US 11,882,364 B2
Focusing apparatus and method
Sung Wook Choi, Seongnam-si (KR); Won Mo Koo, Seongnam-si (KR); Jung Won Pac, Seongnam-si (KR); Joo Hye Noh, Seongnam-si (KR); and Joo Hyun Yoon, Seongnam-si (KR)
Assigned to Hanwha Vision Co., Ltd., Seongnam-si (KR)
Filed by HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD., Seongnam-si (KR)
Filed on Oct. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/496,063.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0064628 (KR), filed on May 20, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0377243 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 23/00 (2023.01); H04N 23/695 (2023.01); H04N 23/67 (2023.01); H04N 23/69 (2023.01); H04N 23/667 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/695 (2023.01) [H04N 23/667 (2023.01); H04N 23/67 (2023.01); H04N 23/69 (2023.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A focusing method of a camera for obtaining an image of a surveillance area by performing a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) operation, the focusing method comprising:
determining whether a region of interest set in the surveillance area is included in a first image obtained by the camera;
converting a mode according to a result of the determination by selecting a first mode in which focusing is performed using a first focusing algorithm or a second mode in which focusing is performed using a second focusing algorithm that is different from the first focusing algorithm; and
focusing the camera with respect to the first image according to the first mode or the second mode,
wherein the converting of the mode comprises
converting the mode by selecting the first mode in response to the determination that the region of interest is not included in the first image, and
converting the mode by selecting the second mode in response to the determination that the region of interest is included in the first image,
wherein the first focusing algorithm comprises an algorithm in which focusing is performed by automatically setting a focus area and moving a focus lens step-by-step such that the focus area is focused, and
the second focusing algorithm comprises an algorithm in which focusing is performed by setting the region of interest as the focus area and moving the focus lens to a preset position of the focus lens for the region of interest,
wherein the focus area is a reference region for focusing in the first image.