System and method for effectively optimizing zoom settings in a digital camera
A system and method for effectively optimizing zoom settings in a digital camera includes a digital zoom module that performs a digital zoom function, and an optical zoom module that controls a lens unit of the digital camera to perform an optical zoom function. A depth of field manager performs a zoom-setting optimization procedure to select optimal zoom values for the optical zoom module and the digital zoom module to thereby optimize image quality characteristics of images captured by the camera device.
This application is a continuation of, and claims priority in, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/148,994 entitled “System And Method For Effectively Optimizing Zoom Settings In A Digital Camera” that was filed on Apr. 24, 2008. The foregoing related Application is commonly assigned, and is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND SECTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to techniques for capturing image data, and relates more particularly to a system and method for effectively optimizing zoom settings in a digital camera.
2. Description of the Background Art
Implementing effective methods for capturing image data is a significant consideration for designers and manufacturers of contemporary, electronic devices. However, effectively capturing image data with electronic devices may create substantial challenges for system designers. For example, enhanced demands for increased device functionality and performance may require more system processing power and require additional hardware resources. An increase in processing or hardware requirements may also result in a corresponding detrimental economic impact due to increased production costs and operational inefficiencies.
Furthermore, enhanced device capability to perform various advanced operations may provide additional benefits to a system user, but may also place increased demands on the control and management of various device components. For example, an enhanced electronic device that effectively captures digital image data may benefit from an effective implementation because of the large amount and complexity of the digital data involved.
Due to growing demands on system resources and substantially increasing data magnitudes, it is apparent that developing new techniques for analyzing image data is a matter of concern for related electronic technologies. Therefore, for all the foregoing reasons, developing effective systems for capturing image data remains a significant consideration for designers, manufacturers, and users of contemporary electronic devices.
SUMMARYIn accordance with the present invention, a system and method are disclosed for effectively optimizing zoom settings in a digital camera. In one embodiment, in order to optimize depth of field characteristics of a captured image, a depth of field (DOF) manager may perform an optical zoom function with an optical zoom module to physically adjust a lens unit of the digital camera to an optimal optical zoom value. The DOF manager may then utilize a digital zoom module to perform a digital zoom function to compensate for the foregoing optical zoom function to thereby produce an image that possesses the same apparent zoom characteristics as initially desired by a camera user.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the DOF manager initially reads an optical zoom value for the optical zoom module. The DOF manager also reads a current target distance to a desired target object. Then, the DOF manager accesses optimal zoom values (an optical-zoom value and a corresponding digital-zoom value) from a zoom-value look-up table that was created previously according to specified criteria. The DOF manager then applies the optimal zoom values from the lookup table to the optical zoom module and the digital zoom module. Finally, an image sensor of the digital camera captures optimized images with the optimized zoom values (optical zoom value and digital zoom value). The present invention therefore provides an improved system and method for effectively optimizing zoom settings in a digital camera.
The present invention relates to an improvement in image data capture techniques. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
The present invention comprises a system and method for effectively optimizing zoom settings in a digital camera, and includes a digital zoom module that performs a digital zoom function, and an optical zoom module that controls a lens unit of the digital camera to perform an optical zoom function. A depth of field manager performs a zoom-setting optimization procedure to select optimal zoom values for the optical zoom module and the digital zoom module to thereby optimize image quality characteristics of images captured by the camera device.
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In alternate embodiments, camera device 110 may include other components in addition to, or instead of, certain of those components discussed in conjunction with the
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In accordance with the present invention, DOF manager 416 may control and coordinate a zoom optimization procedure to select optimal zoom values 422 for capturing image data 424. The zoom values 422 may include specific settings for digital zoom 418 and optical zoom 236 (
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where uf is the distance of the far object that is in focus, un is the distance of the near object that is in focus, f is the focal length, u is the object distance, v is the image distance, c is the circle of confusion, d is the aperture diameter, m is the image magnification (equal to u/v), and N is the f-number (equal to f/d).
