Method and apparatus for capturing images

• US 6,967,680 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Odinak, Gilad, Kagle, Jonathan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GENCO, BRIAN C
• Application Number:
  US09/505,223
• Time in Patent Office: 2,106 Days
• Field of Search: 348/221.1, 348/222.1, 348/223.1, 348/224.1, 348/225.1, 348/226.1, 348/227.1, 348/228.1, 348/229.1, 348/345, 348/349, 348/362, 348/364, 348/365, 348/366, 348/353
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/88 for colour balance, e.g. white-balance circuits or colour temperature control

Abstract

A method and a camera perform processing functions based on a preliminary frame of light before capturing a second frame of light that forms a final camera image. After the light for the final image is captured, additional post-capture processing is performed on image data produced from that light. The results of the pre-capture processing are combined with the results of the post-capture processing to produce a final set of image data.

Claims

1. A method of capturing images in a camera, the method comprising:

acquiring a first set of image data based on a first frame of light entering the camera;

performing at least one pre-capture processing function on the first set of image data to produce a pre-capture result;

acquiring a second set of image data based on a second frame of light entering the camera;

performing at least one pre-capture processing function on a portion of the second set of image data to produce a test result and comparing the test result to the pre-capture result;

generating final image data by modifying the second set of image data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein performing at least one pre-capture processing function comprising performing a white balance processing function to produce a white balance value as the pre-capture result.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein performing at least one pre-capture processing function comprises performing a contrast adjustment function to produce a contrast value as the pre-capture result.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein performing at least one pre-capture processing function comprises performing a flesh tone correction function to produce a flesh tone correction value as the pre-capture result.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an external indication that an image should be captured before acquiring the second set of image data.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a pre-capture event before acquiring the first set of image data.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the pre-capture event is an indication that a user has pressed a capture button half-way down.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the pre-capture event is produced by a software routine.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing the pre-capture processing function on the entire second set of image data if the test result and pre-capture result are not sufficiently similar.

10. A camera having processor-executable components for capturing images, the components comprising:

an image acquisition component capable of acquiring image data representing a single frame of light;

a pre-capture processing component capable of performing a pre-capture function based on image data acquired by the image acquisition component for a first frame of light and capable of performing the pre-capture function on a portion of image data acquired by the acquisition component for a second frame of light;

a comparison component capable of comparing the results of performing the same pre-capture function on the image data for the first frame of light and on the portion of the image data for the second frame of light; and

an image production component capable of producing final image data by modifying the image data acquired for the second frame of light.

11. The camera of claim 10 wherein the pre-capture processing component is capable of performing a white balance function based on the image data for the first frame of light.

12. The camera of claim 10 wherein the pre-capture processing component is capable of performing a contrast function based on the image data for the first frame of light.

13. The camera of claim 10 wherein the comparison component causes the pre-capture processing component to perform the pre-capture function on all of the image data for the second frame of light when the results of performing the pre-capture function on a portion of the image data for the second frame of light are substantially different than the results of performing the pre-capture function on the image data for the first frame of light.