Lighting system and method for image and object enhancement

• US 9,438,813 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gilbert, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAMARGO, MARLY S.B.
• Application Number:
  US14/381,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20150036023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 348/128, 348/234, 348/333.1, 348/E5.138, 348/744, 348/E15.058, 348/E9.05, 356/603, 356/604, 356/605, 250/329, 353/1, 353 28- 90
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• 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 9/3176 wherein the projection device is incorporated in a camera details of cameras adapted for combination with a projector not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B17/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3182 Colour adjustment, e.g. white balance, shading or gamut white balance per se H04N9/73; control of amplitude of colour signals H04N9/68; colour control circuits for displays in general G09G5/02, G09G3/2003, G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback

Abstract

A novel lighting system includes an image capture device, an image processor, and an image projector. In a particular embodiment, the image capture device captures and converts images of a subject into image data, the image processor generates illumination patterns based on the image data, and the image projector projects the illumination patterns onto the subject. Optionally, the lighting system includes a controlled feedback mechanism for periodically updating the illumination pattern. In a more particular embodiment, the lighting system continually updates the illumination pattern to illuminate the subject in real-time.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

an image capture device operative to capture an image of a subject as image data;

an image processor coupled to receive said image data from said image capture device, said image processor being operative to generate an illumination pattern based at least in part on said image data;

an image projector coupled to receive said illumination pattern and operative to project said illumination pattern on said subject; and

a subject illumination system operative to illuminate said subject while said image capture device captures one or more images of said subject; and

wherein said image data is indicative of at least a first image of said subject and a second image of said subject, said subject being illuminated by said subject illumination system at a first intensity during the capture of said first image, said subject being illuminated by said subject illumination system at a second intensity during the capture of said second image, and said first intensity being different than said second intensity.

2. A lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said image capture device is adapted to capture image data indicative of an image formed by electromagnetic radiation that is outside the visible spectrum.

3. A lighting system according to claim 2, wherein said image processor is operative to convert at least some of said image data indicative of an invisible image formed by electromagnetic radiation that is outside the visible spectrum into converted image data indicative of a visible image formed by electromagnetic radiation within the visible spectrum.

4. A lighting system according to claim 3, wherein said image processor is operative to generate said illumination pattern based at least in part on said converted image data such that said illumination pattern renders an invisible feature of said subject visible when said illumination pattern is projected on said subject.

5. A lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said image capture device is a camera system of a mobile host device.

6. A lighting system according to claim 5, wherein said image projector is a removable accessory adapted to cooperate with said mobile host device.

7. A lighting system according to claim 5, wherein said image capture device, said image projector, and said image processor are integral parts of said mobile host device.

8. A lighting system according to claim 5, wherein said mobile host device is a cellular phone.

9. A lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said image capture device and said image projector are optically aligned.

10. A lighting system according to claim 9, further including a beam splitter disposed to direct an image of said subject to said image capture device and to direct said illumination pattern onto said subject.

11. A lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said projection pattern is a high dynamic range image of said subject.

12. A lighting system according to claim 1, wherein:

said lighting system is embodied in a self-contained device; and

said subject illumination system is an integral part of said device.

13. A lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary lighting system interface.

14. A lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said subject illumination system includes:

a first light source operative to generate light at one of said first intensity and said second intensity; and

a second light source operative to generate light at the other of said first intensity and said second intensity.

15. A method for illuminating a subject, said method comprising:

controllably illuminating a subject with a subject illumination system while images of said subject are captured;

illuminating said subject at a first intensity with said subject illumination system while a first image of said subject is captured;

capturing a second image of said subject while said subject is illuminated with said subject illumination system at a second intensity, said second intensity being different than said first intensity;

converting said first image of said subject and said second image of said subject into image data;

processing said image data to generate an illumination pattern; and

projecting said illumination pattern with a projection system onto said subject.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said first image of said subject is formed by electromagnetic radiation outside of the visible spectrum.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said step of processing said image data to generate an illumination pattern includes converting said image data indicative of an image outside the visible spectrum into converted image data indicative of an image within the visible spectrum.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said illumination pattern renders an invisible feature of said subject visible when said illumination pattern is projected on said subject.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein said subject illumination system includes:

a first light source operative to generate light at one of said first intensity and said second intensity; and

a second light source operative to generate light at the other of said first intensity and said second intensity.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein said illumination pattern is a high dynamic range image of said subject.