ELECTRONIC CAMERA AND METHOD WITH FILL FLASH FUNCTION
First Claim
1. An electronic camera, comprising:
- an image capture aperture configured to admit light energy from an image scene;
an electronic image capture device configured to capture light energy admitted through the image capture aperture;
a photocell configured to sense a level of light energy admitted through the image capture aperture;
a flash unit; and
a flash control system configured to;
measure a first amount of light energy, wherein the first amount of light energy is an amount of light energy admitted through the image capture aperture before the flash unit is illuminated,illuminate the flash unit,measure a second amount of light energy, wherein the second amount of light energy is an amount of light energy admitted through the image capture aperture after the flash unit is illuminated, andcontrol an amount of light to be emitted from the flash unit during image capture based on the first and second amounts of light energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and camera for electronic image capture provide an electronic image capture device, a scanning aperture shutter located to control light energy received by the image capture device, a flash unit oriented to illuminate an image scene, a photocell unit adapted for sensing visible spectrum energy and infrared spectrum energy received from the image scene, and an exposure control system responsive to the photocell unit and operatively connected to the scanning aperture shutter and the flash unit. The exposure control system is adapted to control an amount of fill flash energy received from the image scene in relation to visible ambient light energy received from the image scene during image capture by illuminating the flash unit once a predetermined amount of ambient visible spectrum energy is sensed by the photocell unit and by extinguishing the flash unit once a predetermined amount of infrared energy is sensed by the photocell unit.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An electronic camera, comprising:
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an image capture aperture configured to admit light energy from an image scene; an electronic image capture device configured to capture light energy admitted through the image capture aperture; a photocell configured to sense a level of light energy admitted through the image capture aperture; a flash unit; and a flash control system configured to; measure a first amount of light energy, wherein the first amount of light energy is an amount of light energy admitted through the image capture aperture before the flash unit is illuminated, illuminate the flash unit, measure a second amount of light energy, wherein the second amount of light energy is an amount of light energy admitted through the image capture aperture after the flash unit is illuminated, and control an amount of light to be emitted from the flash unit during image capture based on the first and second amounts of light energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14)
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8. A method for determining an amount of light to be emitted from a flash unit during image capture, comprising:
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measuring a first amount of light energy, wherein the first amount of light energy is an amount of light energy admitted through an image capture aperture before the flash unit is illuminated; illuminating the flash unit; measuring a second amount of light energy, wherein the second amount of light energy is an amount of light energy admitted through the image capture aperture after the flash unit is illuminated; and controlling an amount of light to be emitted from the flash unit during image capture of an electronic image capture device based on the first and second amounts of light energy. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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15. A system for determining an amount of light to be emitted from a flash unit during image capture, comprising:
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means for measuring a first amount of light energy, wherein the first amount of light energy is an amount of light energy admitted through an image capture aperture before the flash unit is illuminated; means for illuminating the flash unit; means for measuring a second amount of light energy, wherein the second amount of light energy is an amount of light energy admitted through the image capture aperture after the flash unit is illuminated; and means for controlling an amount of light to be emitted from the flash unit during image capture of an electronic image capture device based on the first and second amounts of light energy. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification