Patent ID: 8760527
Filing Date: 2014-06-24
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for providing an extended focus range, comprising: a) setting an F/# of an optical system of a digital camera to a first F/#, wherein F/# represents the ratio of the optical system's focal length to aperture size, and wherein the first F/# is larger than or equal to a minimum F/# of the optical system and smaller than or equal to a maximum F/# of the optical system; b) capturing an evaluation image of a scene using an image sensor of the optical system; c) analyzing the captured evaluation image to determine whether a subject in the captured evaluation image is acceptably focused; d) setting a capture F/# to be equal to the first F/# if the subject in the captured evaluation image is acceptably focused; otherwise e) setting the optical system to use the capture F/#; f) capturing an archival image of the scene using the image sensor and the capture F/#; and g) storing the captured archival image in a storage memory.