SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECEIVING INFRARED DATA WITH A CAMERA DESIGNED TO DETECT IMAGES BASED ON VISIBLE LIGHT

• US 20110128384A1
• Filed: 12/02/2009
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Jonhson, Kevin, Tiscareno, Victor, Lawrence, Cindy
• Granted Patent: US 8,848,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/164
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

Systems and methods for receiving infrared data with a camera designed to detect images based on visible light are provided. A system can include a camera and image processing circuitry electrically coupled to the camera. The image processing circuitry can determine whether each image detected by the camera includes an infrared signal with encoded data. If the image processing circuitry determines that an image includes an infrared signal with encoded data, the circuitry may route at least a portion of the image (e.g., the infrared signal) to circuitry operative to decode the encoded data. If the image processing circuitry determines that an image does not include an infrared signal with encoded data, the circuitry may route the image to a display or storage. Images routed to the display or storage can then be used as individual pictures or frames in a video because those images do not include any effects of infrared light communications.

Claims

1. A method for using a camera, comprising:

using the camera to detect an image based on at least visible light;

determining whether the image includes an infrared signal with encoded data;

in response to determining that the image includes an infrared signal with encoded data, routing at least a portion of the image to circuitry operative to decode the encoded data in the infrared signal; and

in response to determining that the image does not include an infrared signal with encoded data, routing the image to a display operative to display the image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein routing at least a portion of the image to the circuitry comprises routing only the infrared signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein only images that do not include an infrared signal with encoded data are routed to the display.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

decoding the encoded data in the infrared signal; and

modifying a device operation based at least on the decoded data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying a device operation comprises applying a watermark to a detected image.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying a device operation comprises disabling a device function.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the device function is a record function.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

decoding the encoded data in the infrared signal;

displaying information on the display based at least on the decoded data.

9. A method for using a camera, comprising:

using the camera to detect an image based on at least visible light;

determining an absence of an infrared signal with encoded data in the image; and

in response to determining the absence, routing the image to a display operative to display the image.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein using the camera to detect an image based on at least visible light comprises detecting an image based on visible and infrared light.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein only images that do not include an infrared signal with encoded data are routed to the display.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying the image on the display.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein using the camera to detect an image comprises using the camera to detect a frame that is part of a captured video.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

displaying the frame.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein determining an absence of an infrared signal with encoded data in the image comprises determining whether the image includes less than a certain number of pixels representing infrared light.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

identifying, in the image, an infrared signal with encoded data;

in response to the identifying, routing at least a portion of the image to circuitry operative to decode the encoded data in the infrared signal.

17. A system for receiving infrared data, the system comprising:

a camera designed to detect images based on visible light but operative to detect at least a portion of an infrared spectrum;

image processing circuitry electrically coupled to the camera;

control circuitry electrically coupled to the image processing circuitry and operative to decode data in infrared signals; and

a display electrically coupled to the image processing circuitry and operative to display images, wherein the image processing circuitry is operative to;

route at least a portion of images detected by the camera that include one or more infrared signals with encoded data to the control circuitry; and

route other images detected by the camera to the display.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a filter disposed adjacent to the camera and operative to block at least a portion of an infrared spectrum from the camera.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

storage electrically coupled to the image processing circuitry and operative to record the other images detected by the camera.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the control circuitry is operative to prevent the storage from recording the other images based at least on the encoded data.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the image processing circuitry is operative to route only infrared signals detected by the camera to the control circuitry; and

the control circuitry is operative to decode data in the infrared signals received form the image processing circuitry.

22. A method for controlling the operation of a device based on infrared data received with a camera, the method comprising:

using the camera to capture a first image based on visible light;

displaying the first image;

using the camera to capture a second image that includes an infrared signal with encoded data;

determining whether the encoded data includes a disable command;

in response to determining that the encoded data includes a disable command, disabling a record function.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

displaying an indicator conveying that the record function is disabled.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein:

using the camera to capture a first image based on visible light comprises using the camera to detect a frame that is part of a captured video; and

displaying the first image comprises displaying the frame.

25. A computer readable medium for an electronic device, the computer readable medium comprising:

a first instruction code for using a camera to detect an image based on at least visible light;

a second instruction code for determining whether the image includes an infrared signal with encoded data;

a third instruction code for routing at least a portion of the image to circuitry operative to decode the encoded data in response to determining that the image includes an infrared signal with encoded data; and

a fourth instruction code for routing the image to a display operative to display the image in response to determining that the image does not include an infrared signal with encoded data.