DIGITAL IMAGE ACQUISITION SYSTEM WITH PORTRAIT MODE

• US 20100182458A1
• Filed: 03/15/2010
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FotoNation Limited (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: FotoNation Ireland Limited (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Steinberg, Eran, Zamfir, Adrian, Capata, Adrian, Corcoran, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,212,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

A digital image acquisition system having no photographic film comprises an apparatus for capturing digital images and a flash unit for providing illumination during image capture. The system has a portrait mode for generating an image of a foreground object against a blurred background, the portrait mode being operable to capture first, second and third images (A, B and C) of nominally the same scene. One of the first and second images (A, B) is taken with flash and the other is taken without flash, and the third image (C) is blurred compared to the first and second images. The portrait mode is further operable to determine foreground and background regions of the scene using the first and second images (A, B), and to substitute the blurred background of the third image (C) for the background of an in-focus image of the scene. In one embodiment the in-focus image is one of the first and second images. In another embodiment the in-focus image is a fourth image.

Claims

1. A digital image acquisition system having no photographic film, the system comprising an apparatus for capturing digital images and a flash unit for providing illumination during image capture, the system having a portrait mode for generating an image of a foreground object against a blurred background, the portrait mode being operable to capture first, second and third images of nominally the same scene, not necessarily in the order stated, one of the first and second images being taken with flash and the other being taken without flash, and the third image being blurred compared to the first and second images, the portrait mode further being operable to determine foreground and background regions of the scene using the first and second images, and to substitute the blurred background of the third image for the background of a substantially in-focus image of the scene.