Patent ID: 7228070

Claim:
A method of auto-focusing an object for imaging by a camera apparatus using a single diffuse hologram image, comprising the steps of: depressing a shutter release button on said camera apparatus; starting a laser projection operation when said shutter release is depressed, including the steps of: determining whether a monitor voltage is equal to or exceeds a reference voltage; maintaining application of a collimated laser beam using a laser diode system of said camera apparatus when the monitor voltage is equal to said reference voltage, wherein an output level of said collimated laser beam is based on an initial contrast detected value stored in said camera apparatus; wherein said laser diode system includes a condenser lens; projecting said single diffuse holographic image onto said object to be imaged by diffusing said collimated laser beam through a holographic plate, such that said collimated laser beam is no longer collimated; wherein said holographic plate is integrated with said condenser lens into a body unit of said laser diode system; performing an auto-focus operation on said object, including the steps of: calculating a next contrast detected value on the basis of an automatic exposure detected value; and adjusting an output level of said collimated laser beam on the basis of said next contrast detected value and said automatic exposure detected value; and halting said laser projection operation when said auto-focus operation is over.