阅读说明：本技术 配置为照明源的显示器装置 (Display device configured as illumination source ) 是由 S·莫斯科夫琴科 于 2014-05-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及配置为照明源的显示器装置。所揭示的技术涉及电子装置以及其使用方法,所述电子装置经配置以使用所述装置的自身显示器为前置图像传感器提供照明源。用于使用前置图像传感器和数字显示器装置捕获数字图像的电子装置包含：命令输入模块,其经配置以接收捕获所述数字图像的命令；照明调节模块,其经配置以响应于所述命令而将所述显示器装置调节至成像照明条件；以及前置图像传感器模块,其经配置以在预定照明条件下使用所述前置图像传感器捕获所述数字图像。(The present invention relates to a display device configured as an illumination source. The disclosed technology relates to electronic devices configured to provide an illumination source for a front-facing image sensor using the device's own display, and methods of using the same. An electronic device for capturing a digital image using a front-facing image sensor and a digital display device includes: a command input module configured to receive a command to capture the digital image; an illumination adjustment module configured to adjust the display device to an imaging illumination condition in response to the command; and a front-facing image sensor module configured to capture the digital image using the front-facing image sensor under predetermined lighting conditions.)

1. A mobile device for capturing one or more digital images of an object, the mobile device comprising:

an image sensor;

a display device;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to:

receiving a command to capture the one or more digital images;

determining that the one or more digital images include the object;

causing the display device to output an illumination image in a dynamic illumination mode and based on pre-existing illumination conditions in response to the command to capture the one or more digital images of the object, wherein the object is not depicted by the display device while the illumination image is output by the display device; and

causing the image sensor to receive the one or more digital images of the object while the object is illuminated by the illumination image.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

invoking a face detection algorithm to determine that the one or more digital images include the object.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the illumination image is based on a uniform distribution of colored light.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the illumination image comprises white.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a gesture or motion of the object.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determining an intensity of the illumination image based on a distance between the object and the mobile device.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a face of a person, and the illumination image is based on the face of the person depicted in a test image.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the illumination image is configured to provide target chromaticity values.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the target chroma value is associated with the object, and wherein the object comprises a face of a person.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the one or more images are still digital images, wherein the illumination image consists of a single area displayed across the display device, wherein the display device comprises a touchscreen, and wherein the command comprises a touch input.

11. A method for capturing one or more digital images of an object using a mobile device comprising an image sensor and a display device, the method comprising:

receiving a command to capture the one or more digital images;

determining that the one or more digital images include the object;

causing the display device to output an illumination image in a dynamic illumination mode and based on pre-existing illumination conditions in response to the command to capture the one or more digital images of the object, wherein the object is not depicted by the display device while the illumination image is output by the display device; and

capturing the one or more digital images of the object using the image sensor while the object is illuminated by the illumination image.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a face detection algorithm is used to determine that the one or more digital images include the object.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the illumination image is based on a uniform distribution of colored light.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the illumination image comprises white.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the command comprises a gesture or motion of the object.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining an intensity of the illumination image based on a distance between the object and the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the object comprises a face of a person, and the illumination image is based on the face of the person depicted in a test image.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the illumination image is configured to provide target chromaticity values.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the target chroma value is associated with the object, and wherein the object comprises a face of a person.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more images are still digital images, wherein the illumination image comprises a single area displayed across the display device, wherein the display device comprises a touch screen, and wherein the command comprises a touch input.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor of a mobile device comprising an image sensor and a display device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:

receiving a command to capture one or more digital images;

determining that the one or more digital images comprise an object;

causing the display device to output an illumination image in a dynamic illumination mode and based on pre-existing illumination conditions in response to the command to capture the one or more digital images of the object, wherein the object is not depicted by the display device while the illumination image is output by the display device; and

capturing the one or more digital images of the object using the image sensor while the object is illuminated by the illumination image.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein a face detection algorithm is used to determine that the one or more digital images include the object.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the illumination image is based on a uniform distribution of colored light.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the illumination image comprises white.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the command comprises a gesture or motion of the object.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile device to perform operations further comprising:

determining an intensity of the illumination image based on a distance between the object and the mobile device.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the object comprises a face of a person, and the illumination image is based on the face of the person depicted in a test image.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the illumination image is configured to provide target chromaticity values.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the target chroma value is associated with the object, and wherein the object comprises a face of a person.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the one or more images are still digital images, wherein the illumination image comprises a single area displayed across the display device, wherein the display device comprises a touchscreen, and wherein the command comprises a touch input.

Technical Field

The disclosed technology relates to an electronic device configured to provide an illumination source for a front-facing image sensor using the device's own display. Aspects also relate to methods of using the apparatus.

Background

Many digital devices are equipped with a front-facing image sensor for capturing a user's own image. However, most devices equipped with front-facing image sensors lack a dedicated illumination source for providing additional illumination for capturing self images using the front-facing image sensor in low light environments. In many cases, the benefits of adding such illumination sources do not outweigh the added process complexity and associated cost of having a dedicated illumination source for a digital device with a front-facing image sensor.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, a method for capturing a digital image using an electronic device having a front-facing image sensor and a digital display includes: receiving a command to capture a digital image; adjusting the digital display to an imaging illumination condition in response to the command; and capturing a digital image using the front-facing image sensor under imaging illumination conditions.

