTOMATIC FOCUSING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SAME

• US 20140293112A1
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kozinski, Dawid
• Granted Patent: US 9,225,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.09
• 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:

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.

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

detecting an electromyogram signal generated from the eyeball; and

generating the distance data based on the electromyogram signal.

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

collecting 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 the 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, before generating the distance data 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, further comprising:

determining whether the automatic focusing method is a method using an electromyogram signal,

wherein generating the distance data comprises detecting an electromyogram signal generated from the eyeball and generating distance data based on the electromyogram signal when the automatic focusing method is the method using the electromyogram signal.

9. The automatic focusing method of claim 8, wherein, when the automatic focusing method is not the method using the electrormyogram signal, generating the distance data comprises:

collecting 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 the distance data based on the oblateness data.

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;

generate distance data by calculating a distance from the eyeball of the user to a focus corresponding to a position at which the eyeball of the user looks, and

determine, based on the distance data, a plane of focus including the focus.

11. The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the eyeball measurement unit comprises an electromyogram sensor configured to detect an 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 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 generates the 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 whether an automatic focusing method is a method using an electromyogram signal and control an electromyogram sensor that is included in the eyeball measurement unit to detect an electromyogram signal generated from the eyeball when the automatic focusing method is the method using the electromyogram signal.

17. The automatic focusing apparatus of claim 16, wherein, when the automatic focusing method is not the method using the electromyogram signal, the controller is configured to collect ultrasonic images generated by ultrasonic imaging of the eyeball by using an ultrasonographic sensor included in the eyeball measurement unit.