BLEMISH DETECTION AND NOTIFICATION IN AN IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE

• US 20130208164A1
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Cazier, Robb P., Voss, Shane D., Yost, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,982,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/61 the noise originating only from the lens unit, e.g. flare, shading, vignetting or "cos4"

Abstract

A lens on an image capture device is illuminated with a known light source. The current light field created by illuminating the lens is measured at an image sensor on the device. In response to detecting that the current light field measurement fails to satisfy a threshold, a notification is provided on the device.

Claims

1. A method performed by an image capture device, comprising:

illuminating a lens that is disposed on the device with a known light source;

generating a measurement of a current light field at an image sensor on the device, the current light field created by illuminating the lens; and

providing a notification on the device in response to detecting that the current light field measurement fails to satisfy a threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that the current light field fails to satisfy a threshold comprises:

comparing the current light field measurement against a previous light field measurement; and

determining that a difference between the current light field measurement and the previously light field measurement fails to satisfy the threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that the current light field measurement fails to satisfy the threshold comprises:

comparing the current light field measurement against an average of multiple previous light field measurements; and

determining that a difference between the current light field measurement and the average of the previous light field measurements fails to satisfy the threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating a light field measurement average to include the current light field measurement in response to detecting that the current light field measurement satisfies the threshold.

5. An image capture device, comprising:

a lens to convert light into an optical image;

a light source to illuminate the lens;

an image sensor to measure a light field produced by illuminating the lens with the light source;

a blemish detection module to determine if there is a blemish on the lens based on the light field; and

a blemish alert module to provide a notification when a blemish has been detected.

6. The image capture device of claim 5, wherein the light source is a colored light source.

7. The image capture device of claim 5, further comprising a slide-out housing for the image capture device, the slide-out housing having two sliding components, wherein the lens is mounted on the first of the sliding components and the light source is mounted on the second of the sliding components, and wherein the light source is positioned adjacent to the lens when the sliding components are slid together into a closed position.

8. The image capture device of claim 5, wherein the light source is a camera strobe and wherein the image capture device further comprises:

at least one optical element to re-direct light from the strobe toward the lens.

9. A system, comprising:

imaging means including

lens means to convert light into an optical image;

measuring means to measure a light field resulting from illuminating the lens means,

blemish detection means to determine if there is a blemish on the lens means based on the light field, and

blemish notification means to provide a notification that a blemish has been detected; and

lighting means to illuminate the lens means.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the lighting means are disposed on a docking member and wherein the lighting means are positioned adjacent to the lens means when the imaging means are docked with the docking member.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the lighting means are disposed on the inside of a case and wherein the lighting means are positioned adjacent to the lens means when the imaging means are placed inside the case.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the blemish detection means further comprise averaging means to update a light field measurement average when a measured light field satisfies a threshold.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the blemish detection means determine there is a blemish on the lens means if the light field measured by the measuring means fails to satisfy a threshold.