Viewfinder display based on metering images

• US 9,066,017 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Geiss, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAMARGO, MARLY S.B.
• Application Number:
  US13/849,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20140285698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.05, 348/221.1, 348362-369, 348/229.1, 348/341, 348/222.1, 348/427, 348/296, 348/239, 348/333.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/741 by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/743 Bracketing, i.e. taking a series of images with varying exposure conditions

Abstract

An image capture device may capture a series of images. The series of images may include a plurality of metering images interleaved with a plurality of preview images. The preview images may be captured using respective total exposure times (TETs) that are based on characteristics of at least one previously-captured metering image. A viewfinder of the image capture device may display a stream of display images. Each display image in the stream of display images may be derived from at least one of the preview images, and at least part of the capturing may occur contemporaneously with at least part of the displaying.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

capturing, by an image capture device, a series of images, wherein the series of images comprises a plurality of metering images interleaved with a plurality of preview images, and wherein the preview images are captured using respective total exposure times (TETs) that are based on characteristics of at least one previously-captured metering image;

displaying, by a viewfinder of the image capture device, a stream of display images, wherein each display image in the stream of display images is derived from at least one of the preview images, and wherein at least part of the capturing of the series of images occurs contemporaneously with at least part of the displaying;

detecting that a shutter function of the image capture device has been triggered;

capturing a second series of images, wherein images in the second series are captured using respective TETs that are based on characteristics of at least one previously-captured metering image; and

storing an output image that is based on at least one of the images in the second series.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the metering images are interleaved one-by-one with the preview images.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of preview images are captured using a first TET, and wherein each display image is derived from one of the plurality of preview images.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of preview images are captured with either a first TET or a second TET, and wherein each display image is derived from at least one preview image captured with the first TET and at least one preview image captured with the second TET.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second TET is greater than the first TET.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the metering images, the preview images captured using the first TET, and the preview images captured using the second TET are interleaved one-by-one-by-one.

7. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

capturing a series of images, wherein the series of images comprises a plurality of metering images interleaved with a plurality of preview images, and wherein the preview images are captured using respective total exposure times (TETs) that are based on characteristics of at least one previously-captured metering image;

displaying a stream of display images, wherein each display image in the stream of display images is derived from at least one of the preview images, and wherein at least part of the capturing occurs contemporaneously with at least part of the displaying;

detecting that a shutter function of the computing device has been triggered;

capturing a second series of images, wherein images in the second series are captured using respective TETs that are based on characteristics of at least one previously-captured metering image; and

storing an output image that is based on at least one of the images in the second series.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the metering images are interleaved one-by-one with the preview images.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the plurality of preview images are captured using a first TET, and wherein each display image is derived from one of the plurality of preview images.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of preview images are captured with either a first TET or a second TET, and wherein each display image is derived from at least one preview image captured with the first TET and at least one preview image captured with the second TET.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 10, wherein the second TET is greater than the first TET.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the metering images, the preview images captured using the first TET, and the preview images captured using the second TET are interleaved one-by-one-by-one.

13. A method comprising:

capturing, by an image capture device, a first metering image and a first set of one or more preview images, wherein the first set of preview images are captured using respective total exposure times (TETs) that are based on characteristics of the first metering image;

capturing, by the image capture device, a second metering image and a second set of one or more preview images, wherein the second set of preview images are captured using respective TETs that are based on characteristics of the second metering image; and

displaying, by a viewfinder of the image capture device, a display image, wherein the display image is derived from at least one of the first set of preview images, and wherein at least part of capturing the second metering image and the second set of preview images occurs contemporaneously with at least part of the displaying.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first set of preview images consists of two types of preview images, each type of the two types of preview images captured using a different TET, and wherein the display image is derived from at least one preview image of each type.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein one type of preview image is a short exposure preview image that is captured using a short TET, and wherein the other type of preview image is a long exposure preview image that is captured using a long TET, wherein the long TET is greater than the short TET.