Selective Region-Based Focus With Focal Adjustment Bracketing Via Lens / Image Sensor Position Manipulation

Abstract

An image capturing apparatus constructs a composite image using image regions of images captured with differing focal distances between an image plane of an image capturing apparatus photo-detector image sensor and a subject of the image, providing selective focus, background de-focus, and/or lens blur modes of the image capturing apparatus. Construction of the composite image occurs subsequent to aligning images captured with different focal lengths, the aligning partly based on registration of one or more visual features common to one or more images of the plurality of images utilized in providing an image with the desired focus responsive to a selection via a user interface of the image capturing apparatus. Focus bracketing refers to collecting multiple images of the same scene or object while adjusting the image capturing apparatus's focal parameters between collecting the images to focus at distances both nearer and more distant from a desired focus.

1 .- 326 . (canceled) 
     
     
         327 . An image capturing apparatus capable of providing region-based focus in part using focus bracketing, comprising:
 circuitry configured for capturing at least one first image at a first focal length and at least one second image at a second focal length at least partially via adjustment of a focal length associated with at least one lens and at least one image sensor;   circuitry configured for aligning the at least one first image and the at least one second image at least partially based on correlating one or more common features present at substantially similar pixel locations of the at least one first image and the at least one second image; and   circuitry configured for constructing at least one composite image at least partially via blending at least one region of the at least one first image at the first focal length with at least one region of the at least one second image at the second focal length.   
     
     
         328 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 327 , wherein circuitry configured for capturing at least one first image at a first focal length and at least one second image at a second focal length at least partially via adjustment of a focal length associated with at least one lens and at least one image sensor of the image capturing apparatus comprises:
 circuitry configured for capturing a primary image with a lens at a primary position; and   circuitry configured for capturing another image with the at least one lens at another position.   
     
     
         329 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 328 , wherein circuitry configured for capturing another image with the at least one lens at another position comprises:
 circuitry configured for moving the at least one lens to the another position while the at least one image sensor remains stationary; and   circuitry configured for capturing the another image with the at least one lens at the another position.   
     
     
         330 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 328 , wherein circuitry configured for capturing another image with the at least one lens at another position comprises:
 circuitry configured for capturing one or more additional images with the at least one lens at one or more focal positions.   
     
     
         331 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 328 , wherein circuitry configured for capturing another image with the at least one lens at another position comprises:
 circuitry configured for capturing another image with the at least one lens at another position relative to the at least one image sensor.   
     
     
         332 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 331 , wherein circuitry configured for capturing another image with the at least one lens at another position relative to the at least one image sensor comprises:
 circuitry configured for moving the at least one image sensor while the at least one lens remains stationary; and   circuitry configured for capturing the another image with the at least one other lens at the another position relative to the at least one image sensor subsequent to moving the at least one image sensor while the at least one lens remains stationary.   
     
     
         333 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 327 , wherein circuitry configured for capturing at least one first image at a first focal length and at least one second image at a second focal length at least partially via adjustment of a focal length associated with at least one lens and at least one image sensor of the image capturing apparatus comprises:
 circuitry configured for capturing a primary image with a lens at a primary position; and   circuitry configured for capturing another image subsequent to moving the at least one lens to at least another position.   
     
     
         334 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 327 , wherein circuitry configured for capturing at least one first image at a first focal length and at least one second image at a second focal length at least partially via adjustment of a focal length associated with at least one lens and at least one image sensor of the image capturing apparatus comprises:
 circuitry configured for capturing at least one first image at a first focal length and at least one second image at a second focal length at least partially via adjustment of a focal length associated with at least one lens and at least one photo-detector of the image capturing apparatus.   
     
     
         335 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 327 , wherein circuitry configured for capturing at least one first image at a first focal length and at least one second image at a second focal length at least partially via adjustment of a focal length associated with at least one lens and at least one image sensor of the image capturing apparatus comprises:
 circuitry configured for capturing at least one first image at a first focal length and at least one second image at a second focal length at least partially via moving the at least one lens to at least one other position while the at least one image sensor remains stationary.   
     
