Image capture using display device as light source

• US 8,199,249 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ciudad, Jean-Pierre, Aybes, Alexandre, Westen, Peter, Christie, Gregory N., Forstall, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US12/688,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20100118179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 348/216.1, 348/227.1, 348/333.01, 348/370
• US Class Current: 348/371
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A digital image capture system and method uses a display device to illuminate a target with light for improved image capture under poor lighting conditions. Various characteristics of the flash (e.g., brightness, color, duration, etc.) can be adjusted to improve image capture. Users are provided with feedback (e.g., live video feed, audio and/or visual countdowns, etc.) to assist them in preparing for image capture. The captured images are seamlessly integrated with existing applications (e.g., video conferencing, instant text messaging, etc.).

Claims

1. A method of capturing digital images, comprising:

measuring ambient light of a target environment, the measuring comprising averaging pixel intensities of a video image of the target environment;

determining a flash brightness based on the measured ambient light;

illuminating a target in the target environment with light emitted from a display device, the display device configured to emit the light at the flash brightness; and

capturing a digital image of the illuminated target.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein illuminating the target includes:

determining a flash duration, the flash duration including a rise time, a sustain time, and a fall time; and

emitting the light for the flash duration.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein capturing the digital image includes capturing the digital image at an image capture time, the image capture time determined based on the rise time, the sustain time, and a frame latency.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the frame latency is determined by a difference between an image timestamp provided by an image capturing device and a time when the video image is displayed on the display device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a countdown sequence prior to capturing the digital image.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein providing the countdown sequence includes simulating a cadence of the countdown sequence using a flashing lamp on a user interface displayed on the display device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein providing the countdown sequence includes verbally announcing the countdown sequence using a synthetic speech generator.

8. A system, comprising:

one or more processors configured to perform operations of capturing digital images, the operations comprising;

measuring ambient light of a target environment, the measuring comprising averaging pixel intensities of a video image of the target environment;

determining a flash brightness based on the measured ambient light;

illuminating a target in the target environment with light emitted from a display device, the display device configured to emit the light at the flash brightness; and

capturing a digital image of the illuminated target.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein illuminating the target includes:

determining a flash duration, the flash duration including a rise time, a sustain time, and a fall time; and

emitting the light for the flash duration.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein capturing the digital image includes capturing the digital image at an image capture time, the image capture time determined based on the rise time, the sustain time, and a frame latency.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the frame latency is determined by a difference between an image timestamp provided by an image capturing device and a time when the video image is displayed on the display device.

12. The system of claim 8, the operations further comprising providing a countdown sequence prior to capturing the digital image.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein providing the countdown sequence includes simulating a cadence of the countdown sequence using a flashing lamp on a user interface displayed on the display device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein providing the countdown sequence includes verbally announcing the countdown sequence using a synthetic speech generator.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions operable to cause a data processing apparatus to perform operations of capturing digital images, the operations comprising:

measuring ambient light of a target environment, the measuring comprising averaging pixel intensities of a video image of the target environment;

determining a flash brightness based on the measured ambient light;

illuminating a target in the target environment with light emitted from a display device, the display device configured to emit the light at the flash brightness; and

capturing a digital image of the illuminated target.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein illuminating the target includes:

determining a flash duration, the flash duration including a rise time, a sustain time, and a fall time; and

emitting the light for the flash duration.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein capturing the digital image includes capturing the digital image at an image capture time, the image capture time determined based on the rise time, the sustain time, and a frame latency.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the frame latency is determined by a difference between an image timestamp provided by an image capturing device and a time when the video image is displayed on the display device.

19. The medium of claim 16, the operations further comprising providing a countdown sequence prior to capturing the digital image.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein providing the countdown sequence includes simulating a cadence of the countdown sequence using a flashing lamp on a user interface displayed on the display device.

21. The medium of claim 19, wherein providing the countdown sequence includes verbally announcing the countdown sequence using a synthetic speech generator.