Continuous illumination of backlit display and of subject for image capture

• US 8,797,441 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Patel, Parin
• Primary Examiner(s): CUTLER, ALBERT H
• Application Number:
  US12/363,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,013 Days
• Field of Search: 348/370
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/14 Detecting light within display terminals, e.g. using a single or a plurality of photosensors
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/16 Calculation or use of calculated indices related to luminance levels in display data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/20 Circuitry for controlling amplitude response
• 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

Abstract

A device to capture an image includes a camera oriented to capture a first image of a subject and a display oriented to display a second image that is viewable by the subject. A backlight is coupled to the display to provide light that passes through the display toward the subject. An image processor is coupled to the camera and the backlight to adjust an amount of light provided by the backlight responsive to a quality of the first image. The light provided by the backlight may illuminate the subject and thereby improve the quality of the first image. The image processor may further adjust the amount of light provided by the backlight responsive to an ambient light level sensed by an ambient light sensor. The image processor may further adjust the second image to adjust an amount of light that passes through the display.

Claims

1. A method for capturing an image, the method comprising:

orienting a camera including an image sensor to capture a first image of a subject;

displaying a second image on a display oriented to be viewable by the subject;

providing a steady light that passes through the display toward the subject to simultaneously and continuously illuminate both the second image and the subject;

adjusting an amount of light provided responsive to a quality of the first image by adjusting the second image to adjust an amount of light that passes through the display;

determining an ambient light level with an ambient light sensor;

adjusting the amount of light provided responsive to the ambient light level; and

increasing a brightness of dark areas of the second image relative to the brightness of light areas to increase the amount of light that passes through the display responsive to a relatively low quality of the first image.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a color balance of the second image responsive to a white balance of the first image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting an amount of light provided responsive to a quality of the first image further comprises adjusting an amount of electric power provided to the steady light.