Auto-focusing method and module and image pick-up device employing the method

An image capture device and auto-focus technology, applied in the field of image capture, can solve problems such as incomplete images, and achieve cost-saving and easy-to-carry effects

Inactive Publication Date: 2011-04-13
ALTEK CORP
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AI-Extracted Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic focus module, an automatic focus method, and an image capture device that can automatically find a view, so as to solve the problem in th...
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Abstract

The invention relates to an auto-focusing method and a module and an image pick-up device employing the method, which are applied to shooting films and taking pictures. The device comprises an image sensing module, an auto-focusing module and a display unit. The auto-focusing module is respectively coupled with the image sensing module and the display unit. When the image pick-up device receives an image, the user locks a target for the image and the auto-focusing module calculates size of the imaging scope according to size of the target in the image. The imaging scope is displayed in the display unit after digital zoom amplification for the user to view the taken picture. If the image pick-up device receives images continuously, the auto-focusing module senses the moving direction of the target in the imaging scope and adjusts the position of the imaging scope according to the moving direction of the target so as to ensure that the target is in the imaging scope.

Application Domain

Technology Topic

Image sensingDigital zoom

Image

  • Auto-focusing method and module and image pick-up device employing the method
  • Auto-focusing method and module and image pick-up device employing the method
  • Auto-focusing method and module and image pick-up device employing the method

Examples

  • Experimental program(1)

