Method and apparatus for ambient light measurement system

• US 20120092541A1
• Filed: 10/19/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Salmelin, Eero, Alakarhu, Juha, Tuulos, Eero, Hieta, Saku
• Application Number:
  US12/925,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092541A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/706 Pixels for exposure or ambient light measuring

Abstract

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a display and a combined camera and ambient light measurement arrangement having photosensitive elements. The arrangement is configured to operate in a first power mode and a second different power mode. The arrangement is configured to use the photosensitive elements to measure a color signal of light incident on the display when the arrangement is in the first power mode. The arrangement is configured to use the photosensitive elements to capture an image when the arrangement is in the second power mode.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a display; and

a combined camera and ambient light measurement arrangement comprising photosensitive elements, wherein the arrangement is configured to operate in a first power mode and a second different power mode, wherein the arrangement is configured to use the photosensitive elements to measure a color signal of light incident on the display when the arrangement is in the first power mode, and wherein the arrangement is configured to use the photosensitive elements to capture an image when the arrangement is in the second power mode.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the arrangement is configured to adjust a brightness of the display in response to the measured color signal.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the color signal corresponds with a portion of a field of view of the camera, and wherein the arrangement is configured to use the photosensitive elements to capture an image in the field of view of the camera.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the photosensitive elements comprise photosensitive pixels.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the arrangement is configured to use the photosensitive elements to measure an ambient light color temperature of the light incident on the display.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the arrangement comprises circuitry, and wherein the circuitry is configured to be addressable.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the arrangement is configured to use the photosensitive elements to obtain spatial information relative to the display.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the arrangement is configured to operate with a first data rate when using the photosensitive elements to measure the color signal of light incident on the display, and wherein the arrangement is configured to operate with a second data rate when using the photosensitive elements to capture the image, and wherein the first data rate is substantially less that the second data rate.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the arrangement is configured to use the photosensitive elements to measure a red, green, blue channel signal of light incident on the display when the arrangement is in the first power mode.

10. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile phone.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a camera comprising photosensitive elements;

at least one processor connected to the camera; and

at least one memory including computer program code

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

sense a first ambient light level with the photosensitive elements, wherein the first ambient light level corresponds with a portion of a field of view of the camera;

capture an image with the photosensitive elements in the field of view of the camera; and

adjust a brightness of a display of the apparatus in response to the sensed first ambient light level.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to further perform at least the following:

sense a second ambient light level with the photosensitive elements, wherein the second ambient light level corresponds with another different portion of a field of view of the camera; and

adjust a brightness of a display of the apparatus in response to the sensed first and second ambient light levels.

13. An apparatus as in claim 11 further comprising a combined camera and ambient light measurement arrangement, wherein the arrangement comprises the photosensitive elements.

14. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to sense the first ambient light level with the photosensitive elements when at least a portion of the apparatus is in a first power mode, and configured to capture the image when at least a portion of the apparatus is in a second different power mode.

15. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to measure a color signal of light incident on the display.

16. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to further perform at least the following:

measure a color signal of light incident on a display of an apparatus, wherein the measuring is performed, at least partially, with photosensitive elements of the apparatus; and

adjust an illumination brightness of the display based on the measured color signal of the light incident on the display of the apparatus.

17. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising:

code for measuring a color signal of light incident on a display of an apparatus, wherein the measuring is performed, at least partially, with photosensitive elements of the apparatus;

code for capturing an image with the photosensitive elements; and

code for adjusting an illumination brightness of the display based on the measured color signal of the light incident on the display of the apparatus.

18. A computer program product as in claim 17 wherein the code for measuring further comprises code for measuring the color signal of light incident on the display of an apparatus, wherein a combined camera and ambient light measurement arrangement of the apparatus is configured to use the photosensitive elements for measuring the color signal.

19. A computer program product as in claim 17 wherein the code for measuring the color signal is configured to be used when at least a portion of the apparatus is in a first power mode, and wherein the code for capturing the image is configured to be used when at least a portion of the apparatus is in a second different power mode.

20. A computer program product as in claim 17 further comprising:

code for sensing a first ambient light level with the photosensitive elements, wherein the first ambient light level corresponds with a portion of a field of view of a camera of the apparatus;

code for capturing an image in the field of view of the camera; and

code for adjusting a brightness of the display of in response to the sensed first ambient light level.