Photography – With exposure objective focusing means – focusing aid – or... – Processing circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2006-09-20
2010-11-16
Koval, Melissa J (Department: 2862)
Photography
With exposure objective focusing means, focusing aid, or...
Processing circuit
C348S349000, C396S101000, C396S102000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07835637
ABSTRACT:
Techniques are described for predictive focus value calculation within image capture devices. Image capture devices may include digital still cameras and digital video cameras. The techniques include performing an auto-focus process within an image capture device by predicting a focus value for a scene at a lens position of a lens included in the image capture device based on a corrupt focus value for the lens position calculated from a first frame directly after lens settlement. Therefore, the auto-focus process may determine size and direction of movement for the lens to a next lens position based on the predicted valid focus value, and move the lens to the next lens position during a second frame. In this way, the techniques may move the lens to another lens position during each frame, greatly reducing auto-focus latency by potentially doubling or tripling the speed of the auto-focus process.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4908645 (1990-03-01), Higashihara et al.
patent: 5083150 (1992-01-01), Nagasaki et al.
patent: 5179407 (1993-01-01), Kusaka
patent: 5208625 (1993-05-01), Suekane
patent: 5225940 (1993-07-01), Ishii et al.
patent: 5873006 (1999-02-01), Iwane
patent: 6094537 (2000-07-01), Okazaki et al.
patent: 7158182 (2007-01-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 7184090 (2007-02-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 7262804 (2007-08-01), Watanabe
patent: 7428378 (2008-09-01), Warpakowski Furlan
patent: 7474846 (2009-01-01), Subbotin
patent: 2003/0063211 (2003-04-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 2003/0099044 (2003-05-01), Fujii
patent: 2004/0233320 (2004-11-01), Watanabe
patent: 2005/0134720 (2005-06-01), Lee
patent: 2006/0018650 (2006-01-01), Ichimaya
patent: 2007/0147817 (2007-06-01), Li et al.
patent: 4006592 (1990-09-01), None
International Search Report—PCT/US07/078715—International Search Authority—European Patent Office, Feb. 21, 2008.
Chiu Chinchuan Andrew
Hung Szepo Robert
Li Jingqiang
Noyes Ying Xie
Gambale, Jr. James R.
Koval Melissa J
Loomis Timothy F.
QUALCOMM Incorporated
Smith Linda B
LandOfFree
Predictive focus value calculation for image capture devices does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Predictive focus value calculation for image capture devices, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Predictive focus value calculation for image capture devices will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-4225886