Techniques to automatically focus a digital camera

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to techniques to automatically focus a digital camera. In one or more embodiments, a mobile electronics device may comprise a digital camera having a lens component and lens position component. A display may be coupled to the digital camera to reproduce an image with a first focal point. The digital camera may also include a focal point selection module coupled to the display to select a second focal point for the image and a focus control module coupled to the focal point selection module and the lens position component to provide focus control signals to the lens position component to focus the lens component on the second focal point. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile electronic device, comprising:
 a lens component coupled to a lens position component;   a touchscreen display to display an image having a first focal point; and   one or more processors to provide:
 a focal point selection module to receive a user input of a first type to select a second focal point, the second focal point corresponding to a location on the image displayed on the touchscreen display; 
 a focus control module coupled to the focal point selection module to provide one or more focus control signals to the lens position component in order to cause the lens position component to focus the lens component from the first focal point to the second focal point while the image is being displayed; 
 a flash component coupled to a flash control module, wherein the flash control module is configured to select a flash level value representing a flash intensity for the flash component based on the second focal point; and 
   wherein the one or more processors captures the image, based on the flash level value, in response to a second type of user input on the touchscreen display, the second type of user input being different than the first type of user input.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen display sends coordinates for the second focal point to the focal point selection module, the coordinates corresponding to the location of the first type of user input on the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to provide a pointing component to control a pointer on the touchscreen display, a location of the pointer on the touchscreen display corresponding to the second focal point. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the focus control signals designate a focal length for the lens component. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a directional microphone component, and wherein the focus control module is configured to provide focus control signals to focus the directional microphone component on the second focal point. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to provide a white balance control module, the white balance control module being configured to modify a white balance setting value for the image based on the second focal point. 
     
     
      
         7 . A method for operating a mobile device, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising: 
       
         displaying, on a touchscreen display, an image having a first focal point, the image being provided by a lens component; 
         selecting a second focal point for the image in response to receiving a first type of user input on the touchscreen display, the second focal point corresponding to a location on the image displayed on the touchscreen display; 
         focusing the lens component from the first focal point to the second focal point while the image is being displayed; 
         selecting a flash level value representing a flash intensity for a flash component based on the second focal point; and 
         capturing the image, based on the flash level value, in response to a second type of user input on the touchscreen display, the second type of user input being different than the first type of user input. 
       
      
     
     
      
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein focusing the lens component on the second focal point includes generating a set of coordinates for the second focal point. 
      
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein focusing the lens component on the second focal point includes focusing a directional microphone component on the second focal point. 
     
     
      
         10 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions, the instructions when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising: 
       
         displaying, on a touchscreen display, an image having a first focal point, the image being provided by a lens component; 
         selecting a second focal point for the image in response to a first type of user input on the touchscreen display, the second focal point corresponding to a location on the image displayed on the touchscreen display; 
         focusing the lens component from the first focal point to the second focal point while the image is being displayed; 
         selecting a flash level value representing a flash intensity for a flash component based on the second focal point; and 
         capturing the image, based on the flash level value, in response to a second type of user input on the touchscreen display, the second type of user input being different than the first type of user input. 
       
      
     
     
      
         11 . The storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein focusing the lens component on the second focal point includes generating a set of coordinates for the second focal point. 
      
     
     
         12 . The storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein focusing the lens component on the second focal point includes focusing a directional microphone component on the second focal point. 
     
     
      
         13 . The storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform a method further comprising modifying a white balance setting value for the image based on the second focal point. 
      
     
     
         14 . A mobile electronic device, comprising:
 a lens component;   a touchscreen display to display an image having a first visual focal point;   a directional microphone component; and   one or more processors coupled to the lens component, the touchscreen display, and the directional microphone component, the one or more processors being configured to provide:
 a focal point selection module to select a second visual focal point and an audio focal point for the image, wherein the second visual focal point and the audio focal point correspond to different portions of the image; and 
 a focus control module coupled to the focal point selection module to (i) provide focus control signals to the lens component in order to change a focus of the lens component from the first visual focal point to the second visual focal point, and (ii) provide focus control signals to the directional microphone component in order to focus the directional microphone component on a target, in the image, of the audio focal point, while continuing to display the image on the touchscreen display. 
   