In another aspect, a digital image capture system includes: a command input module configured to receive a command to capture a digital image; an illumination adjustment module configured to adjust a digital display to an imaging illumination condition in response to the command; and a front-facing image sensor module configured to capture a digital image using the front-facing image sensor under predetermined lighting conditions.

In another aspect, a computer-readable medium comprises instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform steps comprising: receiving a capture digital image command; adjusting the digital display to an imaging illumination condition in response to the command; and capturing a digital image using the front-facing image sensor under imaging illumination conditions.

In yet another aspect, a digital image capture system includes: a command input module configured to receive a command to capture a digital image; an illumination adjustment module configured to adjust a digital display to an imaging illumination condition in response to the command; and a front-facing image sensor module configured to capture a digital image using the front-facing image sensor under predetermined lighting conditions.

Drawings

FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a typical digital device with a front-facing image sensor and the use of the digital device by a user to capture self images or self video, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating a typical digital device having a front-facing image sensor and used by multiple users to exchange images or video over a network, according to another embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a digital device including a front-facing image sensor and a display device configured as an illumination source, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a digital device having a front facing image sensor and a display device configured as an illumination source, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a flow chart illustrating a method of determining pre-existing lighting conditions according to the embodiment of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is a flow chart illustrating a method of adjusting a display device to optimized imaging illumination according to the embodiment of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3D is a flow diagram illustrating a method of adjusting a display device to default imaging illumination according to the embodiment of FIG. 3A.

4A-4L are block diagrams illustrating various embodiments of an illumination image displayed on a display device of a digital device having a front-facing image sensor and the display device configured as an illumination source, according to one embodiment.

Detailed Description

Many digital devices have a front-facing image sensor for capturing a user's own image. The captured self-image may be a static image, such as a photograph, or may be a dynamic image, such as a video. However, most, if not all, cameras with a front-facing camera lack a dedicated illumination source (e.g., a flash or LED light for capturing still images or video). Thus, when using a front-facing image sensor in a low-light environment, the illumination from ambient light may not be sufficient to provide sufficient illumination to the image sensor although adding a flash or LED source may provide a solution, the benefits of adding such an illumination source do not outweigh the added process complexity and associated cost of having a front-facing camera on a digital device with a dedicated illumination source. Accordingly, there is a need for a cost-effective illumination source for capturing images using a front-facing image sensor of a digital device.

The present invention is directed to an electronic device having a front-facing image sensor and a digital display, wherein the electronic device is configured to use the digital display as an illumination source for the front-facing image sensor. Several aspects are also directed to methods of use thereof. One advantage of the system described herein is that it improves the low light performance of the front-facing image sensor of the electronic device without incurring the added cost or complexity of an additional illumination source.

Thus, one embodiment is an electronic device configured to illuminate a digital display when an image is captured by a front facing camera. The user may activate the front camera to capture an image, and this will cause the digital display to flash bright white when the image is captured. In another aspect, the digital display may be brightened to a predefined brightness or a predefined color when the image is captured. This feature may allow a user to select how to use the digital display to improve low light capture of images by the front facing camera.

The following disclosure may describe features of various embodiments of a digital device having a front-facing image sensor and a display device configured as an illumination source in the context of one type of device, such as a smartphone. However, it should be understood that other embodiments are possible, including any suitable electronic device that may be configured to have a front-facing image sensor and a display device configured as an illumination source. Such devices include, for example, mobile phones, tablet computers, notebook computers, desktop computers, video cameras, portable music players, and other devices. Additionally, display devices that can provide this function include LEDs, LCDs, OLEDs, AMOLEDs, or other similar types of displays that can be configured as illumination sources for a front-facing image sensor of a digital device.

FIG. 1A illustrates a digital device 102 having a front-facing image sensor 110 and a user 120 using the digital device to capture a self image or self video, according to one embodiment. As discussed above, the illustrated digital device 102 may be a tablet computer or a smartphone, although the aspects are not so limited. The digital device 102 includes a display device 104 that displays an image of content captured by a front-facing image sensor 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the display device 104 is configured to display an illumination image 106, which in this example includes a self image of the user 120. The user's own image may be captured as the illumination image 106 captured by the front image sensor 110 in response to a command by the user 120.

As described herein, "image" may refer not only to a digital image that is still, but also to video that includes a number of transient frames of images. Additionally, an image may refer to an image displayed on display device 104 or an image that is present in a memory device or storage device of digital device 102 but not displayed on display device 104.

As shown, the user 120 will begin an image capture mode with the digital device 102, in which the illumination image 106 will be displayed. The user 120 may then activate the shutter button to capture an image at a particular moment in time. When the shutter button is activated, the digital device 102 will instruct the display device 104 to flash a bright white light that will better illuminate the user 120. This will improve the captured image by adding additional light to the user 120.

FIG. 1B illustrates a digital device with a front-facing image sensor and multiple users using the digital device to exchange images or video over a network, according to another embodiment. The digital device 102A used by the first user 120A includes a first front-facing image sensor 110A and a first display device 104A configured to display a first illumination image. In this example, the illumination image includes a self image 106A of the first user 102A captured by the first front-facing image sensor 110A in response to a command of the first user 120A. Similarly, the digital device 102B used by the second user 120B includes a second front-facing image sensor 110B and a second display device 104B configured to display a second illumination image. In this example, the second illumination image includes a second self image 106B of the second user 102B captured by the second front-facing image sensor 110B in response to a command of the second user 120B.

