Android auto focus when continuous auto focus modes are not supported - android

I have a camera in my app and I want to make it auto focus continuously in the same way that the phone's camera does it. I found the modes FOCUS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_VIDEO and FOCUS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_PICTURE, but they are not supported by some of the HTC Gingerbread phones I'm testing on.
This is what I'm doing to determine whether I can use these modes:
Camera.Parameters parameters = mCamera.getParameters();
List<String> supportedFocusModes = parameters.getSupportedFocusModes();
if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.ICE_CREAM_SANDWICH &&
supportedFocusModes.contains(Camera.Parameters.FOCUS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_PICTURE)) {
parameters.setFocusMode(Camera.Parameters.FOCUS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_PICTURE);
}
else if (supportedFocusModes.contains(Camera.Parameters.FOCUS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_VIDEO)) {
parameters.setFocusMode(Camera.Parameters.FOCUS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_VIDEO);
}
else if (supportedFocusModes.contains(Camera.Parameters.FOCUS_MODE_AUTO)) {
// auto focus on request only
parameters.setFocusMode(Camera.Parameters.FOCUS_MODE_AUTO);
}
Running on several different Gingerbread HTC phones I don't get the continuous modes back, but I get "auto". This lets me auto focus on demand (when I call mCamera.autoFocus(null), but the camera will not refocus if the user moves the camera.
I cannot set the focus mode to anything the camera does not support, and if I do it shows up blank.
One solution that I tried is to call mCamera.autoFocus(null) on a timer. This causes the camera to refocus continuously, even if it is already in focus.
Is there a way to implement a continuous auto focus experience on these phones? When I look at HTCs camera app on these phones it does have continuous auto focus - as you move around the camera refocuses and does not keep refocusing once the picture is in focus.

We had a requirement to support a very wide range of phones. My solution in the end was to handle each case differently.
For the scenario of phones without continuous auto-focus support I implemented a utility to listen to the accelerometer using SensorManager and trigger mCamera.autoFocus(...) whenever the user moves the camera.
There were also some older tablets that only supported fixed focus (who would use such a thing!), in that case the picture needed to be taken immediately - not on the focus callback.
For most modern phones the code snippet above was fine to use FOCUS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_PICTURE.

I got a similar pb on my samsung S4 and I solved it with:
camera.setParameters(parameters);
camera.autoFocus(null);
This is suggest in the Google doc here.
To make the camera parameters take effect, your application has to call setParameters(Camera.Parameters).

