US Patent Issued to Varjo Technologies on Sept. 9 for "Phase detection autofocus using liquid crystal device" (Finnish Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 10 -- United States Patent no. 12,413,856, issued on Sept. 9, was assigned to Varjo Technologies Oy (Helsinki).

"Phase detection autofocus using liquid crystal device" was invented by Mikko Strandborg (Hangonkyla, Finland) and Mikko Ollila (Tampere, Finland).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Disclosed is system with imaging unit(s) and processor(s), imaging unit(s) with image sensor of photo-sensitive cells; and light valve device having array of light valves. The processor(s) is configured to: control light valves to allow light to pass therethrough, while controlling remaining light valves in the array to stop allowing the light to pass therethrough, thereby casting shado...