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US 2020/0026030 A1Published application
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.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
A camera system, comprising:
- a first camera, including:
- a first set of one or more lenses that define a first optical axis;
- and
- a first actuator configured to move the first set of one or more lenses along the first optical axis to enable focusing for the first camera;
- a second camera, including:
- a second set of one or more lenses that define a second optical axis;
- and
- a second actuator configured to move the second set of one or more lenses along the second optical axis to enable focusing for the second camera;
- and
- a controller to:
- transition from a first camera mode to a second camera mode, wherein:
- in the first camera mode, the first camera is designated as a primary camera for focusing and the second camera is designated as a subordinate camera for focusing;
- and
- in the second mode, the second camera is designated as the primary camera for focusing and the first camera is designated as the subordinate camera for focusing;
- cause the primary camera to independently focus on an image subject based at least in part on image content corresponding to the image subject;
- and
- cause the subordinate camera to focus on the image subject based at least in part on a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera, wherein the focus relationship characterizes positioning of one or more lenses of the subordinate camera with respect to positioning of one or more lenses of the primary camera.
14 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a first camera, including:
- a first set of one or more lenses that define a first optical axis;
- and
- a first actuator configured to move the first set of one or more lenses along the first optical axis to enable focusing for the first camera;
- a second camera, including:
- a second set of one or more lenses that define a second optical axis;
- and
- a second actuator configured to move the second set of one or more lenses along the second optical axis to enable focusing for the second camera;
- a display;
- and
- one or more processors to:
- transition from a first camera mode to a second camera mode, wherein:
- in the first camera mode, the first camera is designated as a primary camera for focusing and the second camera is designated as a subordinate camera for focusing;
- and
- in the second mode, the second camera is designated as the primary camera for focusing and the first camera is designated as the subordinate camera for focusing;
- cause the primary camera to independently focus on an image subject based at least in part on image content corresponding to the image subject;
- and
- cause the subordinate camera to focus on the image subject based at least in part on a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera, wherein the focus relationship characterizes positioning of one or more lenses of the subordinate camera with respect to positioning of one or more lenses of the primary camera.
15 more elements
A method, comprising:
- transitioning from a first camera mode to a second camera mode, wherein:
- in the first camera mode, a first camera is designated as a primary camera for focusing and a second camera is designated as a subordinate camera for focusing;
- and
- in the second mode, the second camera is designated as the primary camera for focusing and the first camera is designated as the subordinate camera for focusing;
- focusing the primary camera on an image subject based at least in part on image content corresponding to the image subject;
- and
- focusing the subordinate camera on the image subject based at least in part on a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera, wherein the focus relationship characterizes positioning of one or more lenses of the subordinate camera with respect to positioning of one or more lenses of the primary camera.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.