IP Library Granted Patent US 9,473,689
Granted Patent B2
US 9,473,689 · App. 14/340,818 · Granted Oct 18, 2016

Method for automatically switching terminal focus mode and terminal

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,473,689
App. No.
14/340,818
Granted
Oct 18, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for automatically switching a terminal focus mode and a terminal are provided that relate to the terminal field and can more effectively determine a focus mode of a terminal. The method includes: collecting an image data frame; and switching a focus mode of a terminal according to a brightness value of a metering area of the image data frame. The terminal includes: a sensor unit, an imaging unit, and a display unit, where the imaging unit includes: a data frame acquiring module configured to collect an image data frame; and an auto focus control switching module configured to switch a focus mode of the terminal according to a brightness value of a metering area of the image data frame.

Claims (53)

1. A method for automatically switching a terminal focus mode, comprising:

collecting an image data frame; and

switching a focus mode of a terminal according to a brightness value of a metering area of the image data frame and a preset exposure threshold,

wherein the preset exposure threshold comprises a maximum value of exposure values in an exposure list,

wherein the exposure values in the exposure list have an exponential relationship with a ratio of a square of a shutter index of the terminal to an aperture index of the terminal, and

wherein the metering area comprises only an in-focus area of the image data frame.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein switching the focus mode of the terminal according to the brightness value of the metering area of the image data frame and the preset exposure threshold comprises:

calculating, according to the brightness value of the metering area of the image data frame, an exposure value that needs to be adjusted;

switching the focus mode of the terminal to a single auto focus mode when the exposure value exceeds the preset exposure threshold and a current focus mode is a continuous auto focus mode; and

switching the focus mode of the terminal to a continuous auto focus mode when the exposure value does not exceed the preset threshold and the current focus mode is a single auto focus mode.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein switching the focus mode of the terminal according to the brightness value of the metering area of the image data frame and the preset exposure threshold comprises:

calculating an average brightness value of the metering area of the image data frame;

switching the focus mode of the terminal to a continuous auto focus mode when the average brightness value exceeds the preset brightness threshold and a current focus mode is a single auto focus mode; and

switching the focus mode of the terminal to a single auto focus mode when the average brightness value does not exceed a preset brightness threshold and a current focus mode is a continuous auto focus mode.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metering area is a focus sampling point that is less than the entire image data frame.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein spot metering is used, and wherein the metering area is a partial sampling area.

6. A terminal, comprising:

a sensor;

an imager; and

a display,

wherein the imager is configured to:

collect an image data frame; and

switch a focus mode of the terminal according to a brightness value of a metering area of the image data frame and a preset exposure threshold,

wherein the preset exposure threshold comprises a maximum value of exposure values in an exposure list,

wherein the exposure values in the exposure list have an exponential relationship with a ratio of a square of a shutter index of the terminal to an aperture index of the terminal, and

wherein the metering area comprises an in-focus area of the image data frame that is less than all of the image data frame.

7. The terminal according to claim 6 , wherein the imager is further configured to:

calculate, according to the brightness value of the metering area of the image data frame, an exposure value that needs to be adjusted;

switch the focus mode of the terminal to a single auto focus mode when the exposure value exceeds the preset exposure threshold and a current focus mode is a continuous auto focus mode; and

switch the focus mode of the terminal to a continuous auto focus mode when the exposure value does not exceed the preset threshold and the current focus mode is a single auto focus mode.

8. The terminal according to claim. 6 , wherein the imager is further configured to:

calculate an average brightness value of the metering area of the image data frame;

determine the average brightness value of the metering area;

switch the focus mode of the terminal to a continuous auto focus mode when the average brightness value exceeds the preset brightness threshold and a current focus mode is a single auto focus mode; and

switch the focus mode of the terminal to a single auto focus mode when the average brightness value does not exceed the preset brightness threshold and the current focus mode is a continuous auto focus mode.

9. The terminal according to claim 6 , wherein the metering area is a focus sampling point that is less than the entire image data frame.

10. The terminal according to claim 6 , wherein spot metering is used, and wherein the metering area is a partial sampling area.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer usable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor, wherein the instructions cause the processor to:

collect an image data frame; and

switch a focus mode of a terminal according to a brightness value of a metering area of the image data frame and a preset exposure threshold,

wherein the preset exposure threshold comprises a maximum value of exposure values in an exposure list,

wherein the exposure values in the exposure list have an exponential relationship with a ratio of a square of a shutter index of the terminal to an aperture index of the terminal, and

wherein the metering area comprises an in-focus area of the image data frame, but not the entire image data frame.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to switch the focus mode of the terminal according to the brightness value of the metering area of the image data frame and the preset exposure threshold comprises the instructions causing the processor to:

calculate, according to the brightness value of the metering area of the image data frame, an exposure value that needs to be adjusted;

switch the focus mode of the terminal to a single auto focus mode when the exposure value exceeds the preset exposure threshold and a current focus mode is a continuous auto focus mode; and

switch the focus mode of the terminal to a continuous auto focus mode when the exposure value does not exceed the preset threshold and the current focus mode is a single auto focus mode.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to switch the focus mode of the terminal according to the brightness value of the metering area of the image data frame and the preset exposure threshold comprises the instructions causing the processor to:

calculate an average brightness value of the metering area of the image data frame;

switch the focus mode of the terminal to a continuous auto focus mode when the average brightness value exceeds the preset brightness threshold and a current focus mode is a single auto focus mode; and

switch the focus mode of the terminal to a single auto focus mode when the average brightness value does not exceed a preset brightness threshold and a current focus mode is a continuous auto focus mode.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein the metering area is a focus sampling point that is less than the entire image data frame.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein spot metering is used, and wherein the metering area is a partial sampling area.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 11, 2019
From: HUAWEI DEVICE (DONGGUAN) CO.,LTD.
To: HUAWEI DEVICE CO.,LTD.
Reel/Frame 048555/0951 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2017
From: HUAWEI DEVICE CO., LTD.
To: HUAWEI DEVICE (DONGGUAN) CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 043750/0393 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2014
From: XIU, HONGJU
To: HUAWEI DEVICE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 033418/0303 →