Image capture device in a networked environment

• US 9,288,371 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ganesh, Shriram, Forutanpour, Babak
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins, Twyler
• Assistant Examiner(s): TEJANO, DWIGHT ALEX C
• Application Number:
  US13/709,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20140160307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 348370-371, 396155-206, 362 3- 18, 362230-233
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• 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 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

Described herein are methods and devices that employ wireless network to control the lighting of a target image scene or subject. As described, connected environments enable control of lighting devices within the environment through the use of a network. Some embodiments of the imaging devices described herein may employ the network to control lighting devices for the purpose of illuminating a target scene or subject. Certain embodiments may employ data regarding camera location, subject location, light bulb location, and the parameters of each light bulb in a room to calculate desired lighting parameters for capturing an image of the subject, and may further be able to wirelessly adjust the light bulb parameters to match the calculated parameters.

Claims

1. An image capture device comprising:

an image sensor configured to capture an image of a target subject;

a processor configured to perform a method comprising;

detecting at least one illumination device proximate to the target subject, wherein the at least one illumination device is part of a networked environment;

determining whether the at least one illumination device is proximate to the target subject based at least on a location of the at least one illumination device;

calculating optimal lighting settings based at least in part on the location of the at least one illumination device; and

adjusting the at least one illumination device according to the optimal lighting settings.

2. The image capture device of claim 1, wherein at least one parameter is associated with the at least one illumination device.

3. The image capture device of claim 2, wherein the at least one parameter is one of brightness and type of light bulb.

4. The image capture device of claim 1, wherein the networked environment comprises a wireless network connection to a proximity-based peer-to-peer network.

5. The image capture device of claim 1, wherein the networked environment is a connected home.

6. A method of image capture comprising:

receiving preview image data of a target subject on an image capture device;

receiving data representing at least one parameter of at least one light source in a local environment of the target subject, the at least one parameter including an indication of a location of the at least one light source;

calculating optimal lighting parameters for the target subject based at least in part on the location of the at least one light source;

adjusting the at least one parameter of the at least one light source according to the optimal lighting parameters; and

capturing the image.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating optimal lighting parameters comprises:

presenting the at least one parameter of the at least one light source to a user on a user interface of the image capture device; and

receiving user input regarding a setting for the at least one parameter.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating optimal lighting parameters is carried out automatically by the image capture device.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating optimal lighting parameters comprises determining a location of the target subject.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining a location of the target subject comprises using an auto-focus lens position of the image capture device to calculate an approximate distance of the target subject from the image capture device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining a location of the target subject comprises updating the location as the target subject moves.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein calculating optimal lighting parameters further comprises comparing the location of the at least one light source to a location of the target subject.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the at least one parameter of the at least one light source is carried out via wireless communication over the network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication is between the image capture device and the at least one light source.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication is between the image capture device and a control module of a connected home, wherein the control module communicates with the at least one light source.

16. A system for image capture comprising:

means for providing a network of devices within an environment;

means for receiving data representing at least one parameter of at least one light source within the environment, the at least one parameter including an indication of a location of the at least one light source;

means for calculating optimal lighting parameters of a target subject within the environment based at least in part on the location of the at least one light source;

means for adjusting the at least one parameter of the at least one light source to match the optimal lighting parameters; and

means for capturing an image of the target subject.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for calculating optimal lighting parameters comprises a user interface for displaying the at least one parameter to a user, wherein the user interface is configured to allow the user to control a current setting of the at least one parameter.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for calculating optimal lighting parameters comprises a lighting settings calculation module of an image capture device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the lighting settings calculation module calculates the optimal lighting parameters based at least in part on a location of the target subject and the at least one parameter of the at least one light source.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes a processor to perform the method of:

connecting an imaging device to a network;

retrieving data representing at least one parameter of at least one light source connected to the network, wherein the at least one light source illuminates a target subject, the at least one parameter including an indication of a location of the at least one light source;

calculating optimal lighting parameters of the target subject based at least in part on the location of the at least one light source;

adjusting the at least one parameter of the at least one light source according to the optimal lighting parameters; and

capturing the image.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein calculating optimal lighting parameters is based at least in part on a location of the target subject and the at least one parameter of the at least one light source.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein calculating optimal lighting parameters comprises determining a location of the target subject.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein determining a location of the target subject comprises using an auto-focus lens position of the image capture device to calculate an approximate distance of the target subject from the image capture device.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein determining a location of the target subject comprises updating the location as the target subject moves.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein adjusting the at least one parameter of the at least one light source is carried out via wireless communication over the network.