APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A CAMERA AND INFRARED ILLUMINATOR IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20130155253A1
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Wood, Christopher William
• Granted Patent: US 9,413,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/164
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

An apparatus and a method in an electronic device provide for controlling a camera and an infrared illuminator, wherein an image capturing process is initiated to produce image data representing a photographic scene. In response to initiating the image capturing process, an infrared illuminator is activated to illuminate the photographic scene. Reflected infrared light from the photographic scene is measured to produce exposure data. In response to the exposure data, a sensor is exposed and image data from the sensor in the electronic device is stored. The electronic device can be a wireless device. Exposure data can include an aperture size, an exposure duration, a lens position for focusing, and the like. Sensing a reflection of infrared light can indicate the presence of a subject in the photographic scene that can be illuminated. The infrared illuminator can be activated before or during the capturing of image data.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a camera subsystem coupled to the processor for capturing an image and storing the image as data in the memory, wherein the camera subsystem includes an infrared illuminator; and

a camera controller module coupled to the camera subsystem for selectively activating the infrared illuminator to illuminate a scene during an image capture process.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the camera controller module further activates the infrared illuminator prior to capturing the image to determine whether a subject is present in the scene.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the camera controller module further activates a visible-light illuminator in the camera subsystem in response to received reflected infrared light exceeding a reflected infrared light threshold, wherein the reflected infrared light was emitted by the infrared illuminator.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the camera controller module further activates the infrared illuminator while the image is captured by the camera subsystem.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the camera controller module further activates the infrared illuminator and a visible-light illuminator in the camera subsystem while the image is captured by the camera subsystem.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the camera controller module further calculates exposure parameters in response to received reflected infrared light, wherein the reflected infrared light was emitted by the infrared light illuminator.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the camera controller module further activates the infrared illuminator during an exposure of an image sensor in the camera subsystem to capture the image.

8. A method for controlling a camera and an infrared illuminator in an electronic device, the method comprising:

illuminating the photographic scene using the infrared illuminator;

receiving reflected infrared light from the photographic scene to produce exposure data; and

in response to the exposure data, exposing an image sensor to capture the photographic scene and storing image data from the image sensor.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein illuminating the photographic scene comprises activating the infrared illuminator in response to initiating an image capturing process of a photographic scene having a light level below a low-light threshold.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein illuminating the photographic scene comprises activating the infrared illuminator and sensing a reflection of infrared light that indicates a subject in the photographic scene that can be illuminated.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

activating a visible-light illuminator in response to the sensing a reflection of infrared light that indicates a subject in the photographic scene that can be illuminated; and

receiving reflected visible light from the photographic scene to produce exposure data.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein illuminating the photographic scene comprises activating the infrared illuminator during the exposing the image sensor.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

activating the infrared illuminator to illuminate the photographic scene while exposing the image sensor and capturing a first set of image data;

activating a visible-light illuminator to illuminate the photographic scene while exposing the image sensor and capturing a second set of image data; and

combining elements of the first set of image data with elements of the second set of image data to produce a third set of image data.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising initiating a video capturing process.

15. A method for facilitating capture of a scene by a camera, said method comprising:

illuminating the scene with infrared light;

measuring an infrared light reflection of the scene; and

configuring the camera responsive to a measurement of the infrared light reflection measured during said measuring.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said configuring comprises producing a focus command.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the focus command comprises a sequence of lens positioning commands.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said illuminating, measuring and configuring are iteratively performed.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said configuring comprises producing an exposure command.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said measuring comprises measuring an exposure value at a plurality of frequencies.