Subject Illumination for Image Capture on a Mobile Device

• US 20100194961A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Patel, Parin
• Granted Patent: US 8,797,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/14 Detecting light within display terminals, e.g. using a single or a plurality of photosensors
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/16 Calculation or use of calculated indices related to luminance levels in display data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/20 Circuitry for controlling amplitude response
• 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

Abstract

A device to capture an image includes a camera oriented to capture a first image of a subject and a display oriented to display a second image that is viewable by the subject. A backlight is coupled to the display to provide light that passes through the display toward the subject. An image processor is coupled to the camera and the backlight to adjust an amount of light provided by the backlight responsive to a quality of the first image. The light provided by the backlight may illuminate the subject and thereby improve the quality of the first image. The image processor may further adjust the amount of light provided by the backlight responsive to an ambient light level sensed by an ambient light sensor. The image processor may further adjust the second image to adjust an amount of light that passes through the display.

Claims

1. A device to capture an image, the device comprising:

a camera oriented to capture a first image of a subject;

a display oriented to display a second image that is viewable by the subject;

a backlight coupled to the display, the backlight to provide light that passes through the display toward the subject; and

an image processor coupled to the camera and the backlight, the image processor to adjust an amount of light provided by the backlight responsive to a quality of the first image.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising an ambient light sensor coupled to the image processor, wherein the image processor further adjusts the amount of light provided by the backlight responsive to an ambient light level sensed by the ambient light sensor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the image processor increases the amount of light provided by the backlight in response to a low signal to noise ratio in the first image.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the image processor is further coupled to the display and further adjusts the second image to adjust an amount of light that passes through the display responsive to a quality of the first image.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the image processor adjusts the second image by increasing the brightness of dark areas to increase the amount of light that passes through the display.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the image processor adjusts the second image by increasing the brightness of light areas to increase the amount of light that passes through the display.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the image processor adjusts a color balance of the second image responsive to a white balance of the first image.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the image processor adjusts the amount of light provided by the backlight by adjusting an amount of electric power provided to the backlight.

9. A method for capturing an image, the method comprising:

orienting a camera to capture a first image of a subject;

displaying a second image on a display oriented to be viewable by the subject;

providing light that passes through the display toward the subject; and

adjusting an amount of light provided responsive to a quality of the first image.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising adjusting the amount of light provided responsive to an ambient light level.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising increasing the amount of light provided by the backlight in response to a low signal to noise ratio in the first image.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting the second image to adjust an amount of light that passes through the display responsive to a quality of the first image.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising increasing a brightness of dark areas of the second image to increase the amount of light that passes through the display responsive to a quality of the first image.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising increasing a brightness of light areas of the second image to increase the amount of light that passes through the display responsive to a quality of the first image.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting a color balance of the second image responsive to a white balance of the first image.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting an amount of electric power provided to a backlight to adjust the amount of light provided.

17. A device to capture an image, the device comprising:

means for capturing a first image of a subject;

means for displaying a second image that is viewable by the subject;

means for providing light that passes through the display toward the subject; and

means for adjusting an amount of light provided responsive to a quality of the first image.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising means for adjusting the amount of light provided responsive to an ambient light level.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising means for increasing the amount of light provided by the backlight in response to a low signal to noise ratio in the first image.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising means for adjusting the second image to adjust an amount of light that passes through the display responsive to a quality of the first image.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising means for increasing a brightness of dark areas in the second image to increase an amount of light that passes through the display responsive to a quality of the first image.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising means for increasing a brightness of light areas in the second image to increase an amount of light that passes through the display responsive to a quality of the first image.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising means for adjusting a color balance of the second image responsive to a white balance of the first image.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising means for adjusting an amount of electric power provided to a backlight to adjust the amount of light provided.