Primary-subordinate camera focus based on lens position sensing
Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.
1. A camera system, comprising:
a first camera, including:
a first set of one or more lenses that define a first optical axis; and
a first actuator configured to move the first set of one or more lenses along the first optical axis to enable focusing for the first camera;
a second camera, including:
a second set of one or more lenses that define a second optical axis; and
a second actuator configured to move the second set of one or more lenses along the second optical axis to enable focusing for the second camera; and
a controller to:
transition from a first camera mode to a second camera mode, wherein:
in the first camera mode, the first camera is designated as a primary camera for focusing and the second camera is designated as a subordinate camera for focusing; and
in the second mode, the second camera is designated as the primary camera for focusing and the first camera is designated as the subordinate camera for focusing;
cause the primary camera to independently focus on an image subject based at least in part on image content corresponding to the image subject; and
cause the subordinate camera to focus on the image subject based at least in part on a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera, wherein the focus relationship characterizes positioning of one or more lenses of the subordinate camera with respect to positioning of one or more lenses of the primary camera.
2. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the controller causes the first camera and the second camera to maintain continuity of focus on the image, across the transition from the first camera mode to the second camera mode.
3. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the focus relationship is based at least in part on:
a first focal length of the first camera; and
a second focal length of the second camera.
4. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine the focus relationship during a first time period;
update, during a second time period after the first time period, the focus relationship to an updated focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera; and
cause the subordinate camera to focus based at least in part on the updated focus relationship.
5. The camera system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to update the focus relationship based at least in part on a variation in temperature associated with at least one of the first camera or the second camera.
6. The camera system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third camera, including:
a third set of one or more lenses that define a third optical axis; and
a third actuator configured to move the third set of one or more lenses along the third optical axis to enable focusing for the third camera;
wherein:
the focus relationship is a first focus relationship; and
the controller is further configured to:
determine a second focus relationship that characterizes positioning of one or more lenses of the third camera with respect to at least one of:
positioning of one or more lenses of the first camera; or
positioning of one or more lenses of the second camera; and
cause the third camera to focus on the image subject based at least in part on the second focus relationship.
7. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein:
one of the first camera or the second camera is a telephoto lens camera; and
the other of the first camera or the second camera is a wide angle lens camera.
8. A device, comprising:
a first camera, including:
a first set of one or more lenses that define a first optical axis; and
a first actuator configured to move the first set of one or more lenses along the first optical axis to enable focusing for the first camera;
a second camera, including:
a second set of one or more lenses that define a second optical axis; and
a second actuator configured to move the second set of one or more lenses along the second optical axis to enable focusing for the second camera;
a display; and
one or more processors to:
transition from a first camera mode to a second camera mode, wherein:
in the first camera mode, the first camera is designated as a primary camera for focusing and the second camera is designated as a subordinate camera for focusing; and
in the second mode, the second camera is designated as the primary camera for focusing and the first camera is designated as the subordinate camera for focusing;
cause the primary camera to independently focus on an image subject based at least in part on image content corresponding to the image subject; and
cause the subordinate camera to focus on the image subject based at least in part on a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera, wherein the focus relationship characterizes positioning of one or more lenses of the subordinate camera with respect to positioning of one or more lenses of the primary camera.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors cause the first camera and the second camera to maintain continuity of focus on the image, across the transition from the first camera mode to the second camera mode.
10. The device of claim 8 , wherein:
the first camera has a first focal length; and
the second camera has a second focal length different than the first focal length.
11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
determine the focus relationship during a first time period;
update, during a second time period after the first time period, the focus relationship to an updated focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera; and
cause the subordinate camera to focus based at least in part on the updated focus relationship.
12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine the focus relationship based at least in part on a variation in temperature associated with at least one of the first camera or the second camera.
13. The device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a third camera, including:
a third set of one or more lenses that define a third optical axis; and
a third actuator configured to move the third set of one or more lenses along the third optical axis to enable focusing for the third camera;
wherein:
the focus relationship is a first focus relationship; and
the one or more processors are further configured to:
determine a second focus relationship that characterizes positioning of one or more lenses of the third camera with respect to at least one of:
positioning of one or more lenses of the first camera; or
positioning of one or more lenses of the second camera; and
cause the third camera to focus on the image subject based at least in part on the second focus relationship.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein:
at least one of the first camera, the second camera, or the third camera is a telephoto lens camera; and
at least one of the first camera, the second camera, or the third camera is wide angle lens camera.
15. A method, comprising:
transitioning from a first camera mode to a second camera mode, wherein:
in the first camera mode, a first camera is designated as a primary camera for focusing and a second camera is designated as a subordinate camera for focusing; and
in the second mode, the second camera is designated as the primary camera for focusing and the first camera is designated as the subordinate camera for focusing;
focusing the primary camera on an image subject based at least in part on image content corresponding to the image subject; and
focusing the subordinate camera on the image subject based at least in part on a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera, wherein the focus relationship characterizes positioning of one or more lenses of the subordinate camera with respect to positioning of one or more lenses of the primary camera.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the transitioning from the first camera mode to the second camera mode comprises:
transitioning from the first camera mode to the second camera mode while maintaining continuity of focus on the image by the first camera and the second camera.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining the focus relationship during a first time period;
updating, during a second time period after the first time period, the focus relationship to an updated focus relationship; and
focusing the subordinate camera based at least in part on the updated focus relationship.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining the focus relationship based at least in part on:
a first focal length of the first camera;
a second focal length of the second camera; and
a temperature associated with at least one of the first camera or the second camera.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
measuring the temperature via one or more sensors proximate one or more lenses of the at least one of the first camera or the second camera.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the focusing the primary camera on the image subject comprises:
moving, via an actuator of the primary camera, one or more lenses of the primary camera along an optical axis of the primary camera; and
the focusing the subordinate camera on the image subject comprises:
moving, via an actuator of the subordinate camera, one or more lenses of the subordinate camera along an optical axis of the subordinate camera.