	US 11,956,536 B2
	Methods and apparatus for defocus reduction using laser autofocus
Sanket Krishnamurthy Sagar, Secaucus, NJ (US); Ying Chen Lou, Escondido, CA (US); and Ruben Velarde, Chula Vista, CA (US)
Assigned to QUALCOMM Incorporated, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by QUALCOMM Incorporated, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/645,596.
Application 17/645,596 is a continuation of application No. 14/754,048, filed on Jun. 29, 2015, granted, now 11,240,421.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/146,118, filed on Apr. 10, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0124252 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 5/232 (2006.01); G01B 11/14 (2006.01); G02B 7/38 (2021.01); H04N 23/67 (2023.01)

CPC H04N 23/671 (2023.01) [G01B 11/14 (2013.01); G02B 7/38 (2013.01); H04N 23/673 (2023.01)]

30 Claims

1. A method comprising:

prior to initiating a contrast search operation:

determining, using a distance sensor, a first distance between an object in a scene and an imaging device;

determining a lens position of a lens for a first frame based on the determined distance, the determined lens position being based on an estimate for optimum focus of light propagating through the lens to the imaging device for the determined distance;

receiving, with the imaging device, the first frame; and

determining, using the distance sensor, a second distance between the object and the imaging device; and

in response to a comparison between the first distance and the second distance, initiating the contrast search operation.