The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 14, 2014
Filed:
Aug. 17, 2009
Tigran Galstian, Quebec, CA;
Peter P. Clark, Boxborough, MA (US);
Thomas Charles Antognini, Lexington, MA (US);
Jeffrey James Parker, Millis, MA (US);
Derek Alexandre Proudian, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Thomas Edwin Killick, Danville, CA (US);
Armen Zohrabyan, Quebec, CA;
Tigran Galstian, Quebec, CA;
Peter P. Clark, Boxborough, MA (US);
Thomas Charles Antognini, Lexington, MA (US);
Jeffrey James Parker, Millis, MA (US);
Derek Alexandre Proudian, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Thomas Edwin Killick, Danville, CA (US);
Armen Zohrabyan, Quebec, CA;
Lensvector, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
A camera module and method for focusing a tunable lens configured to continuously vary its optical power in response to a drive signal. A drive circuit generates the drive signal so that the tunable lens performs a continuous scan of its optical power. An image sensor is configured to acquire light images passing through the tunable lens, and to convert the light images to image signals during the continuous scan. A processor is configured to generate focus scores of the acquired light images using the image signals during the continuous scan. The processor is configured to determine from the focus scores a peak focus score achieved or achievable, and to instruct the drive circuit to adjust the drive signal so that the tunable lens settles at a value of the optical power that corresponds to the peak focus score.