REFOCUSABLE IMAGES

摘要

Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward providing refocusable image. Refocusable images are images that, after being captured, can be refocused, or adjusted to have a different focal length. The embodiments described herein can utilize a mobile user device, such as a smartphone, without the need for specialized hardware. A camera of the mobile device can be configured to take a series of images in succession over a short period of time in which the focal length of the camera is varied so that each image has a different focal length. An image stack is created by aligning the images, and images are processed to determine which image has the highest contrast (i.e., is in focus) for each region of the image stack. Embodiments can further include displaying a first image of the series of images.

主权项

1. A method of image capture and processing, the method comprising:
capturing a plurality of images in succession over a period of time with a camera, wherein the capturing is triggered by a user input; varying a focal length of the camera during the period of time such that each image of the plurality of images is captured using a unique focal length; aligning the plurality of images using motion sensor data taken during the period of time; processing, with a processing unit, the plurality of images by:
dividing each image into a plurality of regions, each region having a corresponding region in each of the plurality of images;calculating a level of contrast for each region of a first set of corresponding regions;comparing the levels of contrast for regions of the first set of corresponding regions; anddetermining a first image having a highest-level of contrast in the first set of corresponding regions; and causing a display to show the first image when one of the first set of corresponding regions is selected.