System and method for controlling the focus of a lens
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsTarak Gandhi, Iain Richard Tyrone McClatchie, Ian Rickard Muldoon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect, a system for controlling the focus of a lens is disclosed. The system may generally include a sensor configured to detect changes in a focal distance of the lens and a thermal device configured to adjust a lens temperature of the lens. In addition, the system may include one or more computing devices communicatively coupled to the sensor and the thermal device. The computing device(s) may be configured to control the thermal device such that the lens temperature is adjusted in a manner that reduces variations in the focal distance.
Claims17
A computer-implemented method for controlling the focus of a lens, the method comprising:
- detecting, by one or more computing devices, a change in a focal distance of the lens;
- determining, by the one or more computing devices, a temperature adjustment for the lens that will reduce the variation in the focal distance;
- and
- adjusting, by the one or more computing devices, a lens temperature of the lens based on the determined temperature adjustment.
A system for controlling the focus of a lens, the system comprising:
- a sensor configured to indirectly detect changes in a focal distance of the lens by detecting changes in an optics-related parameter associated with the lens, the optics-related parameter corresponding to at least one of pressure, humidity or object distance;
- a thermal device configured to adjust a lens temperature of the lens;
- and
- one or more computing devices communicatively coupled to the sensor and the thermal device, the one or more computing devices being configured to control the thermal device such that the lens temperature is adjusted in a manner that reduces variations in the focal distance of the lens.
An image capture device, comprising:
- a lens defining a focal distance, the lens including a lens element, a lens housing and a temperature-sensitive spacer coupled between the lens element and the lens housing;
- a sensor configured to detect changes in a focal distance of the lens;
- a thermal device configured to adjust a lens temperature of the lens;
- and
- one or more computing devices communicatively coupled to the sensor and the thermal device, the one or more computing devices being configured to control the thermal device so as to control a temperature associated with the temperature-sensitive spacer in a manner that reduces variations in the focal distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.