Apparatus and method for auto-focusing in device having camera

• US 9,641,740 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2014
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Kyunghwa, Kim, Seonhwa, Kim, Heejin, Park, Mijung, Yu, Seockhyun, Choi, Joah
• Primary Examiner(s): Misleh, Justin P
• Application Number:
  US14/254,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20140307146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/36 Autofocus systems
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/675 comprising setting of focusing regions

Abstract

This disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for auto-focusing in a device having a camera. The method includes displaying a focus item in a preview screen while driving a camera, auto-focusing by searching an image of the focus item from a preview image and displaying a focus mark, and processing a focused image if the auto-focusing is completed.

Claims

1. A method for focusing in a device having a camera, the method comprising:

acquiring images through the camera;

displaying a preview image based on the acquired images and a focus item as a text overlaying the preview image in a preview screen while acquiring images through the camera;

identifying a caller-ID in contact information corresponding to the text;

obtaining an image of the caller-ID as an image of the focus item from the contact information;

focusing a part of an image of the acquired images corresponding to the image of the focus item from the preview image and displaying a focus mark corresponding to the part of the image; and

capturing a focused image according to the focus item and based on a user'"'"'s input,

wherein the focus item is an object to be focused on from the preview image while acquiring images through the camera.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the focus item is a person'"'"'s name, and the focusing searches the preview image for one of a portion and a whole of a face image.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying another focus item, wherein the another focus item is a color and the focusing searches the preview image for the color.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein if the caller-ID cannot be identified, obtaining the image of the focus item by searching a corresponding person through a website.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying another focus item, wherein the another focus item is a character, and the focusing comprises focusing an area of the preview image corresponding to the character of the focus item.

6. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a camera;

a display unit; and

a controller configured to;

control the camera to acquire images,

control the display unit to display a preview image based on the acquired images and a focus item as a text overlaying the preview image in a preview screen while acquiring images through the camera,

identify a caller-ID in contact information corresponding to the text,

obtain an image of the caller-ID as an image of the focus item from the contact information,

focus a part of an image of the acquired images corresponding to the image of the focus item from the preview image and displaying a focus mark corresponding to the part of the image, and

capture a focused image according to the focus item and based on a user'"'"'s input,

wherein the focus item is an object to be focused on from the preview image while acquiring images through the camera.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the focus item is a person'"'"'s name, and the controller is configured to search the preview image for one of a portion and whole of a face image.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the display unit to display another focus item, wherein the another focus item is a color, and search the preview image for the color.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a communication unit configured to connect with an internet network for searching a website, wherein the controller is configured to, if the caller-ID cannot be identified, obtain the image of the focus item by searching a corresponding person through a website.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display another focus item, wherein the another focus item is a character, and the focusing comprises focusing an area of the preview image corresponding to the character of the focus item.