Image capture using display device as light source

• US 8,970,776 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• 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:
  US13/493,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 348/221.1, 348/227.1, 348/333.01, 348/370, 348/371
• 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:

evaluating, by a mobile device, a quality of an image of a target environment based on pixel intensity distribution of the image of the target environment, wherein the image has a moving portion and a nonmoving portion;

determining a representation of a color distribution of the image of the target environment, wherein the representation represents one of a color distribution of only the nonmoving portion of the image and a color distribution of only the moving portion of the image;

determining, by the mobile device, a flash color based on the representation;

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

capturing, by the mobile device, a digital image of the illuminated target.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device configured to emit the light at the flash color is a display screen of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising changing a color of the display screen to a complementary color of a color of the target before illuminating the target.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the representation comprises a histogram.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the representation further comprises:

determining the representation of the color distribution of the moving portion of the image of the target environment for correcting skin tone exposure.

6. A system, comprising:

a mobile device configured to perform operations comprising;

evaluating a quality of an image of a target environment based on pixel intensity distribution of the image of the target environment, wherein the image has a moving portion and a nonmoving portion;

determining a representation of a color distribution of the image of the target environment, wherein the representation represents one of a color distribution of only the nonmoving portion of the image and a color distribution of only the moving portion of the image;

determining, by the mobile device, a flash color based on the representation;

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

capturing, by the mobile device, a digital image of the illuminated target.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the device configured to emit the light at the flash color is a display screen of the mobile device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile device is further configured to perform operations comprising changing a color of the display screen to a complementary color of a color of the target before illuminating the target.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the representation comprises a histogram.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operation of determining the representation further comprises:

determining the representation of the color distribution of the moving portion of the image of the target environment for correcting skin tone exposure.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by a data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to:

evaluate a quality of an image of a target environment based on pixel intensity distribution of the image of the target environment, wherein the image has a moving portion and a nonmoving portion;

determine a representation of a color distribution of the image of the target environment, wherein the representation represents one of a color distribution of only the nonmoving portion of the image and a color distribution of only the moving portion of the image;

determine a flash color based on the representation;

illuminate a target in the target environment with light emitted from a device configured to emit the light at the flash color; and

capture a digital image of the illuminated target.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the device configured to emit the light at the flash color is a display screen of the mobile device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions that when executed by the data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to change a color of the display screen to a complementary color of a color of the target before illuminating the target.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to:

evaluate a quality of an image of a target environment based on a pixel intensity distribution of the image of the target environment, wherein the image has a moving portion and a nonmoving portion;

determine a representation of a color distribution of the image of the target environment, wherein the representation represents one of a color distribution of only the nonmoving portion of the image and only the moving portion of the image;

determine a flash color based on the representation;

illuminate a target in the target environment with light emitted from a display screen of a device, wherein the display screen is configured to emit the light at the flash color; and

capture a digital image of the illuminated target.