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In step 830, DOF manager 416 calculates a zoom-in value +ΔZd for incrementing a digital zoom value to thereby compensate for the decrement in the optical zoom value from foregoing step 826. In step 834, DOF manager 416 applies the new digital zoom value to digital zoom 418, and image sensor 224 captures a new image with the updated zoom values (optical zoom value and digital zoom value). The
In step 838, DOF manager 416 determines whether the apparent zoom characteristics of the immediately-preceding zoom values and the current updated zoom values (from step 834) are the same. If the apparent zoom characteristics are not the same, then the
In step 846, DOF manager 416 determines whether the quality metric for the new image is maximized by utilizing any effect methods. For example, in certain embodiments, the contour graph method of
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The invention has been explained above with reference to certain embodiments. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. For example, the present invention may readily be implemented using configurations and techniques other than those described in the embodiments above. Additionally, the present invention may effectively be used in conjunction with systems other than those described above. Therefore, these and other variations upon the discussed embodiments are intended to be covered by the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A system for optimizing zoom settings in a camera device, comprising:
- an optical zoom that controls a lens unit of said camera device to perform an optical zoom function;
- a digital zoom that performs a digital zoom function; and
- a DOF manager that performs a zoom-setting optimization procedure to select optimal zoom values for said camera device.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said optical zoom function is a zoom-out function that physically adjusts said lens unit of said camera device.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein said digital zoom function is a zoom-in function that is controlled by a software process on said camera device.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said zoom-in function digitally crops said images to produce cropped images, said zoom-in function then digitally expanding said cropped images to produce a final image.
5. The system of claim 3 wherein said zoom-out function optimizes said image quality characteristics, said zoom-in function being performed to compensate for said zoom-out function to produce same apparent zoom characteristics as originally selected by a camera user.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said image quality characteristics include depth of field characteristics for said images.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said camera device includes a capture subsection with said optical zoom, said lens unit, and an image sensor that captures said images.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said camera device includes a control module with a processor device that controls said DOF manager and said digital zoom.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said DOF manager selects said optimal zoom values by calculating and evaluating image quality contours corresponding to said images, said optimal zoom values including an optimal optical-zoom value and an optimal digital-zoom value.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein said DOF manager utilizes an unconstrained solution for identifying said optimal zoom values in said image quality contours.
11. The system of claim 9 wherein said DOF manager utilizes a constrained solution for identifying said optimal zoom values in said image quality contours.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein said zoom-setting optimization procedure utilizes off-line techniques to select said optimal zoom values.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein said DOF manager reads an initial optical zoom value set by a camera user, said DOF manager also reading a target distance for a target object with respect to said camera device.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein said DOF manager references a zoom-value lookup table to determine said optimal zoom values, said zoom-value lookup table being previously implemented based upon defined zoom-setting selection criteria.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein said camera device utilizes said optimal zoom values to capture said images with optimized image quality characteristics.
16. The system of claim 1 wherein said zoom-setting optimization procedure utilizes on-line techniques to select said optimal zoom values.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein said DOF manager reads an initial optical zoom value set by a camera user, said DOF manager also reading a target distance for a target object with respect to said camera device, said camera device capturing and storing an initial image.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein said DOF manager performs an iterative procedures to produce updated zoom values, said iterative procedures decrementing an optical zoom value for said optical zoom, incrementing a digital zoom value for said digital zoom to compensate for decrementing said optical zoom value, said camera device utilizing said updated zoom values to capture evaluation images.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein said DOF manager repeats said iterative procedures until said image quality characteristics are optimized, said camera device then capturing final optimized images.
20. A method for optimizing zoom settings in a camera device, comprising:
- controlling a lens unit of said camera device with an optical zoom to perform an optical zoom function;
- performing a digital zoom function by utilizing a digital zoom; and
- performing a zoom-setting optimization procedure with a DOF manager to select optimal zoom values for said optical zoom and said digital zoom, said zoom-setting optimization procedure thereby optimizing image quality characteristics of images captured by said camera device.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 6, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 8, 2012
Inventors: Nikolaos Georgis (San Diego, CA), Fredrik Carpio (San Diego, CA), Paul Hwang (Burbank, CA)
Application Number: 13/199,645
International Classification: H04N 5/262 (20060101);