AUTOMATIC IMAGE CAPTURE

• US 20130057713A1
• Filed: 09/02/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Khawand, Charbel
• Granted Patent: US 9,596,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/10 for generating image signals from different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof

Abstract

Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments for automatically capturing images in a mobile electronic device. One embodiment comprises sensing device motion and automatically triggering image capture when the device is stationary. Use of this approach reduces image blur and avoids the need for subsequent image alteration or compensation for camera motion. Images can simply be captured in-between motions by leveraging high-resolution sensors and computational assets available to the mobile device to accurately assess when to trigger the shutter. Images can then be saved in a memory within the device. Enhancements to the disclosed method of automatic image capture include pre-selecting a set of threshold values for image acceptance.

Claims

1. A method of performing automatic image capture for reducing image blur, the method comprising:

receiving data indicative of trigger criteria selected by a user for image acceptance;

entering an auto-capture camera mode;

determining when the trigger criteria are met for an image sensed by an image sensor;

upon determining that the trigger criteria are met, and without further input from the user, triggering capture of the image; and

storing the image in the memory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger criteria include threshold values associated with one or more of a white balance process, an auto focus process, an auto exposure process, a de-noising process, a gain control process, or a blur check.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the trigger criteria is whether the device is stationary, and wherein the method further comprises determining whether the device is stationary using data received from one or more of an accelerometer or gyroscope.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises not performing one or more of image scaling, YUV processing, or image rendering for an image sensed by the image sensor if the one or more trigger criteria are not met.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is part of a camera that is incorporated into a mobile electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the capture of the image comprises performing one or more of image scaling, YUV processing, or image rendering.

7. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to perform the method of claim 1.

8. A mobile device comprising:

a lens;

an electronic image sensor;

a display;

one or more motion detectors configured to sense motion of the mobile device;

a memory; and

a processor programmed to make a determination, from data provided by the one or more motion detectors, of whether the mobile device is stationary, and, based at least in part on the determination, to trigger image capture and storage of the image in the memory.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the one or more motion detectors comprise one or more of an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

10. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the determination of whether the mobile device is stationary comprises determining whether changes to motion measurements detected by the one or more motion detectors satisfy a threshold value during a period of time.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the threshold value is based on a user-selected value.

12. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further programmed to make an image quality determination by evaluating whether one or more additional image quality criteria are satisfied, and to trigger the image capture and storage of the image based at least in part on the image quality determination.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the one or more additional image quality criteria comprise one or more of a white balance value, a focus value, an exposure value, a de-noising value, a gain value, a sharpness value, or a flash control value.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the one or more additional image quality criteria are user-selectable.

15. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the mobile device further comprises a hardware button, and wherein the processor is further programmed to exit an automatic image capture mode when the hardware button is depressed.

16. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the display is a touchscreen display, and wherein the processor is further programmed to enter and exit an automatic image capture mode when a touchscreen button on the touchscreen display is selected.

17. A method for automatic image capture using a mobile electronic device camera, the method comprising:

determining when the camera is focused on a subject;

sensing device motion;

triggering image capture when the device is stationary and when the camera is focused on the subject; and

saving the image in a memory.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining comprises comparing data from successive image frames.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises performing image recognition to evaluate whether or not the subject meets a user-specified criterion, and wherein the triggering is performed when the device is stationary, when the camera is focused on the subject, and when the subject meets the user-specified criterion.

20. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to perform the method of claim 17.