During use, such as a video phone, the first display device 104A may be configured to light up when the user 120a is in a call. This brightening will allow the system to transmit a higher quality image to the second user 120 b. Similarly, the second display device 104b may be configured to light up when the second user 120b is on a video phone.

Digital devices with front-facing image sensors, such as the first and second digital devices 102A and 102B of fig. 1B, may also be configured to convert electrical signals generated by the image sensor in response to detected photons into electromagnetic signals and transmit the electromagnetic signals. The digital device may be further configured to receive a similar electromagnetic signal generated by another device communicatively coupled to the digital device. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of fig. 1B, the first digital device 102A may be configured to convert electrical signals corresponding to the first self image 106A generated by the first image sensor 110A in response to detected photons and convert the electrical signals to the first upload electromagnetic signals 122A. The information contained in the first upload electromagnetic signal 122A may, in turn, be received by the second digital device 102B configured to receive the first download electromagnetic signal 122B over the network 130 and convert the first download electromagnetic signal 122B into an electrical signal, which is then displayed as the first communicated image 108B. In this example, the first communicated image 108B corresponds to the first self image 106A captured by the first image sensor 110A. Similarly, the second digital device 102B may be configured to convert electrical signals generated by the second image sensor 110B in response to detected photons corresponding to the second self image 106B and convert the electrical signals to the second upload electromagnetic signals 124B. The information contained in the second upload electromagnetic signal 124B, in turn, may be received by the first digital device 102A configured to receive the second download electromagnetic signal 124A over the network 130 and convert the second download electromagnetic signal 124A into an electrical signal, which is then displayed as a second communicated image 108A corresponding to the second self image 106B captured by the second image sensor 110B.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a digital device 200, such as a smartphone, having a front-facing image sensor and a display device configured as an illumination source, in accordance with one embodiment. The digital device 200 includes a command input module 210, an illumination sensing module 220, an illumination adjustment module 230, and a front image sensor module 240. Each of the command input module 210, the illumination sensing module 220, the illumination adjustment module 230, and the front image sensor module 240 is communicatively connected to the central processing module 250. The digital device 200 further includes a memory module 260 and a storage module 270 communicatively connected to the central processing module 250. The digital device 200 further includes a communication subsystem 280 configured to communicatively connect the digital device 200 to a network 290.

The illustrated digital device 200 includes a central processing module 250 configured to control the overall operation of the digital device 200, and may include a suitable microprocessor configured to perform the processing functions of the digital device 200. In some embodiments, central processing module 250 comprises a dedicated sub-processing module, such as a graphics processing module.

The digital device 200 further includes a command input module 210 configured to receive various modes of command input from a user. In some embodiments, command input module 210 may include any number of suitable input devices, such as voice recognition devices, gesture recognition devices, motion sensing devices, touch screen devices, keyboard devices, and auxiliary input/output (I/O) devices, among others. The command input module may also contain support circuitry to convert physical input signals (e.g., voice waves or motion) into digital signals.

The digital device 200 further includes an illumination sensing module 220 configured to determine an illumination condition. The illumination sensing module 220 includes a front image sensor and an image sensor controller. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels configured to convert incident photons into electrical signals, which are transferred to a central processing module to be processed. In a typical image sensor, each pixel includes a photosensitive region configured to absorb incident photons of light. In some embodiments, incident photons can be directed over each pixel by a microlens to enhance the quantum efficiency of photon collection. The absorbed photons are converted into electrons, the number of which may depend on the energy of the incident photon. The electrons are converted into a voltage signal.

In some embodiments, the image sensor includes a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor. The CCD image sensor includes a color filter array and a pixel array. Each pixel of the CCD image sensor includes a color filter comprising a pattern of red, green, and blue filters. In one example, the color filters may be arranged in a Bayer (Bayer) filter pattern having a 2 x 2 checkerboard color filter pattern. The 2 x 2 checkerboard filter pattern of bayer filters includes one red and one blue filter disposed diagonally to each other and two green filters disposed diagonally to each other. The filtered photons that pass through the different color filters are then absorbed by the photodiodes within the pixel array. The photodiode converts the absorbed photons into an electrical charge and the charge is moved to a single location by applying different voltages to the pixel in a process called charge coupling. Since the charge in the pixels is shifted by applying different voltages, the CCD image sensor is supported by an external voltage generator.

In some embodiments, the image sensor includes a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. Like CCD image sensors, CMOS image sensors contain an array of photosensitive diodes, one diode in each pixel. However, unlike CCDs, each pixel in a CMOS imager has its own individual integrated amplifier. In addition, each pixel in a CMOS imager can be read directly in the x-y coordinate system rather than by movement of charge. Thus, the CMOS image sensor pixel directly detects photons and converts them into voltages that are output.

Illumination sensing module 220 includes additional circuitry for converting the output voltage generated by incident photons into digital information that can be processed by central processing module 250. The illumination sensing module 220 further includes an image sensor controller configured to control the image sensor in response to various commands from the central processing module 250.

The illumination adjustment module 230 may be configured to adjust an illumination condition of the display device to and according to the imaging illumination condition and the general viewing illumination condition in response to a command received from a user. The illumination adjustment module includes a display device and a display controller. In one embodiment, the display device may include an Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) display including an active matrix of Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) pixels that generate light when electrically activated. The OLED pixels may be integrated onto an array of Thin Film Transistors (TFTs) that act as a series of switches to control the current flowing to each individual pixel. Other embodiments of display devices are possible, including LEDs, LCDs, OLEDs, AMOLEDs, or any other similar type of display that can be configured as an illumination source for the front-facing image sensor of the digital device 200.

