Apparatus and method for controlling a camera in an electronic device
An apparatus and a method in an electronic device provide for controlling a camera, wherein the camera can selectively operate in a first focus mode and in a second focus mode. The first focus mode is initially selected. In response to detecting a state of the electronic device, the second focus mode is selected. The first focus mode can be an autofocus mode. The second focus mode can be an extended depth of field mode, wherein software processing is used to extend the focus range of the camera. The detected state of the electronic device can be a previous user selection, a low power mode, or a continued request for taking photographs following taking a photograph in the autofocus mode.
1. An electronic device comprising:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor;
a camera subsystem coupled to the processor for capturing image data and storing the image data in the memory, wherein the camera subsystem can selectively operate in a plurality of focus modes, the plurality of focus modes comprising an autofocus mode and an extended depth of field (EDoF) mode, the camera subsystem being placed in an initial focus mode at and in response to each camera initialization; and
a camera controller module coupled to the processor for selecting a focus mode of the camera subsystem, the camera controller module configured to:
in response to a particular camera initialization:
sense the initial focus mode of the camera subsystem;
compare the initial focus mode to a last-user-selected mode selected prior to the particular camera initialization; and
detect that the initial focus mode is different than the last-user-selected mode selected prior to the particular camera initialization; and
in response to detecting that the initial focus mode is different than the last-user-selected mode selected prior to the particular camera initialization and prior to an image being taken, set the camera subsystem to operate in the last-user-selected mode.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the electronic device further comprises an image processor coupled to the camera subsystem for extending the depth of focus of the image data using a computational algorithm.
3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the camera controller module is configured to select the EDoF mode in response to a state of the electronic device indicating that a picture has been taken in the autofocus mode and that a continuous shooting mode has been selected for consecutively capturing additional image data.
4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the camera controller module is configured to select the EDoF mode in the camera subsystem in response to a state of the electronic device indicating that the electronic device is in a low power mode.
5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the electronic device further comprises a smart phone.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the camera subsystem further comprises:
a lens;
an image sensor positioned to receive light passing through the lens; and
a lens position controller coupled to the lens for moving the lens relative to the image sensor.
7. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein setting the camera subsystem to operate in the last-user-selected mode selected prior to the particular camera initialization is performed immediately after detecting that the initial focus mode is different than the last-user-selected mode.
8. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein setting the camera subsystem to operate in the last-user-selected mode selected prior to the particular camera initialization is performed without delaying to wait for receipt of user input associated with focus mode selection.
9. A method for controlling a camera in an electronic device, wherein the camera can focus using a plurality of focusing modes for focusing light on an image sensor, the method comprising:
initializing the camera to an initial focusing mode at and in response to each camera initialization;
in response to a particular camera initialization:
sensing the initial focusing mode of the camera;
comparing the initial focusing mode to a last-user-selected mode selected prior to the particular camera initialization; and
detecting that the initial focusing mode is different than the last user-selected focusing mode selected prior to the particular camera initialization; and
in response to detecting that the initial focusing mode is different than the last user-selected focusing mode selected prior to the particular camera initialization and prior to an image being taken, setting the camera to operate in the last user-selected focusing mode.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the initial focusing mode comprises an autofocusing mode that uses a motor to move a lens to focus light on the image sensor.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the last user-selected focusing mode comprises an extended depth of field (EDoF) focusing mode that uses software image processing to increase a depth of focus of the image.
12. The method of claim 9 further comprising changing the focusing mode of the camera from an autofocus mode to an EDoF mode after taking a photograph in the autofocus mode, wherein the changing the focusing mode is in response to the camera being set in the autofocus mode, and the camera being set to a rapid shooting mode, and a photograph taken in the autofocus mode.
13. The method of claim 9 further comprising changing the focusing mode of the camera from an autofocus mode to an EDoF mode in response to detecting a low power mode in the electronic device.
14. The method of claim 9 wherein the electronic device comprises a cellular telephone.