Method of processing digital image to correct for flash effects

• US 7,724,282 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Giles, Nicholas G
• Application Number:
  US10/636,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,482 Days
• Field of Search: 348/371, 348/370, 348/207.2, 348/241, 348/222.1, 347/20, 347/40
• US Class Current: 348/207.2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• 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

An image captured by a digital camera with a flash is processed by locating distortions of said captured image due to said flash such as “red-eye” effects and removing them. The process includes the steps of determining if the flash is on (step 11), if so, determining any faces within the captured image (step 12), locating eyes within said faces (step 13), determining if “red-eye” removal is required (step 14), and if so, correcting for such effects (step 15) and storing corrected image (step 16) in a memory device of the digital camera.

Claims

1. A method of processing and printing an image captured by a digital camera, said digital camera comprising a digital image sensor means, self-contained processor means, memory means, a flash and a 100 millimeter pagewidth inkjet printhead connected to the processor means, said method of processing and printing being performed within and by said processor means of said digital camera and comprising the steps of:

reading an algorithm encoded on a card inserted into said camera;

using said algorithm, locating distortions of said captured image due to the utilisation of said flash;

using said algorithm, retouching said image so as to locally reduce the effect of said distortions to produce a retouched image;

generating print data representing the retouched image; and

selectively controlling 19,200 inkjet nozzles across the pagewidth inkjet printhead to print the retouched image using said print data.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locating step comprises automatically locating faces within an image.

3. A method as claimed 1 wherein said distortions include “

red-eye”

effects.