The luminous intensity, and thus the brightness of each pixel within the display, can be adjusted by the current supplied to the light-emitting element, such as a light-emitting diode (LED). In one embodiment, the display is an active matrix display, such as an AMOLED, whose pixels comprise two transistors and a capacitor. A first transistor, whose drain is connected to a light emitting diode (e.g., OLED), is configured to control the amount of current flowing through the diode and thus the intensity of light emission by controlling the gate-source voltage of the first transistor. The gate-source voltage is in turn maintained by a capacitor connected between the gate and source of the first transistor. The gate-source voltage can be modified by controlling the amount of charge stored in the capacitor by controlling a second transistor, the gate of which is connected to the row select line and the source of which is connected to the data line. Thus, by controlling various voltages (e.g., a row select line voltage and a data line voltage) to control the second transistor (which in turn controls the current delivered to the light emitting diode through the first transistor), the brightness value of each pixel in the display device can be adjusted to provide different illumination levels to the front-facing image sensor.

The front image sensor module 240 is configured to capture a digital image with the front image sensor under image illumination conditions. The front image sensor module may contain and share hardware devices similar to the illumination sensing module. For example, the front image sensor module 240 includes a front image sensor and an image sensor controller, both of which are substantially identical in function and operation to the illumination sensing module 220. In addition, the illumination adjustment module performs calculations necessary to determine various illumination conditions for the display device of the illumination adjustment module 230.

The digital device 200 further includes a memory module 260 configured to store information when the digital device 200 is turned on. The memory module 260 may include memory devices, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) and dynamic Random Access Memory (RAM). The memory devices may be configured as different levels of ultracache memory that are communicatively coupled to the central processing module 250 by a memory bus that provides a data path for data to flow back and forth between the memory devices and the microprocessor. In particular, the memory module may save image information at various stages of operation of the digital device to provide illumination to the front-facing image sensor using the display device.

The digital device 200 further includes a storage module 270 configured to store media such as photos and video files, as well as software code. In some embodiments, the storage module 270 is configured to permanently store the media even when the digital device 200 is disconnected. In some implementations, the storage module 270 includes storage media such as a hard disk, non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory, Read Only Memory (ROM), and other memory).

The digital device 200 further includes a communication subsystem 280 configured to communicatively connect the digital device 200 to a network 290. Communication subsystem 280 includes circuitry configured for wireless communication. For example, communication subsystem 280 may be implemented between digital device 200 and network 290 using one of the 802.11 standardsAnd (4) communication. Communication system 280 may additionally implement, for example(CDMA) and Global Mobile(GSM) and other standards.

Fig. 3A-3D are flow diagrams illustrating a method 300 of using a digital device having a front-facing image sensor and a display device configured as an illumination source, according to one embodiment. The method comprises the following steps: receiving a command to capture a digital image; adjusting the display device to an imaging illumination condition in response to the command; and capturing a digital image using the front-facing image sensor under imaging illumination conditions.

The digital device of the embodiments illustrated in fig. 3A-3D may be a digital device such as digital device 200 of fig. 2 (having a front-facing image sensor and a display device configured as an illumination source) according to one embodiment.

The method 300 of using a digital device having a front-facing image sensor and a display device configured as an illumination source begins at a start state 310 and moves to a state 320 to receive a command to capture a digital image using the front-facing image sensor. In one aspect, the commands may be received in any suitable form that may be processed by command input module 210, including voice commands processed by a voice recognition device, gesture commands processed by a gesture recognition device, touch commands processed by a touch screen device, keyboard commands processed by a keyboard device, motion commands processed by a motion sensing device, and other suitable forms of user commands.

After receiving a command to capture a digital image at state 320, the method 300 moves to state 330 and activates the front-facing image sensor. In one aspect, activating the front image sensor at state 330 may include, for example, providing an access voltage to an access line of the image sensor and Vcc to an image sensor controller of image sensor module 220.

The lighting conditions provided by a display device may be defined by a number of parameters, including luminance values and chrominance values of pixels of the display device. For example, one skilled in the art will understand that the actual values of luminance as well as chrominance depend on the color space used to describe them. For example, in an RGB or sRGB color space, each pixel may have an associated luminance Y represented by the equation Y-rR + gG + bB, where R, G and B represent the color components red, green, and blue, and r, g, B are constants. For example, for the sRGB space, constants r, g, and b have values of 0.212, 0.7152, and 0.0722, respectively. For example, in the Y 'UV color space, Y' represents a luminance value, and U and V represent two color components. The RGB space and the Y' UV space are related by well-known conversion relationships:

in addition, those skilled in the art will also appreciate that any suitable color space representation, such as one of YUV, YCbCr, YPbPr, etc., may be used to represent the illumination conditions of the pixels of the display device. In the description herein, the term "luminance" is used to generally refer to the overall intensity of light, and the term "chrominance" is used to generally refer to the color component.

According to one embodiment, the method 300 of using a digital device having a front-facing image sensor includes providing a dynamic illumination pattern that is selectable by a user. The dynamic illumination pattern, when activated by a user, allows for optimization of the illumination conditions provided by the display device based on pre-existing illumination conditions determined by the illumination sensing module. When the user does not activate the dynamic illumination mode, a predetermined default illumination condition is provided by the display device independent of the pre-existing illumination condition. The details of the illumination pattern will be more apparent in the discussion that follows. After activating the front image sensor at state 330, the method 300 moves to a decision state 340 to determine whether a dynamic illumination mode has been activated.