Related

Android camera : Set metering spot position

I'm trying to implement tap to focus on a Samsung Xcover4 for an industrial application (specific to this device).
The idea is to have the device stuffed into a kind of box with a hole where the camera is, and to use it to scan cards with qr codes on it.
So the "scan zone" is always the same, and should be set when the app start with a tap. Once it's done, camera should always focus on that zone and compute exposure on that spot
I'm using Xzing library, so I hacked the CameraManager manager class a little and it's working ok for the fixed focus zone.
I found the "spot" metering value by dumping native camera parameters, but one thing I can't figure out is how to set its position. I guess it can be done, since samsung does it in the native camera app.
ArrayList<Camera.Area> focusAreas = new ArrayList<Camera.Area>();
focusAreas.add(new Camera.Area(focusArea, 1000));
cameraParameters.setFocusMode(Camera.Parameters.FOCUS_MODE_AUTO);
cameraParameters.setFocusAreas(focusAreas);
cameraParameters.setMeteringAreas(focusAreas);
cameraParameters.setZoom(0);
cameraParameters.set("metering", "spot");
camera.setParameters(cameraParameters);
camera.autoFocus(autoFocusManager);
Below is the list of natvie camera paremeters.
3dnr=false;
Infinity=Infinity;
antibanding=50hz;
antibanding-values=auto,50hz;
auto-exposure-lock-supported=true;
auto-whitebalance-lock-supported=true;
best-capture=0;
brightness=0;
brightness-max=2;
brightness-min=-2;
burst-capture=0;
burstshot-fps-values=(4,4);
constant-growth-rate-zoom-supported=true;
contrast=auto;
drc=false;
dual_mode=-1;
dualrecording-hint=-1;
dynamic-range-control=off;
effect=none;
effect-available-fps-values=(10000,15000);
effect-values=none,mono,negative,sepia,posterize;
effectrecording-hint=0;
exposure-compensation=0;
exposure-compensation-step=0.1;
fast-fps-mode=-1;
flash-mode=off;
flash-mode-values=off,auto,on,torch;
fnumber-value-denominator=10;
fnumber-value-numerator=19;
focal-length=3.70;
focallength-35mm-value=28;
focallength-value-denominator=100;
focallength-value-numerator=370;
focus-areas=(257,416,263,422,1000);
focus-distances=0.10,1.20,Infinity;
focus-mode=auto;
focus-mode-values=auto,macro,continuous-video,continuous-picture;
hdr-mode=0;
horizontal-view-angle=62.2;
hue=0;
hue-max=2;
hue-min=-2;
imageuniqueid-value=V13LLIA02PM V13LLKB16SA
;
intelligent-mode=-1;
iso=auto;
iso-values=auto,100,200,400,800;
jpeg-quality=96;
jpeg-thumbnail-height=384;
jpeg-thumbnail-quality=100;
jpeg-thumbnail-size-values=512x384,512x288,384x384,320x240,0x0;
jpeg-thumbnail-width=512;
max-exposure-compensation=20;
max-num-detected-faces-hw=16;
max-num-detected-faces-sw=0;
max-num-focus-areas=1;
max-num-metering-areas=0;
max-zoom=30;
maxaperture-value-denominator=100;
maxaperture-value-numerator=185;
metering=center;
metering-areas=;
metering-values=matrix,center,spot;
min-exposure-compensation=-20;
odc=false;
phase-af=off;
phase-af-values=off;
picture-format=jpeg;
picture-format-values=jpeg;
picture-size=4128x3096;
picture-size-values=4128x3096,4128x2322,3264x2448,3264x1836,3088x3088,2160x2160,2048x1536,2048x1152,1920x1080,1440x1080,1280x720,960x720,640x480,320x240;
preferred-preview-size-for-video=1280x720;
preview-format=yuv420sp;
preview-format-values=yuv420sp,yuv420p;
preview-fps-range=15000,30000;
preview-fps-range-values=(15000,15000),(24000,24000),(15000,30000),(30000,30000);
preview-frame-rate=30;
preview-frame-rate-values=15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30;
preview-size=1280x720;
preview-size-values=1280x720,1056x704,960x720,880x720,720x720,720x480,640x480,352x288,320x240,176x144;
rotation=0;
rt-hdr=off;
rt-hdr-values=off;
saturation=0;
saturation-max=2;
saturation-min=-2;
scene-mode=auto;
scene-mode-values=auto,action,portrait,landscape,night,night-portrait,theatre,beach,snow,sunset,steadyphoto,fireworks,sports,party,candlelight;
sharpness=0;
sharpness-max=2;
sharpness-min=-2;
smooth-zoom-supported=false;
vertical-view-angle=39.4;
video-frame-format=nv21;
video-size=1920x1080;
video-size-values=1920x1080,1440x1080,1072x1072,1280x720,960x720,800x450,720x480,640x480,480x320,352x288,320x240,176x144;
video-snapshot-supported=true;
video-stabilization-supported=false;
vrmode=-1;
wdr=0;
whitebalance=auto;
whitebalance-values=auto,incandescent,fluorescent,daylight,cloudy-daylight;
zoom=0;
zoom-ratios=100,104,109,114,120,125,131,138,144,151,158,166,174,182,190,200,209,219,229,240,251,263,276,289,303,317,332,348,364,381,400;
zoom-supported=true
Thank you.

