Flash unit using adjustable diffusers
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorJoel S. Armstrong-Muntner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of systems and methods for using electronic diffusers to implement message indicators are described. A segment of a diffuser attached to an electronic device is configured to indicate an informational message in response to signals that result in a change to an optical property. A set of information to be displayed using the segment is determined, and a signal is transmitted to the segment to display the information.
Claims19
An electronic device, comprising:
- a memory;
- one or more processors,
- a camera;
- and
- a flash unit, comprising:
- one or more flash illumination sources;
- and
- a diffuser layer comprising a plurality of independently controllable diffuser sections, wherein the diffuser layer is situated such that an outward light path from the one or more flash illumination sources passes through the diffuser layer;
- wherein the memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
- receive sensor data indicating characteristics of a scene in a view of the camera;
- determine two or more levels of diffusion to be applied to light directed from the flash unit to two or more portions of the scene;
- cause two or more of the independently controllable diffuser sections of the diffuser layer to be independently adjusted to the determined two or more levels of diffusion;
- and
- cause the one or more flash illumination sources to direct light towards the scene, wherein:
- a first portion of the light directed to a first portion of the scene is diffused according to a first one of the two or more determined diffusion levels, such that the first portion of the light is scattered to a first extent;
- and
- one or more other portions of the light directed to one or more other portions of the scene are diffused according to one or more other ones of the two or more determined diffusion levels, such that the one or more other portions of the light are scattered to one or more other extents.
A flash unit for an electronic device, comprising:
- one or more flash illumination sources;
- and
- a diffuser layer comprising a plurality of independently controllable diffuser sections attached to and distributed over an exterior or interior face of a casing of the flash unit, wherein the diffuser layer is situated such that an outward light path from the one or more flash illumination sources passes through the diffuser layer.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
- receive sensor data indicating characteristics of a scene in a view of a camera;
- determine two or more levels of diffusion to be applied to light directed from a flash unit to two or more portions of the scene;
- cause two or more of independently controllable diffuser sections of a diffuser layer of the flash unit to be independently adjusted to the determined two or more levels of diffusion;
- and
- cause one or more flash illumination sources of the flash unit to direct light towards the scene, wherein:
- a first portion of the light directed to a first portion of the scene is diffused according to a first one of the two or more determined diffusion levels, such that the first portion of the light is scattered to a first extent;
- and
- one or more other portions of the light directed to one or more other portions of the scene are diffused according to one or more other ones of the two or more determined diffusion levels, such that the one or more other portions of the light are scattered to one or more other extents.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.