Apple Inc.

Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC

Abhishek Dhanda

Andrew David Fernandez

Santiago Alban

Gregory Guyomarc'h

Mark N Gamadia

Moshe Laifenfeld

David C Beard

Arathi S Bale

Jianping Zhou

Kenneth Alexander Diest

Kevin A Gross

Yongjun Li

Honghong Peng

Michael Chin

Yunfeng Li

Ling Xiao Wang

Patrick A Carroll

An adjustment image of a projected image is captured by a disparity image sensor. A first defocus factor in generated response to comparing the adjustment image with a reference image driven onto a display projector assembly the generated the projected image. A second defocus factor is generated in response to an alignment of a first intensity profile of the adjustment image and a second intensity profile of the adjustment image. A focusing lens of the display projector assembly is adjusted in response to at least one of the first defocus factor and the second defocus factor.

Active defocus for display assembly

Various embodiments include implementing optical image stabilization (OIS) in a camera module. For example, a controller may control an actuator of the camera module to move a lens group and/or an image sensor of the camera module to provide OIS movement. In various embodiments, OIS movement control is implemented according to a region-based blur reduction model that effects a greater reduction in blur associated with a target region of an image sensor, relative to one or more other regions of the image sensor.

Optical image stabilization with region-based blur reduction

Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for operating a multiple camera system. In some embodiments, a primary camera may be selected from a plurality of cameras using object distance estimates, distance error information, and minimum object distances for some or all of the plurality of cameras. In other embodiments, a camera may be configured to use defocus information to obtain an object distance estimate to a target object closer than a minimum object distance of the camera. This object distance estimate may be used to assist in focusing another camera of the multi-camera system.

Object depth estimation and camera focusing techniques for multiple-camera systems

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for selecting a lens control mode for a camera in external magnetic fields or other types of non-magnetic interference. In embodiments, when the camera is activated, a test of a position sensor for the camera lens is performed by moving the camera lens through a range of positions and collecting values from the sensor. In embodiments, the sensor readings are analyzed to determine conditions such as (a) whether the sensor is saturated by an external magnetic field or non-magnetic interference, (b) whether the sensor's readings are within an error margin, and (c) whether a computed position offset for the sensor is valid. Based on the analysis, the camera is placed into a first control mode where movement of the lens is controlled using the position sensor, or a second control mode where lens movement is controlled without the position sensor.

Camera lens control during magnetic interference

Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for determining autofocus for a camera on a mobile device. In some instances, depth imaging is used to assist in determining a focus position for the camera through an autofocus process. For example, a determination of depth may be used to determine a focus position for the camera. In another example, the determination of depth may be used to assist another autofocus process.

Camera autofocus using time-of-flight assistance

Camera switchover control techniques for multiple-camera systems

Various embodiments include synchronization of camera focus movement control with frame capture. In some embodiments, such synchronization may comprise synchronized focus movement control that is based at least in part on integration timing and/or region of interest (ROI) timing. According to some examples, an actuator of a camera module may be controlled such that a lens group and/or an image sensor of the camera module move towards a focus position during one or more time periods (e.g., a non-integration time period in which the image sensor is not being exposed, a non-ROI time period in which a ROI of the image sensor is not being exposed for image capture, and/or a blanking interval, etc.). Additionally, or alternatively, the actuator may be controlled such that the lens group and the image sensor do not move relative to each other in a focus direction during one or more other time periods (e.g., an integration time period in which the image sensor is being exposed, a ROI time period in which the ROI of the image sensor is being exposed, etc.).

Synchronization of camera focus movement control with frame capture

A camera system may include one or more controllers to perform in-field monitoring of autofocus performance and instability mitigation. The controllers may monitor one or more parameters associated with adjustment of a relative position between a lens group and an image sensor and/or one or more images. The controllers may analyze the parameters and/or images to calculate various metrics. The controllers may evaluate the metrics with respect to corresponding thresholds. The controllers may detect, based at least in part of the evaluation the metrics, one or more instability events associated with controller performance degradation. In response to detecting the instability events, the controllers may perform one or more remedial actions to mitigate the controller performance degradation.

In-field monitoring of autofocus performance and instability mitigation in camera systems

Various embodiments include camera movement control for reduced power consumption. Some embodiments, for example, may include operating a camera module in a power saving mode, in which focus movement control may be synchronized with frame capture. According to some examples, such synchronization may include holding a position (e.g., a focus position) of a lens group and/or an image sensor of the camera module during some integration time periods. Furthermore, such synchronization may include enabling power saving movement (e.g., between a focus position and a neutral position) of the lens group and/or the image sensor during some other time periods, such as during intervals (e.g., blanking intervals) between integration time periods, and/or during integration time periods for image frames that are expendable.

Growing community of inventors

San Ramon, CA, United States of America

Abhishek Dhanda