Example Embodiment

[0049] The invention uses the motion detection of the target in the image, so that the user does not need to control the direction of the image capturing device in real time, so that the target can be kept within the viewing range displayed by the display.
[0050] In order to provide a more detailed explanation and description, the present invention will be described below with block diagrams and schematic diagrams, so as to more clearly and clearly reveal the technical means used by the present invention, so as to highlight the advantages and capabilities of the present invention. The effect achieved.
[0051] The main technical feature of the present invention is an image capture device with auto-focusing function and its method. Therefore, the following embodiments only propose the necessary system architecture and method steps. However, those of ordinary skill in the art can clearly understand that except for the following In addition to the components of, of course, there are other matching components, which should not be limited to those disclosed in this embodiment.
[0052] Please refer to image 3 , Is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the image capture device of the present invention. Such as image 3 As shown, the image capturing device 10 of the present invention includes an image sensing module 100, an auto focus module 120, an operating unit 140, a display unit 160, and a storage unit 180. The auto-focusing module 120 is respectively coupled to the image sensing module 100, the operating unit 140, the display unit 160, and the storage unit 180. The storage unit 180 can be a memory card or a flash memory for storing information of the screen that the user wants to capture. image.
[0053] The image sensor module 100 may include an optical lens and an image sensor, and the image sensor may be a charge coupled device or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor for sensing an image. The image capturing device 10 can capture images within the maximum sensing range of the image sensing module 100. The user can set a first viewing range, that is, the maximum viewing range in the entire shooting process, during the initial shooting. A target is included in the viewfinder, which may be or have a human face.
[0054] The auto-focus module 120 may be a digital signal processor, which is suitable for network cameras for video recorders, cameras, or computers. The auto-focus module 120 can perform image analysis on the digital image data, generate a second viewing range smaller than the first viewing range and containing at least the target according to the size of the target in the first viewing range, and adjust according to the moving direction of the target The position of the second viewing range in the first viewing range.
[0055] The display unit 160 can be a liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode display, or a plasma display, and is used to display the image of the digital image data analyzed by the autofocus module 120. It includes the image of the first viewing range or the second viewing range, of which only Displaying the second viewfinder range is the digital image data after the second viewfinder range is digitally zoomed, that is, both the first viewfinder range and the second viewfinder range can be displayed on the display unit 160 in a full-screen manner, allowing the user to view the image capture The image captured by the device 10.
[0056] The operating unit 140 can be a touch screen or a button provided on the image capturing device 10 to provide a user with a control interface to control the auto focus module 120 and other functions. Through the display unit 160, the user can observe the entire process of capturing images. When the user is not satisfied with the screens of the first and second viewing ranges, they can be adjusted manually through the operating unit 140, and when the screens of the second viewing range are When approved by the user, the operation unit 140 can also be used for capturing.
[0057] Refer again image 3 The auto focus module 120 of the image capturing device 10 of the present invention may include a framing calculation unit 121, a motion detection unit 123, a face detection unit 125, and a processing unit 127. The motion detection unit 123 is coupled to the framing operation unit 121, and the processing unit 127 is coupled to the motion detection unit 123 and the face detection unit 125, respectively.
[0058] Please cooperate with reference Figure 4A to Figure 4E and Figure 4A1 to Figure 4E1 , Figure 4A to Figure 4E The screen displayed for the actual viewing range is the screen of the first viewing range, and Figure 4A1 to Figure 4E1 for Figure 4A to Figure 4E The image displayed in the second viewfinder area after digital zooming. Such as Figure 4A and Figure 4A1 As shown, the framing calculation unit 121 calculates the size of the second framing range according to the size of the target in the first framing range, that is, the second framing range containing at least the target is obtained according to the target size of the image in the actual framing range, where The aspect ratio of the first viewing area can be preset or adjusted by the user; Figure 4B and Figure 4B1 As shown, the target moves to the left, the motion detection unit 123 detects the direction of movement of the target in the first viewing range, and the processing unit 127 determines whether the target in the first viewing range is moving, and according to the direction of the target moving Adjust the position of the second viewing range to keep the target within the second viewing range; Figure 4C , 4D and Figure 4C1 , 4D1 As shown, when the target is moving at the same time, the face detection unit 125 detects a face other than the target, and the processing unit 127 determines whether there is a face other than the target close to the second viewing range, and based on the proximity to the second viewing range Adjust the size of the second viewing area by the number of faces. If the number of faces outside the target increases, expand the second viewing area so that the second viewing area includes at least the target and people outside the target; Figure 4E and Figure 4E1 As shown, the processing unit 127 determines whether there are faces other than the target object leaving the second viewing range, and reduces the second viewing range according to the reduced number of faces in the viewing range, so that the second viewing range includes at least the target.
[0059] The determination of whether a face other than the target object is close to the second viewfinder range can be determined by the face detection unit 125 to detect a face other than the target object within a preset range, where the preset range is a range that includes at least the second viewfinder view. The processing unit 127 determines whether a human face enters the preset area. The preset area can be preset or adjusted by the user, and its position also moves with the second viewfinder area. , Whether it is the movement of the target or the movement of the face other than the target, as long as a face other than the target is detected to enter the preset range, the processing unit 127 determines that the face is close to the second viewing range; similarly, it is determined Whether a face other than the target object leaves the second viewfinder range can be determined by the processing unit 127 as long as the face detection unit 125 detects an incomplete face or the face disappears within the preset range. The second viewing range.
[0060] Please refer to Figure 5 , Is a flowchart of an embodiment of an automatic focusing method provided by the present invention. Such as Figure 5 As shown, the steps of the auto-focusing method of the present invention include that after the image capturing device 10 enters the auto-focus mode, the image displayed by the user through the image capturing device 10 is defined by the image sensing module 100 as a first viewing range ( S501). Lock a target in the first viewing range (S502). The target is, for example, a human face. Then, the viewing computing unit 121 calculates the size of a second viewing range according to the size of the target (S503), where the second The viewing range is smaller than the first viewing range and contains at least the target. The second viewing range is enlarged by digital zoom and displayed on a display unit 160 for the user to view the shooting screen. The target can be a human or other moving animals. The measuring unit 123 detects the moving direction of the target in the first viewing range, and then tracks the target, and the processing unit 127 determines whether the target is moving (S505). If the target is in a moving state, the processing unit 127 determines whether the target is moving. The moving direction of the object adjusts the position of the second viewing range (S507) to keep the target within the second viewing range; if the target is in a non-moving state, or the distance between the target and the image capturing device changes, re-according to The proportion of the target object in the first viewing range is calculated to calculate the size of the second viewing range, and the processing unit 127 readjusts the size of the second viewing range (S503).
[0061] When the target is closer to the image capturing device 10 or the range included in the first viewing range is smaller, so that the proportion of the target in the first viewing range is larger, the second viewing range is within the first viewing range The movable range is smaller; on the contrary, when the target object is farther away from the image capturing device 10 or the image contained in the first viewfinder range is wider, the proportion of the target object in the first viewfinder range becomes smaller. The movable range of the second viewing range within the first viewing range is larger.
[0062] During the shooting process, the position of the image capturing device 10 remains unchanged, the target in the first viewing range may move or other faces other than the target may move, then the target is positioned relative to other faces other than the target Changed, a face detection unit 125 detects a face outside the target in a preset range including the second viewing range, and the processing unit 127 determines whether there is a face outside the target close to the second viewing range, that is, judge Whether a human face other than the target object is detected in the first viewing range (S509), if other human faces are detected close to the second viewing range, the processing unit 127 adjusts the first face according to the number of detected human faces 2. The size of the viewing area, that is, the more faces that are detected close to the second viewing area, the more the second viewing area is expanded, so that the second viewing area at least includes the target and the objects close to the second viewing area. People (S511), and the motion detection unit 123 continues to detect the moving direction of the target. As the target moves, or the target does not move, the position of other faces moves, and the relative position of the target to other faces changes , The processing unit 127 determines whether the number of faces other than the target object detected within the preset range has changed (S513), and if the number of faces other than the target object detected in the second viewing range has changed, it is determined according to The number of detected faces adjusts the second viewing area (S511). If the number of detected faces increases, the second viewing area is expanded; if the number of detected faces decreases, the second viewing area is reduced. Viewing range; if the number of detected faces does not change, the second viewing range remains unchanged (S515), and the processing unit 127 determines whether the auto focus mode is stopped (S517), and if the auto focus mode continues, it returns to the judgment Whether the target is moving (S505); if the auto focus mode is stopped, the viewing range of the restored focus frame is only the first viewing range (S519), that is, the actual viewing range without digital zoom.
[0063] Based on the methods of the above-listed embodiments, it can be seen that the present invention uses the detection of the movement of the target to achieve the purpose of following the target in the framing range, keeping the target within the framing range, and judging that the face outside the target is close to or Leave the viewing area to dynamically adjust the size of the viewing area, so that the target and the faces outside the target can dynamically enter the viewing area. In this way, the image capture device of the present invention can solve the traditional need for a mechanically moving image capture device to control the shooting direction. Because the object being shot moves too fast and the object leaves the viewing area, the shooting image is not as expected. The problem.
[0064] However, the drawings and descriptions disclosed above are only examples of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications based on the above descriptions, if there are other conformances. The spirit of the present invention and the technical means that do not substantially change the present invention fall within the scope of protection covered by the present invention.
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