# US 8,570,430 B2 · Dynamic camera focusing

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- Number: US 8,570,430 B2
- Document ID: US8570430B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/062,569
- Filed: 2009-07-17
- Published: 2011-07-14
- Granted: 2013-10-29
- Earliest claimed: 2008-09-07
- Assignees: Rey. Focusing Systems Ltd.
- Applicants: Isaac Canetti
- Inventors: Isaac Canetti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570430B2

## CPC

- H04N 23/671: {in combination with active ranging signals, e.g. using light or sound signals emitted toward objects}
- H04N 23/635: {Region indicators; Field of view indicators}
- H04N 23/673: {based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Apparatus for focusing a camera having an optic axis, an optic center and a field of view, to image a scene, the apparatus comprising: an illumination system controllable to illuminate substantially any region of interest (ROI) of the scene in the field of view of the camera with a relatively small fiducial spot of light; a ranging system configured to determine a range for the fiducial spot relative to the camera; and a controller that focuses the camera to a distance responsive to the determined range.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for focusing a camera having an optic axis, an optic center and a field of view, to image a scene, the apparatus comprising:
an illumination system controllable to illuminate substantially any region of interest (ROI) of the scene in the field of view of the camera with a fiducial spot of light;
a position sensing device that determines a direction relative to the camera optic axis along which the illumination system illuminates the ROI with the fiducial spot of light;
a ranging system configured to determine a range for the fiducial spot relative to the camera; and
a controller that focuses the camera to a distance responsive to the determined range.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a display screen that displays an image of the scene and a location in the scene illuminated by the fiducial spot of light.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to process the range to provide a distance to which to focus the camera that is substantially equal to a scalar product of a vector from the camera optic center to the fiducial spot with a unit vector coincident with the camera optic axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising a controller, manually operable to aim the illumination system to illuminate a desired ROI in the scene.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the manually operable controller is operable to control the apparatus to determine the range for the fiducial spot when the ROI is illuminated therewith.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the manually operable controller is operable to focus the camera when the range is determined.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the manually operable controller is operable to lock the camera focus.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the manually operable controller is operable to control the camera to acquire an image of the scene when the camera is focused.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the controller comprises a rotatable roller-ball, finger-operated to provide a function of the controller.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the controller comprises a touch sensitive screen finger-operated to provide a function of the controller.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the light is non-visible light.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a direction along which the illumination system illuminates the ROI is not parallel to the camera optic axis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the illumination system encodes light it uses to provide a fiducial spot to distinguish its fiducial spot from a fiducial spot provided by an illumination system of another camera.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A camera comprising an apparatus according to claim 1.

### Claim 15

A method of focusing a camera having an optic axis and optic center to image a scene, the method comprising:
illuminating an off axis region of interest in the scene with a relatively small fiducial spot of light;
determining a range for the fiducial spot relative to the camera; and
focusing the camera responsive to a scalar product of a vector from the camera optic center to the fiducial spot with a unit vector coincident with the camera optic axis.