Apparatus for processing digital image and method of controlling the apparatus

• US 20090128642A1
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Techwin Corporation (Hanwha Vision Company Limited)
• Inventors: Koh, Sung-shik, Sugimoto, Kazuhiko
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.110
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/675 comprising setting of focusing regions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/676 Bracketing for image capture at varying focusing conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/743 Bracketing, i.e. taking a series of images with varying exposure conditions

Abstract

An apparatus and appertaining method for controlling the apparatus are provided for processing a digital image, which can capture an image with reduced hand shake effect without using a hand shake sensor. The apparatus includes: an image input unit receiving a plurality of input images from the outside; and a control unit receiving the plurality of input images when a shutter-release button select signal is input from the outside, selecting a clearest image from among the input images as a best image, and capturing the best image.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing a digital image, the apparatus comprising:

an image input unit receiving a plurality of input images from the outside; and

a control unit receiving the plurality of input images when a shutter-release button select signal is input from the outside, selecting a clearest image from among the input images as a best image, and capturing the best image.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit selects specific regions of the input images as detection regions, and selects an image with a clearest detection region as a best image.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, if a person exists in each of the input images, a human region including the person is selected as the detection region.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a face in each of the input images is detected, and a torso portion constructing a human region together with the face is traced from a position of the face, and the human region is detected as the detection region.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, if a person does not exist in each of the input images, a central region of each of the input images is selected as the detection region.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shutter-release button select signal comprises a first signal generated when a shutter-release button is pressed to a first step, and a second signal generated when the shutter-release button is pressed to a second step.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a focus lens moved along an optical axis in response to the first signal and receiving a plurality of focus images, wherein the focus lens is controlled by the control unit to be located at a position where a clearest focus image is obtained.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the control unit selects the best image from among the input images in response to the second signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein, in the state where the focus lens is fixed to the position where the clearest focus image is obtained, the control unit selects the best image from among the input images in response to the second signal.

10. An apparatus for processing a digital image, the apparatus comprising:

an image input unit receiving a plurality of input images from the outside when a shutter-release button select signal is input from the outside;

a detection region detecting unit detecting specific regions of the input images as detection regions;

a raw data generating unit generating raw data of the detection regions from the input images;

a luminance value calculating unit calculating luminance values corresponding to respective pixels from the raw data;

a focus value calculating unit calculating focus values of the input images from the luminance values; and

a best image selecting unit selecting an input image with a highest focus value among the input images as a best image.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, if a person exists in each of the input images, a human region including the person is selected as the detection region, and if a person does not exist in each of the input images, a central region of each of the input images is selected as the detection region.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a face in each of the input images is detected, a torso portion constructing a human region together with the face is traced from a position of the face, and the human region is detected as the detection region.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the shutter-release button select signal comprises a first signal generated when a shutter-release button is pressed to a first step, and a second signal generated when the shutter-release button is pressed to a second step.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a focus lens moved along an optical axis in response to the first signal to receive a plurality of focus images, and controlled to be located at a position where a clearest image is obtained.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the image input unit receives the input images in response to the second signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein, in the state where the focus lens is fixed to the position where the clearest is obtained, the image input unit receives the input images in response to the second signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the focus lens is controlled to be located at a position where an image with a highest focus value is obtained.

18. A method of controlling an apparatus for processing a digital image, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of input images from the outside;

detecting human regions of the input images as detection regions;

receiving raw data of the detection regions;

calculating luminance values corresponding to respective pixels from the raw data;

calculating focus values of the input images from the luminance values; and

selecting an input image with a highest focus value among the input images as a best image.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating a first signal when a shutter-release button is pressed to a first step;

generating a second signal when the shutter-release button is pressed to a second step; and

controlling a focus lens, which is moved along an optical axis in response to the first signal to receive a plurality of focus images, to be located at a position where a clearest focus image is obtained.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, in the state where the focus lens is fixed to the position where the clearest focus image is obtained, the input images are received in response to the second signal.