When a determination is made at the decision state 340 that the dynamic illumination mode is not activated, the method 300 adjusts the display device to a default imaging illumination condition at the process state 350. Additional details regarding steps performed to adjust the display device at state 350 are discussed below with reference to FIG. 3D. The method 300 then activates the image capture shutter at state 390.

However, when a determination is made at the decision state 340 to activate a dynamic lighting mode, the method 300 moves to the process state 360 to determine pre-existing lighting conditions. Additional information on how to determine pre-existing lighting conditions may be found below with reference to fig. 3B.

Once the pre-existing lighting conditions have been determined at the process state 360, the method 300 moves to a decision state 370 to determine whether additional lighting is needed. This determination may be based on a calculated difference between the average luminance value of the object and a stored luminance criterion corresponding to the object. If the calculated difference exceeds some threshold percentage value, the method 300 may proceed to process state 380 to adjust the display device to the optimized imaging illumination condition. However, if the calculated difference does not exceed some threshold percentage value, the method 300 proceeds to the process state 350 to adjust the display device to the default imaging illumination condition as discussed above.

By way of example only, the stored target brightness criteria for a human face may include a grayscale of an 18% brightness curve. In an 8-bit luminance curve, there may be 2⁸The luminance value is 256 levels so that 18% gray corresponds to the 46 th gray. If the average luminance value of the human face captured in the test frame has an average luminance value corresponding to, for example, a 10% gray scale corresponding to the 26 th gray scale in the 8-bit luminance curve, the calculated difference will be 8%. The method 300 proceeds to adjust the display device to the optimized imaging illumination condition or to adjust the display device to the default imaging illumination condition may depend on whether the calculated difference of 8% exceeds a threshold in one embodiment.

After adjusting the display device to the optimized imaging illumination conditions at process state 380, the method 300 moves to state 390 to activate the shutter. The method 300 then moves to state 392 where an image or video frame is captured while the illumination image is displayed on the display device. The method 300 then moves to state 394 where the shutter is deactivated. Finally, the method 300 moves to state 396 where the display device returns to normal lighting conditions.

Fig. 3B is a flow chart providing additional details regarding a process 360 for determining pre-existing lighting conditions in accordance with one implementation discussed above in connection with fig. 3A. The process 360 includes capturing a test frame using the front-facing image sensor at state 362 and calculating a difference between the average luminance value of the test frame and the stored luminance standard at state 366. Additionally, in another implementation, the process 360 for determining pre-existing lighting conditions may further include determining objects in the test frame at state 364. In this implementation, calculating the difference at state 366 includes calculating the difference between the average luminance value of the object of the test frame and the stored luminance criteria corresponding to the object. For example, the objects may include faces, bodies, and landscapes, among other objects. Additional details of states 362, 364, and 366 are discussed below.

According to one implementation, the process 360 for determining pre-existing lighting conditions includes capturing a test frame at state 362. The test frames may be frames captured using a fixed set of test frame imaging conditions, including f-number and exposure time. In some implementations, the test frame imaging conditions include a relatively lower f-number and a relatively shorter exposure time than the actual imaging conditions in order to maximize speed. In other embodiments, the test frame imaging conditions comprise f-numbers and exposure times similar to actual imaging conditions.

Still referring to fig. 3B, according to one implementation, the process 360 for determining pre-existing lighting conditions further includes determining objects in the test frame at state 364. In one aspect, determining the object may include determining a metrology zone and determining an object to be imaged based on information gathered from the metrology zone.

Determining the metering area may include determining a fixed percentage of a rectangular area that includes the entire display area of the test frame as the metering area. By way of example only, the metering region may have, for example, a rectangular metering region having a width approximately equal to 75% of the width of the test frame and a length approximately equal to 75% of the length of the test frame. Other embodiments are possible in which the metering region may comprise a non-rectangular area and/or a rectangular area that occupies a different percentage of the length and/or width of the test frame.

In another aspect, determining the object to be imaged may be based on any suitable number of object determination criteria. In some implementations, the object decision criteria can include determining a portion of the total test frame area occupied by the potential object. In other implementations, the object decision criteria may include an average luminance value of the potential object compared to an average of the overall luminance of all test frames. In still other implementations, the object determination criteria may include other criteria such as an average of the color components of the potential object compared to an average of the color components of all test frames. Using one or more of the object decision criteria and comparing to a reference list stored in the storage module, the object of the test frame may be determined.

In another aspect, determining the object to be imaged may include determining that the object includes a human face. Determining that the object is a person may invoke any one or more of the face detection algorithms known in the art. For example, the determination of the human face may be made based on any number of suitable factors, such as the elliptical nature of the object and the minimum and maximum distances between the center point and the outer boundaries of the object.

Still referring to fig. 3B, according to one embodiment, a process 360 for determining pre-existing lighting conditions includes calculating a difference between an average luminance value of objects of a test frame and a stored luminance standard corresponding to the objects at state 366.

