Back to results
US 11,693,209 B2Granted
Primary-subordinate camera focus based on lens position sensing
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRichard L. Baer, Andrew David Fernandez, Santiago Alban
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- focusing a first camera on an image subject based at least in part on image content corresponding to the image subject, wherein the first camera comprises a first set of one or more lenses that define a first optical axis and a first focal length, the focusing the first camera comprises moving, via a first voice coil motor (VCM) actuator of the first camera, the first set of lenses along the first optical axis to a first focus position at which the first camera is focused on the image subject;
- determining a focus position of the first set of lenses at which the first camera is focused on the image subject;
- and
- focusing a second camera on the image subject based at least in part on the focus position of the first set of lenses of the first camera and a focus relationship between the second camera and the first camera, wherein:
- the second camera comprises a second set of one or more lenses that define a second optical axis and a second focal length,
- the focus relationship characterizes focus positionings of the second set of lenses of the second camera with respect to focus positioning of the first set of lenses of the first camera, and
- the focusing the second camera comprises moving, via a second VCM actuator of the second camera and during a time period in which the first camera is focused on the image subject, the second set of lenses along the second axis to a second focus position at which the second camera is focused on the image subject.
4 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a first camera, comprising:
- a first set of one or more lenses that define a first optical axis and a first focal length;
- and
- a first actuator configured to move the first set of lenses along the first optical axis to enable focusing for the first camera;
- a second camera, comprising:
- a second set of one or more lenses that define a second optical axis and a second focal length;
- and
- a second actuator configured to move the second set of lenses along the second optical axis to enable focusing for the second camera;
- and
- at least one controller configured to:
- focus the first camera on an image subject based at least in part on image content corresponding to the image subject;
- determine a focus position of the first set of lenses at which the first camera is focused on the image subject;
- and
- focus the second camera on the image subject based at least in part on the focus position of the first set of lenses of the first camera and a focus relationship between the second camera and the first camera, wherein the focus relationship characterizes focus positionings of the second set of lenses of the second camera with respect to focus positioning of the first set of lenses of the first camera.
11 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a first camera, comprising:
- a first set of one or more lenses that define a first optical axis and a first focal length;
- and
- a first actuator configured to move the first set of lenses along the first optical axis to enable focusing for the first camera;
- a second camera, comprising:
- a second set of one or more lenses that define a second optical axis and a second focal length;
- and
- a second actuator configured to move the second set of lenses along the second optical axis to enable focusing for the second camera;
- a display;
- and
- one or more processors configured to:
- focus the first camera on an image subject based at least in part on image content corresponding to the image subject;
- determine a focus position of the first set of lenses at which the first camera is focused on the image subject;
- focus the second camera on the image subject based at least in part on the focus position of the first set of lenses of the first camera and a focus relationship between the second camera and the first camera, wherein the focus relationship characterizes focus positionings of the second set of lenses of the second camera with respect to focus positioning of the first set of lenses of the first camera;
- cause an image of the image subject to be captured at least partly via one or more of the first camera or the second camera;
- and
- cause the display to present the image.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.