METHOD OF MAKING A DIGITAL CAMERA IMAGE OF A SCENE INCLUDING THE CAMERA USER

• US 20090244296A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FotoNation Limited (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: FotoNation Ireland Limited (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Drimbarean, Alexandru, Petrescu, Stefan, Corcoran, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,855,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.990
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/161 Detection; Localisation; Normalisation
• 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 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

A method of making an image in a digital camera comprises capturing a digital image of a scene into which the camera user is to be inserted, and superimposing a symbol (subject locator) onto the scene image representing at least a part of a human subject. The subject locator is scaled to a desired size and moved to a desired position relative to the scene image. Next a digital image of the user is captured, and at least the part of the user image represented by the subject locator is extracted. The part of the user image represented by the subject locator is scaled (before or after extraction) to substantially the same size as the subject locator and inserted into the first image at the position of the subject locator. In a second embodiment the method comprises displaying a preview image of a scene into which the camera user is to be inserted, and superimposing the subject locator on the preview image. The subject locator is scaled to a desired size and moved to a desired position relative to the edges of the preview image. Face detection detects the camera user entering the scene displayed by the preview image. The preview image is scaled and panned to bring the part of the preview image represented by the subject locator to substantially the same size and position as the subject locator. Finally, a digital image of the scene is captured.

Claims

1. A method of making an image in a digital camera, the method comprising the following steps, not necessarily in the order stated:

(a) capturing a digital image of a scene into which a camera user is to be inserted (“

first image”

),

(b) superimposing on the first image a symbol (“

subject locator”

) representing at least a part of a human subject,

(c) scaling the subject locator to a desired size and moving it to a desired position relative to the first image,

(d) capturing a digital image of the user (“

second image”

),

(e) extracting at least the part of the second image represented by the subject locator,

(f) scaling the part of the second image represented by the subject locator to substantially the same size as the subject locator, and

(g) inserting the scaled extracted part of the second image into the first image at the position of the subject locator.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, in which step (f) is performed on the extracted part of the second image.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, in which step (f) is performed on the second image prior to extraction of the part represented by the subject locator.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the camera has two lens systems facing forwardly and rearwardly respectively of the camera, the first image being captured by the first lens system and the second image being captured by the second lens system.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second images are captured substantially simultaneously.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second images are captured through the same lens system.

7. The method claimed in claim 6, wherein the second image is captured using a self-timer.

8. The method claimed in claim 1, in which step (e) is performed by at least one of face detection and foreground/background separation.

9. A digital camera including an optical system for acquiring digital images and one or more processor-readable media having embodied therein processor-readable code for programming a one or more processors to perform the method claimed in claim 1.

10. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein the camera forms part of a cell phone.

12. The method claimed in claim 10, in which step (d) is performed by face tracking.

11. A method of making an image in a digital camera, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) displaying a preview image of a scene into which a camera user is to be inserted,

(b) superimposing on the preview image a symbol (“

subject locator”

) representing at least a part of a human subject,

(c) scaling the subject locator to a desired size and moving it to a desired position relative to the edges of the preview image,

(d) detecting a camera user entering the scene displayed by the preview image,

(e) scaling and panning the preview image to bring the part of the preview image represented by the subject locator to substantially the same size and position as the subject locator, and

(f) capturing a digital image of the scene.

13. A digital camera including an optical system for acquiring digital images and one or more processor-readable media having embodied therein processor-readable code for programming a one or more processors to perform the method claimed in claim 11.

14. The method claimed in claim 13, wherein the camera forms part of a cell phone.