FIG. 3C illustrates a flow chart that provides additional detail regarding a process 380 for adjusting a display device to the optimized imaging illumination conditions discussed above in connection with FIG. 3A. The process 380 begins at state 382 by calculating additional lighting based on a calculated difference between the average luminance value of the object and the stored luminance criteria corresponding to the object. The illumination image is selected next to state 382 at state 384, the average brightness value is adjusted next to state 384 at state 386, and the illumination image is displayed next to state 386 at state 388. Each of states 382, 384, 386, and 388 are discussed in more detail below.

In some embodiments, the calculated additional illumination in state 382 may be linearly or non-linearly proportional to the calculated difference between the average luminance value of the object and the stored luminance criterion corresponding to the object in state 366 in fig. 3B. The calculated additional illumination to be provided by the display device may be a value obtained by multiplying, for example, a calculated difference between an average luminance value of an object and a stored luminance standard corresponding to the object by other factors. One such factor may be, for example, a distance factor to account for the fact that the substantial amount of light intensity may decrease as the distance between the display device and the imaged object varies.

In other embodiments, the additional illumination may be calculated based on the difference between the average chromaticity value of the object and the stored chromaticity standard corresponding to the object in state 382. In this embodiment, color components having relatively lower average values in the object of the test frame may be calculated to be overcompensated by the display device, while other color components having relatively higher average values in the object of the test frame may be calculated to be undercompensated in order to preferably compensate the color components in order to produce a more aesthetically pleasing image.

Still referring to FIG. 3C, the process 380 for adjusting the display device additionally includes selecting an illumination image at state 384. The illumination image selected may be any suitable image for providing the desired illumination to the front-facing image sensor.

In one embodiment, the illumination image may be an image displayed prior to receiving a command to capture a digital image at state 320 in FIG. 3A, such as a default screen of the device having optimized brightness. In another embodiment, the illumination image may be an image displayed immediately prior to adjusting the display device, such as a preview frame of an image of the user captured by a front-facing image sensor having optimized brightness. In yet another implementation, the illumination image may be an image having an illumination area configured such that pixels included in the illumination area have optimized luminance and/or chromaticity. Various configurations of illumination images that may be included in selecting an illumination image at state 384 are discussed in more detail below in connection with FIG. 4.

An illumination image may be selected at state 384 based on the additional illumination calculated at state 382. For example, a suitable illumination image may be an image capable of providing the calculated additional illumination at state 382. However, not all available illumination images may be capable of providing the calculated additional illumination at state 382. As an illustrative example, the first illumination image may have pixels configured to provide 1% to 5% additional brightness, while the second illumination image may have pixels configured to provide 5% to 10% additional brightness. In this illustrative example, if the required additional brightness based on the calculated additional illumination at state 382 exceeds 5%, then the second illumination image will be selected at state 384 instead of the first illumination image.

Still referring to FIG. 3C, the process 380 for adjusting the display device to the optimized imaging illumination condition further includes adjusting the average brightness value of the selected illumination image to the target imaging brightness value at state 386. Adjusting the average brightness value at state 386 includes first determining a difference between the average brightness value of the selected illumination image and the target imaging brightness value. In determining the difference, adjusting the average brightness value at state 386 further includes determining the voltage and current required by the pixels included in the illumination image to display the selected illumination image at the target default imaging brightness value.

Still referring to FIG. 3C, the process 380 of adjusting the display device to the optimized imaging illumination condition further includes displaying the selected illumination image having an imaging brightness value at state 388. Displaying the selected illumination image at state 388 includes selecting pixels of the display device corresponding to the selected illumination image and supplying voltages and currents determined based on a difference between an average brightness value of the selected illumination image and a target imaging brightness value.

Referring now to FIG. 3D, the process 350 of adjusting the display device to the default imaging illumination condition is explained in more detail. The process 350 begins with selecting an illumination image at state 352, followed by state 354 in which the average brightness value of the illumination image is adjusted to a default imaging brightness value. Also following state 354 is the display of an illumination image at state 356 having a default imaging brightness value. Each of the states 352, 354, and 356 are described in more detail below.

Referring to FIG. 3D, a process 350 of adjusting the display device to a default imaging illumination condition includes selecting an illumination image at state 352. Selecting an illumination image at state 352 may include selecting a default illumination image. The default illumination image may be any suitable image for providing illumination to the front-facing image sensor. In one embodiment, the default illumination image may be the image displayed prior to receiving a command to capture a digital image at state 320 in FIG. 3A. For example, the default illumination image may be any of the default screens of the display device that may include, for example, an application icon. In another embodiment, the default illumination image may be the image displayed immediately prior to adjusting the display device. For example, the default image may be a preview frame of a user image captured by the front-facing image sensor before the permanent image is captured. In another implementation, the default illumination image may be an image having an illumination area configured such that pixels included in the illumination area have a predetermined brightness value. In some embodiments, the default illumination image may be one of the predetermined images stored by the device manufacturer in a storage module of the digital device. In other embodiments, the default illumination image may be provided by the user and may be stored in the storage module. For example, the image may be any image stored in the storage module by the user, such as a personal portrait, a web page, and other images. Various configurations of illumination images that may be included in selecting an illumination image at state 352 are discussed in more detail below in connection with FIG. 4.

Still referring to FIG. 3D, the process 350 of adjusting the display device to the default imaging illumination condition further includes adjusting the average brightness value of the default illumination image to the default imaging brightness value at state 354. Adjusting the average brightness value at state 354 includes first determining a difference between the average brightness value of the selected default illumination image and the target default imaging brightness value. In determining the difference, adjusting the average brightness value at state 354 further includes determining the voltage and current required for the pixels included in the illumination image to display the default illumination image at the target default imaging brightness value.