     
     
         15 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the directional microphone component is configured to track the audio focal point as a position of the audio focal point changes. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first type of input includes a single tap, and wherein the second type of input includes a double tap. 
     
     
       17. A mobile electronic device, comprising:
 a lens component coupled to a lens position component;   a directional microphone component coupled to a microphone position component;   a touchscreen display to display an image having a first focal point, the image being a substantially real-time preview of a view through the lens component; and   one or more processors to provide:
 a focal point selection module to receive a user input of a first type to select a second focal point, the second focal point corresponding to a location on the image displayed on the touchscreen display, wherein the focal point selection module is operative to provide information regarding the second focal point responsive to the user input of the first type to zoom in or out on an object; 
 a focus control module coupled to the focal point selection module to provide one or more focus control signals to the lens position component in order to cause the lens position component to automatically focus the lens component from the first focal point to the second focal point while the image is being displayed as the substantially real-time preview of the view through the lens component, wherein the focus control module is configured to provide focus control signals to the microphone position component to focus the directional microphone component on the second focal point, wherein the focus control module if operative to provide control signals corresponding to a change in focal length for lens elements of the lens component responsive to the user input of the first type to the lens position component, and wherein the lens position component is operative, based on the control signals, to zoom in or out on the object and focus the lens component on the second focal point while the image is being displayed; 
 a flash control module coupled to a flash component, wherein the flash control module is configured to select a flash level value representing a flash intensity for the flash component based on the second focal point; and 
   wherein the one or more processors captures the image, based on the flash lever value, in response to a second type of user input on the touchscreen display, the second type of user input being different than the first type of user input.    
     
     
       18. The mobile electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the touchscreen display sends coordinates for the second focal point to the focal point selection module, the coordinates corresponding to the location of the first type of user input on the touchscreen display.  
     
     
       19. The mobile electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to provide a pointing component to control a pointer on the touchscreen display, a location of the pointer on the touchscreen display corresponding to the second focal point.  
     
     
       20. The mobile electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the focus control signals designate a focal length for the lens component.  
     
     
       21. The mobile electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to provide a white balance control module, the white balance control module being configured to modify a white balance setting value for the image based on the second focal point.  
     
     
       22. The mobile electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the first type of user input includes a single tap, and wherein the second type of user input includes a double tap.  
     
     
       23. The mobile electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the second focal point corresponds to coordinates of the first type of user input.  
     
     
       24. The mobile electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the touchscreen display is operative to send coordinates for the second focal point to the focal point selection module, the coordinates corresponding to the location of the first type user input on the touchscreen display.  
     
     
       25. The mobile electronic device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a pointing component coupled to the touchscreen display and the focal point selection module, the pointing component operative to control a pointer on the touchscreen display, the pointing component further operative to send coordinates for the second focal point to the focal point selection module, the coordinates corresponding to a position for the pointer on the touchscreen display.    
     
     
       26. The mobile electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein focusing the lens component on the second focal point includes generating a set of coordinates corresponding to coordinates of the first type of user input.  
     
     
       27. The mobile electronic device of  claim 26 , wherein the set of coordinates comprise X, Y coordinates.  
     
     
       28. The mobile electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein the second focal point comprises an intended center of interest of the image.  
     
     
       29. The mobile electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein the second focal point comprises an object that a user desires to focus the image on when capturing the image.  
     
     
       30. The mobile electronic device of  claim 26 , wherein the focus control module provides the set of coordinates to the microphone position component.  
     
     
       31. The mobile electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein focusing the directional microphone component comprises creating null points at different frequencies to cancel various sounds around the second focal point.  
     
     
       32. The mobile electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the focal point selection module is operative to focus the image on the second focal point corresponding to a location of the object on the image.  
     
