Graphical user interface based control of imaging parameters including scene illumination parameters

• US 7,679,602 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Owyeung, Willard, Guan, Ko Choon, Hean, Cheah Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sheng; Tom V
• Application Number:
  US11/525,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20080074380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/594, 709/204, 250/214.AG, 250/214.AL
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

Systems and methods that provide graphical user interface based control of imaging parameters, including scene illumination parameters, are described. In one aspect, optical data is generated in response to light received from a field of view. Output light is produced. The output light is projected toward the field of view. At least a portion of the optical data is processed into image data that is presentable on a display. A brightness control interface that receives user input specifying a brightness level is generated on the display. An illumination control signal is produced in response to user input specifying a brightness level to the brightness control interface. The illumination control signal configures the output light to be produced with a brightness level corresponding to the brightness level specified to the brightness control interface.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a display;

an optical sensor system operable to generate optical data in response to light received from a field of view;

a light source operable to produce output light with a variable brightness level and to project the output light toward the field of view; and

a processing system operable to;

process at least a portion of the optical data into image data presentable on the display,

generate on the display a brightness control interface operable to receive user input specifying one brightness amount from among a plurality of at least three different brightness amounts, and

produce an illumination control signal in response to user input specifying the one brightness amount to the brightness control interface, the illumination control signal configuring the light source to produce the output light with a brightness level corresponding to the brightness amount specified to the brightness control interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor system comprises an image sensor and an ambient light sensor, the image sensor being operable to generate image optical data corresponding to images of the field of view, the processing system being operable to process the image optical data into the image data, and the ambient light sensor being operable to produce a measure of brightness of light received from the field of view.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor system comprises an image sensor operable to generate image optical data corresponding to images of the field of view, and the processing system is operable to process the image optical data into the image data and to produce from the image optical data a measure of brightness of light received by at least a portion of an active region of the image sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is operable to produce from the optical data a measure of brightness of light received from the scene.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processing system is operable to generate the brightness control interface on the display in response to a determination that the brightness measure fails to meet a brightness level threshold.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor system comprises an image sensor and a configurable diaphragm defining an aperture with a variable size controlling light received by the image sensor, and the processing system is operable to produce a diaphragm control signal configuring a size of the aperture.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processing system is operable to generate on the display an aperture control interface operable to receive user input specifying the aperture size.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing system is operable to produce from the optical data a measure of brightness of light received from the scene.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing system is operable to generate the brightness control interface and the aperture control interface on the display in response to a determination that the brightness measure fails to meet a brightness level threshold.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

in response to user input specifying the brightness amount to the brightness control interface, the processing system is operable to automatically produce the illumination control signal based on the specified brightness amount; and

in response to user input specifying an aperture size to the aperture control interface, the processing system is operable to automatically produce diaphragm control signal based on the specified aperture size.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a microphone operable to produce audio data in response to sounds received from the field of view, and a network interface operable to transmit the image data and the audio data to a network node over a communications network and to receive image data and audio data from the network node over the communications network.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the display, the optical sensor system, the light source, and the processing system are integrally incorporated in a unitary device structure.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system comprises a host device processing subsystem and a peripheral device processing subsystem, and further comprising a discrete peripheral device housing and a discrete host device housing separate from the peripheral device housing, the host device housing being physically attached to the display and the host device processing subsystem, and the peripheral device housing being physically attached to the optical sensor system, the light source, and the peripheral device processing subsystem.

14. A system, comprising:

a display;

an optical sensor system operable to generate optical data in response to light received from a field of view;

a light source operable to produce output light with a variable brightness level and to project the output light toward the field of view; and

a processing system operable to;

process at least a portion of the optical data into image data presentable on the display,

generate on the display a brightness control interface operable to receive user input specifying a brightness level, and

produce an illumination control signal in response to user input specifying the brightness level to the brightness control interface, the illumination control signal configuring the light source to produce the output light with a brightness level corresponding to the brightness level specified to the brightness control interface, wherein;

the optical sensor system comprises an image sensor and an ambient light sensor, the image sensor being operable to generate image optical data corresponding to images of the field of view, the processing system being operable to process the image optical data into the image data, and the ambient light sensor being operable to produce a measure of brightness of light received from the field of view, and

the processing system is operable to drive the light source with a pulse width modulation (PWM) drive signal having a duty cycle selected based on a comparison of the brightness measure with one or more brightness thresholds.

15. A method, comprising:

generating optical data in response to light received from a field of view;

producing output light;

projecting the output light toward the field of view;

processing at least a portion of the optical data into image data presentable on a display;

generating on the display a brightness control interface operable to receive user input specifying one brightness amount from among a plurality of at least three different brightness amounts; and

producing an illumination control signal in response to user input specifying the one brightness amount to the brightness control interface, the illumination control signal configuring the output light to be produced with the brightness level corresponding to the brightness amount specified to the brightness control interface.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising producing from the optical data a measure of brightness of light received from a scene.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising producing a diaphragm control signal configuring a size of an aperture controlling the light received from the field of view.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating on the display an aperture control interface operable to receive user input specifying the aperture size.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

producing from the optical data a measure of brightness of light received from the scene; and

generating the brightness control interface and the aperture control interface on the display in response to a determination that the brightness measure fails to meet a brightness level threshold.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

in response to user input specifying the one brightness amount to the brightness control interface, automatically producing the illumination control signal based on the specified brightness amount; and

in response to user input specifying an aperture size to the aperture control interface, automatically producing a diaphragm control signal based on the specified aperture size.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

producing audio data in response to sounds received from the field of view,

transmitting the image data and the audio data to a network node over a communications network, and

receiving image data and audio data from the network node over the communications network.