Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Near distance detection for autofocus
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Application No.: US17664355Application Date: 2022-05-20
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Publication No.: US12028611B1Publication Date: 2024-07-02
- Inventor: Mark N Gamadia , Zhongmin Wang , Moshe Laifenfeld , Yingjun Bai
- Applicant: Apple Inc.
- Applicant Address: US CA Cupertino
- Assignee: Apple Inc.
- Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US CA Cupertino
- Agency: Kowert, Hood, Munyon, Rankin & Goetzel, P.C.
- Agent Robert C. Kowert
- Main IPC: H04N23/67
- IPC: H04N23/67

Abstract:
Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for determining autofocus for a camera on a mobile device. In various instances, a depth imaging system (e.g., a time-of-flight autofocus system (ToF-AF system)) is used to determine distance of a subject in order to determine autofocus for a camera. In some instances, however, the ToF-AF system may be unable to detect a subject that is very close to the camera when the objects are below a minimum detectable distance of the ToF-AF system. In such instances, an existing IR detector outside of the ToF-AF system may be implemented to measure reflected signals from the ToF-AF system. A power ratio may be determined from the reflected signals and used to determine information about the distance of the subject from the camera.
Information query