Camera Lens Vibration for Auto-Focus Sharpness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auto-focus techniques face challenges in accurately determining the optimal lens position for in-focus images when incremental changes are fine-grained, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between in-focus and out-of-focus images, which can result in increased processing time and resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
The method involves vibrating the camera lens relative to its position during image capture to enhance the differentiation between in-focus and out-of-focus images by reducing the sharpness of out-of-focus scenes more significantly than in-focus scenes, allowing for more accurate determination of the peak sharpness score.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the lens is translated to various incremental positions for auto-focus, then the auto-focus process can capture images at different distances, but the sharpness scores for adjacent positions exhibit very little difference making it difficult to identify the preferred lens position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration to the lens during image capture. The lens is vibrated at a resonant frequency while capturing images at incremental positions. This vibration enhances the differentiation between in-focus and out-of-focus images by creating more pronounced variations in sharpness scores, allowing the processor to more quickly and accurately identify the preferred lens position without excessive processing time.
2Measurement precision
If non-linear functions (e.g., Sobel filters or Laplacian filters) are used to distinguish between similar images, then the differentiation between in-focus and out-of-focus images is improved, but the computational intensity increases requiring additional time and processor resources
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using computationally-intensive non-linear filters, the patent employs mechanical vibration of the lens during image capture. This physical approach enhances image differentiation through optical effects caused by vibration, producing sharper distinctions in sharpness scores without requiring additional processor resources or complex computational algorithms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the lens is translated to fine-grained incremental positions, then more precise focusing can be achieved, but the number of images to analyze increases leading to excessive processor resource consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent vibrates the lens during image capture at fine-grained incremental positions. This vibration enhances the sharpness score variations between in-focus and out-of-focus images, allowing the processor to efficiently identify the optimal focus position even when analyzing multiple fine-grained positions, thereby maintaining focusing precision while improving auto-focus efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens vibration is applied periodically at a resonant frequency during image capture. This periodic mechanical action creates consistent and predictable variations in image sharpness, enabling the processor to more efficiently analyze and compare images across multiple incremental positions without excessive resource consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach improves the accuracy of determining the optimal lens position by producing sharpness scores with steeper slopes, enabling quicker and more efficient identification of the peak sharpness score and subsequent focused images.
Implementation Method 1
vibrating the lens relative to the first position; capturing a first image on an image sensor from light received through the lens during the vibrating the lens relative to the first position
Data Source
AI summary
An improved approach to focusing a camera is provided. In one embodiment, a method of adjusting a focus of a camera includes translating a lens to a first position. The lens is vibrated relative to the first position, and a first image is captured on an image sensor while the lens is vibrated relative to the first position. A first sharpness score associated with the first image is calculated. The method also includes translating the lens to a second position. The lens is vibrated relative to the second position, and a second image is captured on the image sensor while the lens is vibrated relative to the second position. A second sharpness score associated with the second image is calculated. The first and second sharpness scores may be compared, and one of the first or second positions may be selected based on the comparison.