Patent ID: 7545432
Filing Date: 2009-06-09
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
1. An automatic focusing method in which a photograph region is brought into focus through automatic movement of a focal lens to a focal position, in response to a photographing-command signal, the method comprising: (a) dividing the photograph region into a plurality of sub-regions wherein all sub-regions of the photographic region having a common horizontal position define a horizontal row, and wherein all sub-regions of the photographic region having a common vertical position define a vertical column; (b) obtaining focal position values for the sub-regions; (c) selecting, for each of more than one horizontal row, a first focal position value from the sub-regions, if all sub-regions of one of the horizontal rows have the same first focal position value; (d) selecting, for each of more than one vertical column, a second focal position value from the sub-regions, if all sub-regions of one of the vertical columns have the same second focal position value; (e) selecting from the first and second focal position values, a particular focal position value having the shortest focal distance; and (f) moving the focal lens to a focal position corresponding to the particular focal position value.