Android Camera: fixed lens focus

I'm developing an Android application with a camera-related functionality feature.
First of all, I read a lot of stuff on SO, XDA and so on, then please don't redirect me to other useless posts.
I am trying to implement something like a "fixed focus mode", so that:
I start my application with FOCUS_MODE_AUTO (or something else);
bring into focus an object at an arbitrary distance;
fix the current focus;
move the camera on another object at a different distance which is out of focus.
I tried different solutions, i.e.:
mCamera.cancelAutoFocus() in the AutoFocusCallback to prevent the adjustment of the focus;
set a FocusArea: new Camera.Area(new Rect(-50, -50, 50, 50), 1000) to fix the focus on the current area.
I'm targeting API 20 and I'm working on a Samsung Galaxy S5. On this device, the supported focus modes are:
- auto
- infinity
- macro
- continuous-video
- continuous-picture
The suggestion that I found more frequently is to recompile Android...
"AUTO" mode doesn't mean that the camera continuously focuses - just that when you call the autoFocus command the focus is done automatically with no indication on what result you expect not like "Macro" or "Infinity".
http://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/Camera.html#autoFocus(android.hardware.Camera.AutoFocusCallback)
So if you don't have a loop that calls the autoFocus (as many examples do or call it again in the Callback) your focus should stay after it runs once.
If I understand, you want to focus keep the focus of the first object.
Have you tried to change the camera mode to FOCUS_MODE_FIXED after you focus the first object ?
Like that :
Camera.Parameters mParam = mCamera.getParameters();
mParam.setFocusMode(Camera.Parameters.FOCUS_MODE_FIXED);
mCamera.setParameters(mParam);

Turn off auto focus in android

It is any way to turn off auto focus in camera in code my application. I want to check how my scanner work if phone has no auto focus, but in my phone I have that function.
Use FOCUS_MODE_INFINITY or FOCUS_MODE_FIXED. You can also use FOCUS_MODE_MACRO, but that will require holding your phone quite close to the object you're scanning.
On a second thought, the word 'scanner' evokes thoughts of barcodes and QR codes, so unless you print them as full-size page, you actually might be better off with FOCUS_MODE_MACRO.
You can set the desired focus mode with Camera.Parameters.setFocusMode() when opening your camera.
You Can use mCamera.cancelAutoFocus();
Also if you want to set Macro or another Focus Mode, you shall write:
Camera.Parameters mParam = mCamera.getParameters();
mParam.setFocusMode(Camera.Parameters.FOCUS_MODE_MACRO);
mCamera.setParameters(mParam);
All the focus mode and Camera parameters are availble here:

Android 4 - Camera White Balancing stops after autoFocus

In my current application, I've got a class holding an instance of a Camera object and trying to do the following:
1) Wait for a specified time, e.g. nothing (this is done via a TimerTask)
2) Request to focus via autoFocus
3) In autoFocus callback, request OneShotPreviewCallback
4) In preview callback, save image
5) Repeat
While the white balancing is working fine prior to the first autoFocus, it stops after the first focussing has been done. Well, of course I looked up the API, and there is one interesting statement in the autoFocus description.
But auto-focus routine may stop auto-exposure and auto-white balance transiently during focusing.
But it seems it is non stopped only transiently, but permantly. Funny enough, with the subsequent call of autoFocus, the camera tries to ajust the whitening again, but the correct value is mostly only with the second or third autoFocus.
I also tried to set the white balancing in code, but it didn't change anything.
setWhiteBalance(Camera.Parameters.WHITE_BALANCE_AUTO);
Does anyone else know this issue, or am I missing some point ? I know that I could permanently call autoFocus to force the white balancing, but that doesn't seem the optimal way for me, because prior to the first call auf autoFocus, it works perfectly fine.
P.S.: I'm testing on a Samsung Galaxy S2 with Android 4.0.3.
I have ran into similar issue on Samsung Galaxy 2 Duos 2. In this case, the auto exposure settings have stopped working instead of the WB. I tried to cycle (on/off) the auto exposure param and it worked for me.
mCamera.autoFocus(new Camera.AutoFocusCallback() {
#Override
public void onAutoFocus(boolean b, Camera camera) {
Camera.Parameters params = camera.getParameters();
if (params.isAutoExposureLockSupported()) {
params.setAutoExposureLock(true);
camera.setParameters(params);
params = camera.getParameters();
params.setAutoExposureLock(false);
camera.setParameters(params);
}
}
});
I've got the similar problem on Samsung Galaxy Ace - after first autofocus, camera white balancing turns off and does not turn on again, no matter how much I do autofocus after.
As there are no API methods to tell camera to resume white balancing, and resetting the camera parameters in autofocus callback doesn't do the trick, my guess is that it is a bug in camera driver in Samsung phones - I've tried my application with different phones and only on this Samsung Galaxy Ace (GT-S5830; updated to Android 2.3.3), camera white balancing does not resume after autofocusing.
Maybe we should issue a bug ticket on developer.samsung.com?
It seems that
mCamera.stopPreview();
mCamera.startPreview();
in AutoFocusCallback can enable auto exposure again, but bringing a very short pause on the preview as side effect.