Still referring to FIG. 3D, the process 350 of adjusting the display device to the default imaging illumination condition further includes displaying the default illumination image having the default imaging brightness value at state 356. Displaying the default illumination image at state 356 includes selecting pixels of the display device corresponding to the default illumination image and supplying voltages and currents determined based on a difference between an average brightness value of the selected default illumination image and a target default imaging brightness value.

Fig. 4A-4L illustrate exemplary implementations of illumination images selected in adjusting 380 the display device to an optimized imaging illumination condition and adjusting 350 the display device to a default imaging illumination condition. Each of fig. 4A-4L depicts an exemplary implementation of a digital device 400 that includes a front-facing image sensor 402. Although the digital device 400 depicted in fig. 4A-4L is a smartphone, the digital device 400 may be any of the following: mobile phones, tablet computers, notebook computers, desktop computers, video cameras, portable music players, and other digital devices that may be configured to include a front-facing image sensor. Additionally, in each of the embodiments illustrated in fig. 4A-4L, the digital device 400 is configured to display an illumination image 404. It should be understood that each of the implementations illustrated in figures 4A-4L or any features included in an implementation may be combined to form embodiments not depicted in figures 4A-4L. In addition, the number, shape, and physical size of the different features are provided as examples only, and other embodiments having different numbers, different shapes, and different physical sizes are possible.

The illumination image 404 may be any suitable image displayed on a display device of the digital device 400 for providing sufficient illumination to the front-facing image sensor 402. In some embodiments, the illumination image 404 may be an image that is displayed prior to receiving a command from a user to capture a digital image. One implementation of such an illumination image is depicted in fig. 4A. The illumination image 404 of fig. 4A is the default image 406. The default image 406 may include visual and interactive features such as a clock, a search window, an application icon, and other features. In this implementation, upon receiving a command to capture a digital image, the average brightness value of the default image 406 may be adjusted according to adjusting 380 the display device to the optimized imaging illumination condition or according to adjusting 350 the display device to the default imaging illumination condition discussed above in connection with FIG. 3A.

In some implementations, the illumination image may include one or more illumination zones configured such that pixels included in the illumination zones are configured to illuminate white light. The pixels may be configured to illuminate white light when the intensities of the individual color components (e.g., R, G and B of the RGB color space) are balanced to have substantially the same value so that the human eye perceives the resulting light as neutral and having no color preference.

According to one implementation, the illumination image 404 of the digital device 400 in fig. 4B includes a single illumination zone 408 configured to illuminate white light and cover substantially the entire illumination image 404. In this implementation, as in FIG. 4A, the average brightness value of the illumination region 408 may be adjusted according to adjusting 380 the display device to the optimized imaging illumination or according to adjusting 350 the display device to the default imaging illumination condition discussed above.

According to another implementation, the illumination image 404 of the digital device 400 in fig. 4C includes a single illumination area 410 configured to illuminate white light and cover a portion of the illumination image 404. The average brightness value of the illumination zones 410 may be adjusted as in fig. 4A through 4B. In addition, the size of illumination area 410 may be adjusted to increase the number of pixels included in illumination area 410 to increase the overall illumination of the display device. The pixels included in the passive area 412 are configured to have a negligible luminance value.

According to another implementation, the illumination image 404 of the digital device 400 in fig. 4D includes a plurality of illumination zones 416 a-416 c, each of the illumination zones 416 a-416 c configured to illuminate white light and cover a portion of the illumination image 404. The average brightness values of the illumination zones 416 a-416C may be adjusted as in fig. 4A-4C. In this embodiment, the average brightness values of illumination zones 416 a-416 c may be adjusted separately or together. In addition, the size of illumination zones 416 a-416 c may be adjusted individually or together to optimize the overall illumination of the display device. Pixels included in passive regions 414 a-414 c outside of illumination regions 416 a-416 c are configured to have negligible luminance values.

In some implementations, the illumination image 404 may include one or more illumination zones configured such that pixels included in the illumination zones are configured to preferentially illuminate colored light of a color component (e.g., R, G or B in RGB space). The pixels may be configured to preferentially illuminate colored light when the intensity of one of the color components is enhanced while the intensity of the other color components is suppressed so that the human eye perceives the light produced as having a color. For example, to preferentially illuminate red light, photodiodes corresponding to green and blue light may be throttled such that color component R has a relatively higher value than color components G and B.

According to one implementation, the illumination image 404 of the digital device 400 in fig. 4E includes a plurality of illumination zones, where each of the illumination zones is configured to preferentially illuminate colored light and cover a portion of the illumination image 404. In the illustrated implementation, the illumination image 404 includes three illumination zones 420, 422, and 424, each of which is configured to preferentially illuminate red, green, or blue light, respectively. The average brightness value for each of the individual illumination zones 420, 422, and 424 may be adjusted as in fig. 4A-4D. By individually adjusting the average luminance value (the value of which is derived, preferably weighted by the preferably illuminated color component) of each of the three illumination zones, the front camera 402 may be provided with combined illumination with customizable color mixing. The pixels included in the passive area 412 are configured to have a negligible luminance value.

