Newest flagship of the South Korean company LG G3 got a huge number of interesting features. In addition to the incredible display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, 3 GB of RAM and a remarkable 13-megapixel camera, inside the housing trends found a place for yet another innovation.We are talking about laser autofocus, through which to focus on the desired object fails for a record 276 milliseconds. How did you achieve such a result, and, most importantly, what hidden features of this technology? Let’s deal.
First of all, we should delve into realities. In other words, learn about the most common type of AF, which occurs in the vast majority of modern devices.
Contrast AF
Name Current technology is directly related to the principle of its operation, which consists in continuously reading and analyzing the image matrix. Engaged in this difficult job microprocessor. His main task is to move the lens in the search area with the highest contrast. Her presence is what we used to call “being in focus.”
The most obvious drawback of contrast AF – his slowness. To conclude that the highest level of contrast is possible only after the analysis of the whole image and return back to the lens, which also requires some time.
Laser
The solution was supposed to be a laser. The latter, by the way, for a long time used to measure distances. How does it function? Device emits incredibly thin strip of light that is reflected from various surfaces and back. Smartphone calculates traveling laser multiplies the result by the speed of light and divide by 2. Final figure will be the distance to the object, and thus can not focus.
Obviously, the laser has several advantages, namely high precision calculations and decent speed. But it was not without flaws. The fact that the tiny dimensions of the beam are the cause of the inefficiency of its long distance or in the open space.
Laser autofocus
Engineers LG decided to take the best of both worlds, combining them on the back cover of G3. During startup smartphone camera emits a beam of light to check whether there are any nearby objects. In their absence, the device starts to use the contrast AF, skipping certain distance (our colleagues from androidauthority claim 60 centimeters).
Why do it?
Obviously, the biggest plus – focusing speed and higher accuracy at close range. In addition, the laser will be useful in dark areas where focus using contrast method is virtually impossible.
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Read another very interesting article about alternative energy of the Sun, water and air.
