# US 10,122,999 B2 · Image generating method and image generating apparatus

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,122,999 B2
- Document ID: US10122999B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/157,633
- Filed: 2016-05-18
- Published: 2017-04-27
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-27
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jinmyoung Kim; Sunguk Bin; Namseop Kwon; Yonghwa Park; Myungjae Jeon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122999B2

## CPC

- H04N 13/296: Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
- G01S 7/4918: {Controlling received signal intensity, gain or exposure of sensor}
- G01S 17/894: Three-dimensional [3D] imaging with simultaneous measurement of time-of-flight at a two-dimensional [2D] array of receiver pixels, e.g. time-of-flight cameras or flash lidar
- H04N 13/254: in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
- H04N 23/20: for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

A camera includes: a light source configured to emit an infrared (IR) signal; a receiver configured to receive a reflected IR signal, the reflected signal corresponding to the IR signal being reflected from an object; and a processor configured to generate an IR image based on the reflected IR signal, determine whether the IR image is saturated based on comparison between at least one pixel value of the IR image and a reference pixel value, and control an intensity of the IR signal emitted by the light source based on a result of the determination.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A camera comprising:
a light source configured to emit an infrared (IR) signal;
a receiver configured to receive the IR signal that is reflected from an object; and
a processor configured to generate an IR image based on the reflected IR signal, determine whether the IR image is saturated based on comparison between at least one pixel value of the IR image and a reference pixel value, and control an intensity of the IR signal emitted by the light source based on a result of the determination,
wherein the light source is further configured to emit plurality of IR signals having different phases, the plurality of IR signals being reflected from the object, and
the processor is further configured to determine whether the IR image is saturated based on at least one of the reflected plurality of IR signals.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to set the reference pixel value and determine that the IR image is saturated when the at least one pixel value of the IR image is greater than the reference pixel value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to gradually reduce or increase the intensity of the IR signal emitted by the light source up to a maximum intensity at which the IR image is unsaturated.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to determining that the IR image is saturated, reduce the intensity of the IR signal emitted by the light source to a lowest level and gradually increase the intensity of the IR signal emitted by the light source up to a maximum intensity at which the IR image is unsaturated.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to determining that the IR image is saturated, reduce the intensity of the IR signal emitted by the light source to a lowest level and determine an optimal intensity of the IR signal emitted by the light source based on a saturation degree of the IR image.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein the plurality of IR signals are four IR signals.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The camera of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to, when the camera is operated using a global shutter method, determine whether the IR image is saturated based on a frame corresponding to a phase of about 0 degrees.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The camera of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to, when the camera is operated using a rolling shutter method, determine whether the IR image is saturated based on two or more frames corresponding to a phase of about 0 degrees.

### Claim 9

A method of generating an infrared (IR) image, the method comprising:
emitting an IR signal;
receiving the IR signal that is reflected from an object;
generating the IR image based on the reflected IR signal;
determining whether the IR image is saturated based on comparison between at least one pixel value of the IR image and a reference pixel value; and
controlling an intensity of the IR signal that is emitted based on a result of the determination,
wherein the emitting the IR signal comprises emitting a plurality of IR signals having different phases, the plurality of IR signals being reflected from the object, and
the controlling the intensity of the IR signal comprises determining whether the IR image is saturated based on at least one of the reflected plurality of IR signals.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the controlling the intensity of the IR signal comprises:
setting the reference pixel value; and
determining that the IR image is saturated when the at least one pixel value of the IR image is greater than the reference pixel value.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the controlling the intensity the IR signal comprises gradually reducing or increasing the intensity of the IR signal up to a maximum intensity at which the IR image is unsaturated.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the controlling the intensity of the IR signal comprises, in response to determining that the IR image is saturated, reducing the intensity of the IR signal to a lowest level and gradually increasing the intensity of the IR signal up to a maximum intensity at which the IR image is unsaturated.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the controlling the intensity of the IR signal comprises, in response to determining that the IR image is saturated, reducing the intensity of the IR signal to a lowest level and determining an optimal intensity of the IR signal based on a saturation degree of the IR image.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of IR signals are four IR signals.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein, when the three-dimensional IR image is generated by a camera using a global shutter method, the controlling the intensity of the IR signal comprises determining whether the IR image is saturated based on a frame corresponding to a phase of about 0 degrees.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein, when the three-dimensional IR image is generated by a camera using a rolling shutter method, the controlling the intensity of the IR signal comprises determining whether the IR image is saturated based on two or more frames corresponding to a phase of about 0 degrees.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that is executed by a computer to perform the method of claim 9.