MULTI COLOR AUTOFOCUS APPARATUS AND METHOD

An autofocus system and method that includes a controllable light source having at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths adapted for illuminating an object; a camera receiving light from said light source reflected from a portion of said object and generating output signals responsive to said received light; a controller connected to said camera and said controllable light source for positioning said camera and sequentially illuminating a first portion of the object with at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths, moving the camera to a second position and sequentially illuminating a second portion of the object with at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths; and a data processor connected to said camera and receiving said output signals and for each portion, comparing the output signals associated with each wavelength and determining a focus parameter from said comparison.