Camera with auto focus capability
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsRand Whillock, Gary Determan, Jan Jelinek, Vincent Jacobson, Terry Ahrens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically focusing a camera that may rely upon ambient light for auto focusing and flash illumination for image capture. A correction factor may be determined that is based at least in part on a range between the camera and a desired subject. The camera focus may be adjusted in accordance with the correction factor prior to capturing a capture image using flash illumination.
Claims20
A camera system comprising:
- a camera having a lens, the camera having an auto focus mode and an non-auto focus mode for the lens;
- a range sensor that is adapted to determine a range between a subject and the camera;
- and
- a focus actuator adapted to effect a focus setting of the lens when the camera is in the non-auto focus mode.
A method of capturing an image of a subject, the method comprising steps of:
- aiming a camera at the subject;
- focusing the camera on the subject using ambient light;
- determining a range to the subject;
- adjusting the focus of the camera based at least in part on the range to the subject;
- and
- capturing an image of the subject.
A method of focusing a camera having ambient and flash illumination capability, the method comprising the steps of:
- aiming the camera at a subject;
- focusing the camera on the subject using ambient light;
- determining a subject range between the camera and the subject;
- determining a correction factor based at least in part on the subject range;
- and
- adjusting the camera focus based on the correction factor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.