Perfecting the effect of flash within an image acquisition devices using face detection

• US 7,693,311 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FotoNation Limited (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Steinberg, Eran, Bigioi, Petronel, Corcoran, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Seth; Manav
• Application Number:
  US11/773,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382115-118, 382/254, 382/274, 348/61, 348/68, 348/77, 348/78, 348/143, 348/152, 348/55, 348/158, 348/169, 348/207.99, 3482201-2291
• US Class Current: 382/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/00 Image enhancement or restoration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/72 Combination of two or more compensation controls
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

Within a digital acquisition device with a built in flash unit, the exposure of an acquired digital image is perfected using face detection in the acquired image is provided. Groups of pixels that correspond to plural images of faces are identified within a digitally acquired image, and corresponding image attributes to the group of pixels are determined. An analysis is performed of the corresponding attributes of the groups of pixels. It is then determined to activate the built-in flash unit based on the analysis. An intensity of the built-in flash unit is determined based on the analysis. Alternatively based on similar analysis, a digital simulation of the fill flash is performed on the image.

Claims

1. Within a digital camera, a method of digital image processing using face detection to achieve a desired luminance contrast, comprising:

identifying a group of pixels that correspond to a face within a foreground region of a digital image taken with flash;

determining first initial values of tone reproduction of pixels of the group of pixels;

determining second initial values of tone reproduction of pixels other than pixels of the group of pixels and located within a background region of the digital image;

comparing the first and second initial values, respectively, with a desired tone reproduction of foreground pixels based on known flash characteristics and with a desired tone reproduction of background region pixels; and

determining adjusted values of tone reproduction for at least some of the pixels of the digital image based on the comparison of the first and second initial values separately with desired tone reproduction for foreground and background pixels within the digital image taken with flash.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically generating an adjusted digital image using the adjusted values.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically providing an option to generate an adjusted digital image using the adjusted values.

2. Within a digital camera, one or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of digital image processing using face detection to achieve a desired luminance contrast, comprising:

identifying a group of pixels that correspond to a face within a foreground region of a digital image taken with flash;

determining first initial values of tone reproduction of pixels of the group of pixels;

determining second initial values of tone reproduction of pixels other than pixels of the group of pixels and located within a background region of the digital image;

comparing the first and second initial values, respectively, with a desired tone reproduction of foreground pixels based on known flash characteristics and with a desired tone reproduction of background region pixels; and

determining adjusted values of tone reproduction for at least some of the pixels of the digital image based on the comparison of the first and second initial values separately with desired tone reproduction for foreground and background pixels within the digital image taken with flash.

5. The one or more storage devices of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises automatically generating an adjusted digital image using the adjusted values.

6. The one or more storage devices of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises automatically providing an option to generate an adjusted digital image using the adjusted values.

7. A digital image acquisition device, comprising:

a lens;

an image sensor;

a shutter;

a processor; and

one or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming the processor to perform a method of digital image processing using face detection for achieving a desired tone reproduction within a digital image taken with flash, wherein the method comprises;

identifying a group of pixels that correspond to a face within a foreground region of a digital image taken with flash;

determining first initial values of tone reproduction of pixels of the group of pixels;

determining second initial values of tone reproduction of pixels other than pixels of the group of pixels and located within a background region of the digital image;

comparing the first and second initial values, respectively, with a desired tone reproduction of foreground pixels based on known flash characteristics and with a desired tone reproduction of background region pixels; and

determining adjusted values of tone reproduction for at least some of the pixels of the digital image based on the comparison of the first and second initial values separately with desired tone reproduction for foreground and background pixels within the digital image taken with flash.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises automatically generating an adjusted digital image using the adjusted values.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises automatically providing an option to generate an adjusted digital image using the adjusted values.