Method and apparatus for capturing a first image using a first configuration of a camera and capturing a second image using a second configuration of a camera

• US 9,344,642 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mobile Imaging in Sweden AB
• Inventors: Niemi, Sami, Fredh, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Jerabek, Kelly L
• Application Number:
  US14/118,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20140184852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 348/218.1, 348/239
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20208 High dynamic range [HDR] image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20221 Image fusion; Image merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• 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 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2621 Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects during image pickup, e.g. digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras having integrated special effects capability

Abstract

According to one aspect of the inventive concept there is provided a method of capturing images using a camera. The method comprises analyzing a view depicted by the digital camera and determining, based on the analysis, a subset of configurations of the digital camera. The method further comprises capturing, in response to a detection of an image capturing command at the camera, a set of at least two images using at least two different configurations of said subset of configurations.

Claims

1. A method of capturing images using a camera comprising:

at a processor analyzing a view depicted by the camera;

at said processor determining based on said analysis, a first configuration of the camera;

capturing, in response to a detection of an image capturing command at the camera, at least two images using at least two different configurations of the camera;

wherein a first image is captured using the first configuration of the camera; and

wherein a second image is captured automatically using a second configuration in response to analysis of the first image, wherein the second configuration is determined based on analysis of the first image captured by the camera;

at the camera selecting a source image from the at least two images;

at the camera identifying a source area within the source image;

at the camera, identifying a target image selected from the at least two images, wherein the target image is an image selected by the processor based on a set of criteria in response to the source area of the source image being identified;

at the camera identifying a target area from the target image, wherein the target area is identified based on a location of the source area within the source image; and

at said processor replacing the source area with the target area from the target image to form a composite image.

2. A method of capturing images using a camera according to claim 1 wherein the analysing of a view includes identifying at least one feature of the view.

3. A method of capturing images using a camera according to claim 1 further comprising capturing, prior to detecting the image capturing command, at least one image of said view.

4. A method of capturing images according to claim 1 wherein the identifying of a source area is done using a user interface.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein a configuration comprises a camera related parameter and the camera related parameter includes at least one of:

aperture, exposure time, exposure value, ISO, flash usage, flash strength, flash synchronization speed, colour settings, white balance, or focus point.

6. A camera comprising;

a processor configured for analysing a view depicted by a camera and based on said analysing determining a subset of configurations of said camera;

an image sensor configured to capture a plurality of images in response to an image capture command, at least two images using at least two different configurations of said camera;

wherein a first image is captured using the first configuration of the camera; and

wherein a second image is automatically captured using a second configuration in response to analysis of the first image, wherein the second configuration is determined based on analysis of the first image captured by the camera;

a memory configured to store a plurality of images;

a display configured to present a source image from the plurality of images;

said processor configured for selecting a source area within the source image;

said processor configured for selecting a target image from the plurality of images based on a set of criteria in response to the source area of the source image being selected, and replacing the source area with a target area from the target image to form a composite image, wherein the target area is identified based on a location of the source area within the source image.

7. A camera according to claim 6 configured to capture at least one image of said view prior to detecting the image capturing command.

8. A camera according to claim 7 wherein the processor is configured to determine further configurations based on the at least one image.

9. A camera according to claim 8 wherein the further configuration comprise a camera related parameter which contains at least one of:

aperture, exposure time, exposure value, ISO, flash usage, flash strength, flash synchronization speed, colour settings, white balance, or focus point.

10. A camera according to claim 6 wherein the processor is configured to identify the target area based on a coordinate location of the source area or a common feature in the source image and target image.

11. A camera according to claim 10 wherein the set of criteria include one or more criteria relating to image quality, such as;

image sharpness, image contrast, dynamic range, or noise level.

12. A camera according to claim 10 wherein the set of criteria is a facial quality comprising at least one of:

no closed eyes, the presence of a smile, and image sharpness in a region containing a face.

13. A camera according to claim 6 wherein a configuration is determined prior to capturing a plurality of images.

14. A camera according to claim 6 wherein a configuration comprises a camera related parameter which contains at least one of:

aperture, exposure time, exposure value, ISO, flash usage, flash strength, flash synchronization speed, colour settings, white balance, or focus point.

15. A camera according to claim 6 wherein the processor is configured to identify at least one feature of said view during said act of analysing, said one feature including at least one of a light condition in the view, a color content of the view, or a type of the view depicted, such as a portrait, a group-portrait, a landscape, an urban environment or a moving object.

16. A camera according to claim 6 wherein the display is configured to show viewfinder images of the view, said viewfinder images being of lower than maximum quality and/or resolution supported by the image capturing device.

17. A camera according to claims 6 wherein the plurality of images are stored in the memory as an image sequence.

18. A camera comprising;

a processor configured for analysing a capturing condition of the camera and based on said analysing determining a subset of configurations of said camera;

an image sensor configured to capture a plurality of images in response to an image capture command, at least two images using at least two different configurations of said camera;

wherein a first image is automatically captured using the first configuration of the camera; and

wherein a second image is captured using a second configuration in response to analysis of the first image, wherein the second configuration is determined based on analysis of the first image captured by the camera;

a memory configured to store a plurality of images;

a display configured to present a source image from the plurality of images;

said processor configured for selecting a source area within the source image;

said processor configured for selecting a target image from the plurality of images based on a set of criteria in response to the source area of the source image being selected; and

replacing the source area with a target area from the target image to form a composite image, wherein the target area is identified based on a location of the source area within the source image.

19. A camera according to claim 18 wherein the capturing condition is any one of:

a time of day, a geographical location of the camera, an orientation of the camera, a sound received by the camera, or a movement condition of the camera.