Method and apparatus for continuous auto focusing of a camera in a mobile terminal

Abstract

A method of continuous auto focusing a camera in a portable terminal is provided. The method includes setting an arbitrary area of a preview screen as a focus area, the preview screen being divided into at least one tracking area, focusing on a subject located within the focus area and fixing a focus of the subject, and adjusting the focus with respect to the focus area when a movement of the subject is detected within the tracking area that includes the focus area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of continuous auto focusing of a camera in a portable terminal, the method comprising:
 setting a focus area on a screen of the portable terminal during a display of a preview screen for capturing an image;   focusing on a subject being displayed within the focus area;   fixing a focus for the subject when the focusing is completed; and   adjusting the focus for a subject being displayed within the focus area when a movement of the subject is detected within a tracking area that includes the focus area.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the setting of the focus area comprises:
 determining whether an input for the setting of the focus area is received from a user;   determining whether the focus area is set by default in the portable terminal when the input for setting the focus area is not received from the user;   setting a corresponding area as the focus area when the focus area is set by default; and   setting a central area of the preview screen as the focus area when the focus area is not set by default.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the preview screen is divided into sections, and wherein the tracking area is one of the sections of the preview screen. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, when an image capture input command is received, a photographing function is performed immediately or after focusing on the subject being displayed. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for continuous auto focusing a camera in a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising:
 a display unit configured to display a preview screen; and   a control unit configured to set a focus area on a screen of the portable terminal during a display of the preview screen for capturing an image, to perform focusing on a subject being displayed within the focus area, to fix a focus for the subject when the focusing is completed, and to adjust the focus for a subject being displayed within the focus area when a movement of the subject is detected within a tracking area that includes the focus area.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , when the control unit sets the focus area,
 wherein the control unit determines whether the input for setting the focus area is received from a user,   wherein the control unit determines whether the focus area is set by default in the portable terminal when the input for setting the focus area is not received from the user,   wherein the control unit sets a corresponding area as the focus area when the focus area is set by default, and   wherein the control unit sets a central area of the preview screen as the focus area when the focus area is not set by default.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the preview screen is divided into sections, and wherein the tracking area is one of the sections of the preview screen. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the control unit is further configured to initiate a photographing function, when an image capture input command is received, immediately or after focusing on the subject being displayed. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the control unit is further configured to not adjust the focus upon the detection of the movement of the subject outside the tracking area that includes the focus area. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein, when an input for setting the focus area is received from the user, the control unit sets an area in which the input is generated as the focus area. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein, when the input for setting the focus area is not received from the user, the control unit sets a preset area as the focus area. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein, when the subject is detected to move outside the tracking area that includes the focus area, the control unit adjusts the focus with respect to the focus area.