Android Camera.takePicture - Possible to disable shutter sound and preview surface?

I am working on an app that will allow a user to take quick click and forget snapshots. Most of the app is done except for the camera working that way I would like. Right now I have the camera working but I can't seem to find a way to disable the shutter sound and I cant find a way to disable displaying the preview. I was able to cover the preview up with a control but I would rather just not have it displayed if possible.
To sum things up, these are the items that I would like to disable while utilizing the built in Camera controls.
Shutter sound
Camera screen display
Image preview onPictureTaken
Does anyone know of a resource that could point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it. I have been following CommonsWare's example from this sample fairly closely.
Thank you.
This is actually a property in the build.prop of a phone. I'm unsure if its possible to change this. Unless you completely override it and use your own camera code. Using what you can that is available in the SDK.
Take a look at this:
CameraService.cpp
. . .
CameraService::Client::Client(const sp<CameraService>& cameraService,
const sp<ICameraClient>& cameraClient,
const sp<CameraHardwareInterface>& hardware,
int cameraId, int cameraFacing, int clientPid) {
mPreviewCallbackFlag = FRAME_CALLBACK_FLAG_NOOP;
mOrientation = getOrientation(0, mCameraFacing == CAMERA_FACING_FRONT);
mOrientationChanged = false;
cameraService->setCameraBusy(cameraId);
cameraService->loadSound();
LOG1("Client::Client X (pid %d)", callingPid)
}
void CameraService::loadSound() {
Mutex::Autolock lock(mSoundLock);
LOG1("CameraService::loadSound ref=%d", mSoundRef);
if (mSoundRef++) return;
mSoundPlayer[SOUND_SHUTTER] = newMediaPlayer("/system/media/audio/ui/camera_click.ogg");
mSoundPlayer[SOUND_RECORDING] = newMediaPlayer("/system/media/audio/ui/VideoRecord.ogg");
}
As can be noted, the click sound is started without your interaction.
This is the service used in the Gingerbread Source code.
The reason they DON'T allow this is because it is illegal is some countries. Only way to achieve what you want is to have a custom ROM.
Update
If what being said here: http://androidforums.com/t-mobile-g1/6371-camera-shutter-sound-effect-off.html
still applies, then you could write a timer that turns off the sound (Silent Mode) for a couple of seconds and then turn it back on each time you take a picture.
You may use the data from the preview callback using a function to save it at a picture on some type of trigger such as a button, using onclick listener. you could compress the image to jpeg or png. In this way, there no shutterCallback to be implemented. and therefore you can play any sound you want or none when taking a picture.
You can effectively hide the preview surface by giving it dimensions of 1p in the xml file (I found an example the said 0p but for some reason that was giving me errors).
It may be illegal to have a silent shutter in some places, but it doesn't appear that the US is such a place, as my HTC One gives me an option to silence it, and in fact, since Android 4.2 you can do this:
Camera.CameraInfo info=new Camera.CameraInfo();
if (info.canDisableShutterSound) {
camera.enableShutterSound(false);
}

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