     
       33. A method for operating a mobile device, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising:
 displaying, on a touchscreen display, an image having a first focal point, the image being provided by a lens component as a substantially real-time preview of a view through the lens component;   selecting a second focal point for the image in response to receiving a first type of user input on the touchscreen display, the second focal point corresponding to a location on the image displayed on the touchscreen display;   providing information regarding the second focal point responsive to the user input of the first type to zoom in or out on an object;   providing control signals corresponding to a change in focal length for lens elements of the lens component responsive to the user input of the first type to a lens position component;   zooming in or out on the object and focusing the lens component on the second focal point, based on the control signals, while the image is being displayed;   automatically focusing the lens component from the first focal point to the second focal point while the image is being displayed as the substantially real-time preview of the view through the lens component, wherein focusing the lens component on the second focal point includes focusing a directional microphone component on the second focal point;   selecting a flash level value representing a flash intensity for a flash component based on the second focal point; and   capturing the image, based on the flash level value, in response to a second type of user input on the touchscreen display, the second type of user input being different than the first type of user input.    
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 33 , wherein the second focal point corresponds to coordinates of the first type of user input.  
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 sending, by the touchscreen display, coordinates for the second focal point to a focal point selection module, the coordinates corresponding to the location of the first type of user input on the touchscreen display.    
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 controlling, by a pointing component coupled to the touchscreen display and a focal point selection module, a pointer on the touchscreen display; and   sending, by the pointing component, coordinates for the second focal point to the focal point selection module, the coordinates corresponding to a position for the pointer on the touchscreen display.    
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 33 , wherein the focusing the lens component on the second focal point includes generating a set of coordinates corresponding to coordinates of the first type of user input.  
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37 , wherein the set of coordinates comprise X, Y coordinates.  
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 38 , wherein the second focal point comprises an intended center of interest of the image.  
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 38 , wherein the second focal point comprises an object that a user desires to focus the image on when capturing the image.  
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 37 , further comprising a focus control module providing the set of coordinates to a microphone position component coupled to the directional microphone component.  
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 33 , wherein focusing the directional microphone component comprises:
 creating null points at different frequencies to cancel various sounds around the second focal point.    
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 focusing the image on the second focal point corresponding to a location of the object on the image.    
     
     
       44. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions, the instructions when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
 displaying, on a touchscreen display, an image having a first focal point, the image being provided by a lens component as a substantially real-time preview of a view through the lens component;   selecting a second focal point for the image in response to a first type of user input on the touchscreen display, the second focal point corresponding to a location on the image displayed on the touchscreen display;   providing information regarding the second focal point responsive to the user input of the first type to zoom in or out on an object;   providing control signals corresponding to a change in focal length for lens elements of the lens component responsive to the user input of the first type to a lens position component;   zooming in or out on the object and focusing the lens component on the second focal point, based on the control signals, while the image is being displayed;   automatically focusing the lens component from the first focal point to the second focal point while the image is being displayed as the substantially real-time preview of the view through the lens component, wherein focusing the lens component on the second focal point includes focusing a directional microphone component on the second focal point;   selecting a flash level value representing a flash intensity for a flash component based on the second focal point; and   capturing the image, based on the flash level value, in response to a second type of user input on the touchscreen display, the second type of user input being different than the first type of user input.    
     
     
       45. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 44 , wherein the second focal point corresponds to coordinates of the first type of user input.  
     
     
       46. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 44 , wherein the instructions when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprises:
 sending, by the touchscreen display, coordinates for the second focal points to a focal point selection module, the coordinates corresponding to the location of the first type of user input on the touchscreen display.    
     
     
       47. The non-transitory computer readable storage method of  claim 44 , wherein the instructions when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprising:
 controlling, by a pointing component coupled to the touchscreen display and a focal point selection module, a pointer on the touchscreen display; and   sending, by the pointing component, coordinates for the second focal point to the focal point selection module, the coordinates corresponding to a position for the pointer on the touchscreen display.    
     
     
       48. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 44 , wherein the focusing the lens component on the second focal point includes generating a set of coordinates corresponding to coordinates of the first type of user input.  
     
     
       49. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 48 , wherein the set of coordinates comprise X, Y coordinates.  
     
     
       50. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the second focal point comprises an intended center of interest of the image.  
     
     
       51. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the second focal point comprises an object that a user desires to focus the image on when capturing the image.  
     
     
       52. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 48 , wherein the instructions when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprising:
 providing, by a focus control module, the set of coordinates to a microphone position component coupled to the directional microphone component.    
     
     
       53. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 44 , wherein focusing the directional microphone component comprises:
 creating null points at different frequencies to cancel various sounds around the second focal point.    
     
     
       54. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 44 , wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprising:
 focusing the image on the second focal point corresponding to a location of the object on the image.