Autofocus system for a conventional camera that uses depth information from an array camera

A method for autofocusing a separate camera in an array camera system including an array camera comprising a plurality of cameras that capture images of a scene from different viewpoints, a separate camera in a fixed geometric relationship with respect to each of the plurality of cameras in the array camera, where the separate camera captures an image of the scene from a different viewpoint to the viewpoints of the other cameras in the array camera;

• a processor, and memory in communication with the processor storing software, comprising:
• obtaining a focus window based upon image data from the separate camera using the processor, comprising:
• detecting at least one object within an image captured by the separate camera;
• and
• setting the focus window as a defined region having a set of pixels, where the defined region is within an image captured by the separate camera based upon the location of the at least one object;
• determining a focus window for the array camera based upon the focus window from the separate camera using the processor, where the focus window for the array camera comprises a corresponding set of pixels that corresponds to the set of pixels within the focus window from the separate camera,
• obtaining image data pertaining to the focus window of the array camera from at least two cameras in the plurality of cameras using the processor,
• determining depth information for the focus window of the array camera from the image data from the at least two cameras using the processor,
• colocating the depth information from the focus window of the array camera to the focus window of the separate camera to account for parallax between the separate camera and the plurality of cameras to generate depth information for the focus window of the separate camera using the processor,
• determining a focus depth for the separate camera based upon the depth information for the focus window of the separate camera using the processor, and
• adjusting the focus of the separate camera to a desired focus based upon the determined focus depth for the separate camera using the processor.