According to one implementation, the illumination image 404 of the digital device 400 in fig. 4F includes multiple illumination zones, where illumination zones configured to preferentially illuminate different colored lights are interleaved and cover substantially the entire illumination image 404. In the illustrated implementation, the illumination image 404 includes: four illumination zones 430, 438, 446, and 448, each of which is configured to preferentially illuminate red light; four illumination zones 432, 440, 442, and 450, each configured to preferentially illuminate green light; and four illumination zones 434, 436, 444, and 452, each of which is configured to preferentially illuminate blue light. The average luminance value for each of the individual illumination zones 430, 432, 434, 436, 438, 440, 442, 444, 446, 448, 450, and 452 may be adjusted as in fig. 4A-4E. As in fig. 4E, the combined illumination with customizable color mixing may be provided to the front camera 402 by individually adjusting the average luminance value (whose value is derived, preferably weighted by the preferably illuminated color component) of each of the illumination zones. In addition, the staggered pattern may provide a more uniform distribution of colored light to avoid, for example, different portions of the object (e.g., the face) from being preferentially illuminated by a particular color component.

According to one implementation, the illumination image 404 of the digital device 400 in fig. 4G includes a plurality of illumination zones, with illumination zones configured to preferentially illuminate different colored lights distributed within the illumination image 404 and covering at least a portion of the illumination image 404. In the illustrated implementation, the illumination image 404 includes: two illumination zones 460 and 466, each of which is configured to preferentially illuminate red light; two illumination zones 462 and 469, each of which is configured to preferentially illuminate green light; and two illumination zones 464 and 470, each of which is configured to preferentially illuminate blue light. The average brightness value for each of the individual illumination zones 460, 462, 464, 466, 468, and 470 may be adjusted as in fig. 4A-4F. As in fig. 4E, the combined illumination with customizable color mixing may be provided to the front camera 402 by individually adjusting the average luminance value (whose value is derived, preferably weighted by the preferably illuminated color component) of each of the illumination zones. In addition, the staggered pattern may provide a non-uniform distribution of colored light to provide, for example, different amounts of colored light to different portions of a subject (e.g., a face). The pixels included in the passive area 412 are configured to have a negligible luminance value.

According to one implementation, the illumination image 404 of the digital device 400 in fig. 4H includes a plurality of illumination zones, with some of the illumination zones configured to illuminate preferably colored light and other illumination zones configured to illuminate white light. In the illustrated implementation, illumination image 404 includes three illumination zones 472, 474, and 476 configured to preferably illuminate red, green, or blue light, respectively. Illumination image 404 additionally includes an illumination region 478 configured to illuminate white light. The average brightness value for each of the individual illumination regions 472, 474, 476, and 478 may be adjusted as in fig. 4A-4G. By individually adjusting the average luminance value (whose value is derived, preferably weighted by the preferably illuminated color components) of each of illumination regions 472, 474, and 476, the combined illumination with customizable color mix may be provided to front camera 402. Additionally, by adjusting the average brightness value of the illumination regions 478, additional white light may be provided to increase the overall brightness of the captured image. The pixels included in the passive area 412 are configured to have a negligible luminance value.

In some implementations, the illumination image may include an image captured by a front-facing image sensor. In some embodiments, the image captured by the front-facing image sensor may be a preview image of a still image. In other embodiments, the images captured by the front facing camera may be real time frames captured in a video.

One implementation of using the image captured by the front camera itself as the illumination image is depicted in fig. 4I. The illumination image 404 of fig. 4I includes an illumination area 482 that covers substantially the entire illumination image 404 and includes an image of the user 480 against a background. The average luminance value of the entire illumination image 404 can be adjusted as in fig. 4A to 4H.

Another implementation using the image itself captured by the front camera as the illumination image is depicted in fig. 4J. In addition to illumination region 482 that covers a portion of illumination image 404 (which includes an image of the user), illumination image 404 of fig. 4J additionally includes illumination region 484 that covers a portion of illumination image 404 and is configured to illuminate white light. The average brightness value for each of the illumination regions 484 and 482 may be adjusted as in fig. 4A-4H. The pixels included in the passive area 412 are configured to have a negligible luminance value.

Another implementation using the image itself captured by the front camera as the illumination image is depicted in fig. 4K and 4L. In both embodiments, in addition to illumination region 482 covering a portion of illumination image 404 (which includes an image of the user), illumination image 404 of fig. 4K and 4L additionally includes illumination regions 488 and 490, illumination regions 488 and 490 including an image (e.g., of second user 486) transmitted from another device over the network. The average brightness value for each of illumination regions 482, 488, and 490 may be adjusted as in fig. 4A-4J. The pixels included in the passive region 412 in fig. 4L are configured to have a negligible luminance value.

The previous description of the disclosed implementations is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these implementations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Clarification on terms

Implementations disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and apparatus for using a device's own display to provide an illumination source to a front-facing image sensor. Those skilled in the art will recognize that these embodiments may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.

In the description, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the examples. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the examples may be practiced without these specific details. For example, electrical components/devices may be shown in block diagrams in order not to obscure the examples in unnecessary detail. In other instances, such components, other structures and techniques may be shown in detail to further illustrate the examples.

Several headings are included herein for reference and to aid in locating various sections. These headings are not intended to limit the scope of the concepts described with respect thereto. Such concepts may be applied throughout the specification.

It is also noted that the examples may be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a finite state diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently and the process can be repeated. Additionally, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process terminates when its operations are completed. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a software function, the termination of the process corresponds to the return of the function to the calling function or the main function.

The previous description of the disclosed implementations is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these implementations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.