Image capture

• US 20070081094A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Forstall, Scott, Ciudad, Jean-Pierre, Westen, Peter, Christie, Gregory, Aybes, Alexandre
• Granted Patent: US 7,663,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/371
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A digital image capture system and method uses a display device to illuminate a target with light for improved image capture under poor lighting conditions. Various characteristics of the flash (e.g., brightness, color, duration, etc.) can be adjusted to improve image capture. Users are provided with feedback (e.g., live video feed, audio and/or visual countdowns, etc.) to assist them in preparing for image capture. The captured images are seamlessly integrated with existing applications (e.g., video conferencing, instant text messaging, etc.).

Claims

1. A method of capturing digital images, comprising:

illuminating a target with light emitted from a display device; and

capturing a digital image of the illuminated target.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein illuminating the target includes:

setting one or more characteristics of the light; and

controlling the display device to emit light having the one or more characteristics.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein setting one or more characteristics of the light includes setting a brightness level for the display device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein setting a brightness level for the display device includes:

determining an ambient light of the target environment; and

setting the brightness level of the display device based on the determined ambient light.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein setting one or more characteristics of the light includes setting a screen color of the display device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein illuminating the target includes flashing the light.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein flashing the light includes setting flash duration.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein illuminating the target includes:

determining a time for illuminating the target; and

illuminating the target at the determined time.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a countdown sequence prior to capturing the digital image; and

capturing a digital image of the illuminated target after the countdown sequence expires.

10. A method of capturing a digital image, comprising:

illuminating a target with light emitted from a display device;

determining if the light has reached a threshold intensity level; and

capturing the digital image of the target if the light has reached a threshold intensity level.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

measuring the ambient light of the target environment; and

determining the threshold intensity level based on the measured ambient light.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein measuring the ambient light includes averaging pixel intensities of a video image.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein capturing the digital image includes:

determining frame latency from one or more video frames;

determining an image capture time based on the frame latency; and

capturing the digital image at the image capture time.

14. A method of capturing a digital image, comprising:

receiving an instruction to illuminate a target to facilitate capturing a digital image; and

illuminating the target using a display device.

15. A method of capturing a digital image, comprising:

receiving an instruction to acquire an image using an image capture device;

determining when to flash a display device to illuminate the target;

flashing the display device at the determined time; and

acquiring an image illuminated by the flash using the image capture device.

16. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which, when executed by a processor in a digital image capture system, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

illuminating a target with light emitted from a display device; and

capturing a digital image of the illuminated target.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein illuminating the target includes:

setting one or more characteristics of the light; and

controlling the display device to emit light having the one or more characteristics.

18. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which, when executed by a processor in a digital image capture system, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

illuminating a target with light emitted from a display device;

determining if the light has reached a threshold intensity level; and

capturing the digital image of the target if the light has reached a threshold intensity level.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

measuring the ambient light of the target environment; and

determining the threshold intensity level based on the measured ambient light.

20. A system for capturing digital images, comprising:

a display device configurable for illuminating a target with light;

a digital capture device configurable for capturing a digital image of the illuminated target; and

a processor operatively coupled to the display device and the digital capture device, the processor configurable to instruct the display device to illuminate the target and the image capture device to capture a digital image of the illuminated target.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the digital capture device is a digital video camera configurable to provide a digital video stream, and the digital image is captured from the digital video stream.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein multiple digital images are captured from the digital video stream and presented on the display device.

23. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which, when executed by a processor in a digital image capture system, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

receiving an instruction to illuminate a target to facilitate capturing a digital image; and

illuminating the target using a display device.

24. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which, when executed by a processor in a digital image capture system, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

receiving an instruction to acquire an image using an image capture device;

determining when to flash a display device to illuminate the target;

flashing the display device at the determined time; and

acquiring an image illuminated by the flash using the image capture device.