Full-spectrum flash for electronic devices

An electronic device comprising:

• an image sensor configured to generate images from light collected through a lens;
• a light source that includes at least three color channels,
• wherein each color channel includes one or more illuminants configured to produce a substantially similar color, and
• wherein each color channel is separately addressable to produce light of a different color;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive input indicative of a request to capture an image of an ambient environment viewable through the lens;
• determine that the image is to be captured in conjunction with a flash of white light produced by the light source;
• cause a series of colored flashes to be produced in which each color channel is separately illuminated;
• cause a series of images to be captured in conjunction with the series of colored flashes;
• identify a spectral characteristic of each color channel by examining the image in the series of images that is captured in conjunction with the corresponding colored flash;
• examine the spectral characteristics to establish a spectral property of the light source;
• and
• generate a signal that prompts simultaneous illumination of each color channel to produce the flash of white light having a correlated color temperature (CCT) of at least 1650K and no more than 10000K.

An electronic device comprising:

• an image sensor configured to generate images from light collected through a lens;
• a light source that includes at least three color channels,
• wherein each color channel includes one or more illuminants configured to produce a substantially similar color, and
• wherein each color channel is separately addressable to produce light of a different color;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive input indicative of a request to capture an image of an ambient environment viewable through the lens;
• determine that the image is to be captured in conjunction with a flash of white light produced by the light source;
• cause a reference flash to be produced in which the at least three color channels are simultaneously illuminated;
• cause a reference image to be captured in conjunction with the reference flash;
• cause a series of flashes to be produced in which all color channels except one are simultaneously illuminated;
• cause a series of images to be captured in conjunction with the series of flashes;
• identify a spectral characteristic of each color channel by estimating a corresponding discoloration effect,
• wherein the corresponding discoloration effect for a given color channel is estimated by comparing the image in the series of images that is captured in conjunction with the flash in which the given color channel was not illuminated to the reference image;
• examine the spectral characteristics to establish a spectral property of the light source;
• and
• generate a signal that prompts simultaneous illumination of each color channel to produce the flash of white light having a correlated color temperature (CCT) of at least 1650K and no more than 10000K.

A light source designed to improve color reproducibility, the light source comprising:

• an illuminant array that includes at least three color channels,
• wherein each color channel includes one or more illuminants configured to produce a substantially similar color, and
• wherein each color channel is separately addressable to produce light of a different color;
• and
• a controller configured to—
• select a color mixing model corresponding to a particular correlated color temperature (CCT) from amongst multiple color mixing models, and
• determine, based on the color mixing model, an operating parameter to simultaneously drive the at least three color channels to produce a flash of white light having the particular CCT.

A method for producing white light with a multi-channel light source having at least three color channels, each color channel including one or more illuminants configured to produce a substantially similar color, the method comprising:

• characterizing a spectral property of the multi-channel light source by
• producing a series of flashes in which each color channel is separately illuminated,
• causing a series of images to be captured in conjunction with the series of flashes,
• identifying a spectral characteristic of each color channel by examining the image in the series of images captured in conjunction with the corresponding flash, and
• examining the spectral characteristics to discover the spectral property of the multi-channel light source;
• identifying a color mixing model based on the spectral property;
• and
• causing the multi-channel light source to produce white light having a particular correlated color temperature (CCT) by separately driving each color channel of the at least three color channels in accordance with the color mixing model.

A method for producing white light with a multi-channel light source having at least three color channels, each color channel including one or more illuminants configured to produce a substantially similar color, the method comprising:

• characterizing a spectral property of the multi-channel light source by
• producing a reference flash in which the at least three color channels are simultaneously illuminated,
• causing a reference image to be captured in conjunction with the reference flash,
• producing a series of flashes in which all color channels except one are simultaneously illuminated,
• causing a series of images to be captured in conjunction with the series of flashes,
• identifying a spectral characteristic of each color channel by estimating a corresponding discoloration effect,
• wherein the corresponding discoloration effect for a given color channel is estimated by comparing the image in the series of images that is captured in conjunction with the flash in which the given color channel was not illuminated to the reference image, and
• examining the spectral characteristics to discover the spectral property of the multi-channel light source;
• identifying a color mixing model based on the spectral property;
• and
• causing the multi-channel light source to produce white light having a particular correlated color temperature (CCT) by separately driving each color channel of the at least three color channels in accordance with the color mixing model.

A method comprising:

• accessing a memory that associates color mixing models with spectral properties of a multi-channel light source,
• wherein the multi-channel light source includes at least three color channels, each color channel including one or more illuminants configured to produce a substantially similar color;
• characterizing a spectral property of the multi-channel light source;
• identifying an appropriate color mixing model in the memory based on the spectral property;
• and
• causing the multi-channel light source to produce light having a particular correlated color temperature (CCT) by separately driving each color channel of the at least three color channels in accordance with the appropriate color mixing model.

A light source comprising:

• a first color channel that includes a first illuminant configured to produce red light that is located on a first die;
• a second color channel that includes a second illuminant configured to produce blue light that is located on a second die;
• a third color channel that includes a third illuminant configured to produce cyan light that is located on a third die;
• a fourth color channel that includes a fourth illuminant configured to produce amber light that is located on a fourth die;
• a fifth color channel that includes a fifth illuminant configured to produce lime light that is located on a fifth die;
• and
• a controller configured to produce white light having different correlated color temperatures (CCTs) by controllably distributing electrical current amongst the first color channel, the second color channel, the third color channel, the fourth color channel, and the fifth color channel.