Exposure control methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a camera, the method comprising:
- receiving user input identifying a portion of a scene to be used in controlling image capture;
determining a depth to which the user identified portion of the scene corresponds; and
performing an exposure control operation based on the user selected portion of the scene and a depth map, said step of performing an exposure control operation including;
determining an exposure time to be used in capturing a new image based on pixel values of a first image of said scene corresponding to said depth to which the user identified portion of the scene corresponds while excluding from consideration pixel values in said first image which do not correspond to said depth or giving pixel values in said first image which do not correspond to said depth less weight when determining the exposure time than pixel values in said first image corresponding to said depth.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for controlling exposure in a camera device are described. A depth map is used in combination with user selection of a portion of scene as part of an exposure control operation. Exposure control is based on portions of the scene, e.g., in a local window surrounding the user selected point, at the same depth as the user selected portion of the scene with other portions of the scene being excluded from consideration when controlling exposure or being given less weight than the portion or portions at the same depth as the user selected scene portion. Color maybe and in some embodiments is used in combination with depth information to identify an object of interest identified by the user selection. The identified object is then used in some embodiments in making exposure control determinations with portions of a scene outside the object being ignored or given less weight in determining an exposure to be used than the portions corresponding to the identified object.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a camera, the method comprising:
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receiving user input identifying a portion of a scene to be used in controlling image capture; determining a depth to which the user identified portion of the scene corresponds; and performing an exposure control operation based on the user selected portion of the scene and a depth map, said step of performing an exposure control operation including; determining an exposure time to be used in capturing a new image based on pixel values of a first image of said scene corresponding to said depth to which the user identified portion of the scene corresponds while excluding from consideration pixel values in said first image which do not correspond to said depth or giving pixel values in said first image which do not correspond to said depth less weight when determining the exposure time than pixel values in said first image corresponding to said depth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A camera device, comprising:
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a touch sensitive screen for receiving user input identifying a portion of a scene to be used in controlling image capture; and an exposure control module for performing an exposure control operation based on the user selected portion of the scene and a depth map, wherein performing an exposure control operation includes; determining a depth to which the user identified portion of the scene corresponds; and determining an exposure time to be used in capturing a new image based on pixel values of a first image of said scene corresponding to said depth to which the user identified portion of the scene corresponds while excluding from consideration pixel values in said first image which do not correspond to said depth or giving pixel values in said first image which do not correspond to said depth less weight when determining the exposure time than pixel values in said first image corresponding to said depth.
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18. A camera device, comprising:
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a user input for receiving user input identifying a portion of a scene to be used in controlling image capture; and a processor configured to; determine a depth to which the user identified portion of the scene corresponds; and perform an exposure control operation based on the user selected portion of the scene and a depth map, performing an exposure control operation including determining an exposure time to be used in capturing a new image based on pixel values of a first image of said scene corresponding to said depth to which the user identified portion of the scene corresponds while excluding from consideration pixel values in said first image which do not correspond to said depth or giving pixel values in said first image which do not correspond to said depth less weight when determining the exposure time than pixel values in said first image corresponding to said depth. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification