If you own a DSLR Canon camera nad you’re using its Live View with it then you should keep an eye on this patent application right here. Canon looks like it has found a way to deal with the autofocus problem in Live View. The phase=difference autofocus issue is caused by the physical limitations of the mirror and the AF sensor.

Canon wants to move the phase-difference AF sensor from above the image sensor to right under it and make use of a semi-transparent mirror which will allow simultaneous transfer of light to the image sensor and the AF sensor. That will give you three new shooting modes: a Standard Viewfinder Mode, a Fast AF Live View Mode and a Full Live View Mode. This patent could significantly improve the quality applications and it could even bring autofocus to your DSLR video or the video recorded via Live View.

via photographybay