Phase Detection Autofocus Compensation-Free Phase Difference Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phase detection autofocus (PDAF) systems in image capturing devices face challenges in accurately determining phase differences due to irrelevant data, such as noise and peripheral features, which can compromise autofocus performance.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for enhanced phase detection that extracts pixel data from image data captured by PDAF sensors, removes irrelevant data, and determines phase differences between features in an image feature domain, using filtering and feature matching techniques to improve autofocus accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If phase detection autofocus systems use all pixel data for phase difference determination, then more data is available for processing, but irrelevant data such as noise and peripheral features compromises autofocus accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes irrelevant pixel data from the image data before performing phase difference determination. Specifically, it identifies and eliminates peripheral features, noise, and other irrelevant elements that would otherwise compromise autofocus accuracy, leaving only the relevant pixel data for accurate phase detection.
2Measurement precision
If per-pixel gain compensation and offline calibration are implemented in PDAF systems, then measurement accuracy can be improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes irrelevant pixel data before phase difference calculation, which eliminates the need for per-pixel gain compensation and offline calibration procedures. By extracting only the relevant pixel data that contributes to accurate focus determination, the system achieves high measurement precision without the complexity of additional calibration mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Enhanced phase detection for a PDAF sensor includes extracting pixel data from image data, the image data captured from an image capturing device having a phase detection autofocus (PDAF) sensor; extracting one or more features from the pixel data, including removing irrelevant pixel data; and determining a phase difference between the one or more features.