Modifying digital images utilizing auto focus information

• US 7,250,975 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Luong T.
• Application Number:
  US10/636,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/345
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

A method of processing a digital image comprising: capturing the image utilizing an adjustable focusing technique; utilizing the focusing settings as an indicator of the position of structures within the image; and processing the image, utilizing the said focus settings to produce effects specific to said focus settings.

Claims

1. A method of generating an output image, in a digital camera that includes an auto focus imaging system, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing an image using the auto focus imaging system;

generating an output image by applying a digital image manipulating process to the captured image, the digital image manipulating process utilizing non-image data generated by the auto focus imaging system and selected from the group comprising;

applying a face detection algorithm to the captured image; and

producing a painting effect within the captured image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-image data includes data relating to the position of a zoom motor of the digital camera at the time the image was captured.

3. The method of claim 1, including locating an object within the captured image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital image manipulating process selectively applies techniques to the captured image utilizing the non-image data.