     
         336 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 327 , wherein circuitry configured for capturing at least one first image at a first focal length and at least one second image at a second focal length at least partially via adjustment of a focal length associated with at least one lens and at least one image sensor of the image capturing apparatus comprises:
 circuitry configured for capturing at least one first image at a first focal position relative to an image plane of the at least one image sensor and at least one second image at a second focal position relative to an image plane of the at least one image sensor.   
     
     
         337 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 327 , wherein circuitry configured for aligning the at least one first image and the at least one second image at least partially based on correlating one or more common features present at substantially similar pixel locations of the at least one first image and the at least one second image comprises:
 circuitry configured for mapping at least one region of the at least one first image with at least one region of the at least one second image.   
     
     
         338 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 337 , wherein circuitry configured for mapping at least one region of the at least one first image with at least one region of the at least one second image comprises:
 circuitry configured for mapping at least one out-of-focus region of the at least one first image to at least one corresponding region of the at least one second image.   
     
     
         339 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 327 , wherein circuitry configured for constructing at least one composite image at least partially via blending at least one region of the at least one first image at the first focal length with at least one region of the at least one second image at the second focal length comprises:
 circuitry configured for constructing the at least one composite image in response to the at least one region of the at least one first image having a sharper focus relative to the focus of the at least one region of the at least one second image.   
     
     
         340 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 327 , wherein circuitry configured for constructing at least one composite image at least partially via blending at least one region of the at least one first image at the first focal length with at least one region of the at least one second image at the second focal length comprises:
 circuitry configured for constructing the at least one composite image to provide at least one desired focus.   
     
     
         341 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 340 , wherein circuitry configured for constructing the at least one composite image to provide at least one desired focus comprises:
 circuitry configured for providing one or more interaction devices for receiving at least one desired focus for constructing at least one composite image with the at least one desired focus.   
     
     
         342 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 327 , wherein circuitry configured for constructing at least one composite image at least partially via blending at least one region of the at least one first image at the first focal length with at least one region of the at least one second image at the second focal length comprises:
 circuitry configured for selecting at least one of the at least one first image or the at least one second image to provide at least one image with at least one desired focus at least partially based on at least one interaction via at least one touch screen of the image capturing apparatus.   
     
     
         343 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 327 , wherein circuitry configured for constructing at least one composite image at least partially via blending at least one region of the at least one first image at the first focal length with at least one region of the at least one second image at the second focal length comprises:
 circuitry configured for constructing at least one composite image including at least one region with at least one desired focus selected at least partially based on at least one interaction via at least one touch screen of the image capturing apparatus.   
     
     
         344 . The image capturing apparatus of  claim 343 , wherein circuitry configured for constructing at least one composite image including at least one region with at least one desired focus selected at least partially based on at least one interaction via at least one touch screen of the image capturing apparatus comprises:
 circuitry configured for constructing at least one composite image including at least one desired in-focus region and at least one desired out-of-focus region, the at least one composite image constructed at least partially based on at least one interaction via at least one touch screen of the image capturing apparatus.   
     
     
         345 . A method for an image capturing apparatus capable of providing region-based focus in part using focus bracketing, comprising:
 capturing at least one first image at a first focal length and at least one second image at a second focal length at least partially via adjustment of a focal length associated with at least one lens and at least one image sensor of the image capturing apparatus;   aligning the at least one first image and the at least one second image at least partially based on correlating one or more common features present at substantially similar pixel locations of the at least one first image and the at least one second image; and   constructing at least one composite image at least partially via blending at least one region of the at least one first image at the first focal length with at least one region of the at least one second image at the second focal length.   
     
     
         346 . An image capturing apparatus capable of providing region-based focus in part using focus bracketing, comprising:
 means for capturing at least one first image at a first focal length and at least one second image at a second focal length at least partially via adjustment of a focal length associated with at least one lens and at least one image sensor of the image capturing apparatus;   means for aligning the at least one first image and the at least one second image at least partially based on correlating one or more common features present at substantially similar pixel locations of the at least one first image and the at least one second image; and   means for constructing at least one composite image at least partially via blending at least one region of the at least one first image at the first focal length with at least one region of the at least one second image at the second focal length.