US 12,106,454 B2
Image processing apparatus and method for use in an autofocus system
Falk Schlaudraff, Butzbach (DE); Markus Schechter, Frankfurt (DE); Frank Sieckmann, Eppingen (DE); and Oliver Schlicker, Wetzlar (DE)
Assigned to LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH, Wetzlar (DE)
Appl. No. 17/637,480
Filed by LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH, Wetzlar (DE)
PCT Filed Aug. 31, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/074219
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 23, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/038103, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19194731 (EP), filed on Aug. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0277441 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. G06T 5/73 (2024.01); G02B 7/38 (2021.01); G02B 21/12 (2006.01); G02B 21/24 (2006.01); G06F 17/13 (2006.01); G06F 17/15 (2006.01); G06T 5/10 (2006.01); G06T 5/20 (2006.01); G06T 5/70 (2024.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G06V 10/30 (2022.01); H04L 25/02 (2006.01); H04N 25/615 (2023.01)
CPC G06T 5/73 (2024.01) [G02B 7/38 (2013.01); G02B 21/12 (2013.01); G02B 21/244 (2013.01); G06F 17/13 (2013.01); G06F 17/15 (2013.01); G06T 5/10 (2013.01); G06T 5/20 (2013.01); G06T 5/70 (2024.01); G06T 7/0012 (2013.01); G06V 10/30 (2022.01); H04L 25/025 (2013.01); H04N 25/615 (2023.01); G06T 2207/10056 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10068 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20056 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20081 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20084 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30024 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image processing apparatus for determining a focused output image in a passive autofocus system, the image processing apparatus being configured to:
retrieve a set of input images;
compute at least one baseline estimate for at least one input image of the set of input images using a least-square minimization criterion, the least-square minimization criterion comprising a scalar combination of a predetermined image feature length scale and a derivative of the baseline estimate;
compute a set of output images;
compute each output image of the set of output images based on one of a different input image of the set of input images and the at least one baseline estimate for the different input image and the at least one baseline estimate for a respective different input image; and
determine one output image of the set of output images as the focused output image.