# US 2013/0156413 A1 · Reduced pre-flash for led flash based camera devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156413 A1 - Document ID: US20130156413A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/766,037 - Filed: 2013-02-13 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-17 - Assignees: Research In Motion Limited - Inventors: Yochanan Cliel Manoach GILBERT-SCHACHTER; Qian WANG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156413A1 ## CPC - G03B 15/05: Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units - G03B 7/16: in accordance with both the intensity of the flash source and the distance of the flash source from the object, e.g. in accordance with the "guide number" of the flash bulb and the focusing of the camera - G03B 2215/0503: Built-in units - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract A mobile device comprising a processor, a camera module, and a flash configured to generate at least one of a reduced pre-flash, a standard pre-flash and a flash. The processor, in response to receiving an image capture request, is configured to receive a brightness value and determine a flash status based on a flash setting with the flash status being one of an off mode, on mode, and auto mode. In the event the flash status is one of the on mode and auto mode, determine whether there is sufficient light to capture an image based at least in part on a comparison of the brightness value and a flash threshold. In the event the brightness value is greater than the flash threshold, cause the flash to generate a shortened pre-flash and obtain only a white balance measurement and an auto-exposure measurement during the shortened pre-flash. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -21. (canceled) ### Claim 22 An electronic device comprising: a flash configured to generate a shortened pre-flash, a standard pre-flash and a flash; and a processor, communicatively coupled to the flash, in response to receiving a picture request, configured to: receive a brightness value; determine a flash status based on a flash setting with the flash status being one of an off mode, on mode, and auto mode; in the event the flash status is in the auto mode, determine whether there is sufficient light to capture an image based at least in part on a comparison of the brightness value and a flash threshold; in the event the brightness value is not greater than the flash threshold and the flash status is in the auto mode, determine whether there is sufficient light to perform an auto-focus based at least in part on a comparison of the brightness value and an auto-focus threshold, and in the event the brightness value is greater than the auto-focus threshold, the processor is further configured to cause the flash to generate a shortened pre-flash having a predetermined duration and obtain only a white balance measurement and an auto-exposure measurement during the shortened pre-flash. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The electronic device of claim 22 wherein, in response to generating the shortened pre-flash, the processor is further configured to: set parameters of a camera module, communicatively coupled to the processor, based on the white balance measurement and the auto-exposure measurement; cause the flash to generate a flash; and cause the camera module to take a picture. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The electronic device of claim 22 wherein, in the event the brightness value is greater than the flash threshold and the flash status is in the auto mode, the processor is further configured to cause a camera module to take a picture without a flash. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The electronic device of claim 22 wherein, in the event the flash status is the auto mode and the brightness value is not greater than a flash threshold, the processor is further configured to: determine whether there is sufficient light to perform an auto-focus based at least in part on a comparison of the brightness value and an auto-focus threshold; and in the event the brightness value is not greater than the auto-focus threshold, the processor is further configured to: cause the flash to generate a standard pre-flash and obtain a white balance measurement, an auto-exposure measurement and auto-focus during the generated standard pre-flash; set parameters of a camera module, communicatively coupled to the processor, based on the white balance measurement, the auto-exposure measurement and the auto-focus; cause the flash to generate a flash; and cause the camera module to take a picture. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The electronic device of claim 22 wherein, in the event the flash status is in the off mode, the processor is further configured to cause a camera module to take a picture without a flash. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The electronic device of claim 22 wherein, the flash is one of a light emitting diode (LED) and a tube substantially filled with xenon gas. ### Claim 28 A processor implemented method for taking a picture using an electronic device, the method comprising: receiving a brightness value in response to receiving a picture request; determining a flash status for a flash based on a flash setting with the flash status being one of an off mode, on mode, and auto mode, wherein the flash is capable of generating a shortened pre-flash, a standard pre-flash and a flash; in the event the flash status is in the auto mode, determining whether there is sufficient light to capture an image based at least in part on a comparison of the brightness value and a flash threshold; and in the event the brightness value is not greater than the flash threshold and the flash status is in the auto mode, determining whether there is sufficient light to perform an auto-focus based at least in part on a comparison of the brightness value and an auto-focus threshold, and in the event the brightness value is greater than the auto-focus threshold, the processor is further configured to cause the flash to generate a shortened pre-flash having a predetermined duration and obtain only a white balance measurement and an auto-exposure measurement during the shortened pre-flash. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The processor implemented method of claim 28 wherein, in response to generating the shortened pre-flash, setting parameters of a camera module based on the white balance measurement and the auto-exposure measurement; causing the flash to generate a flash; and causing the camera module to take a picture. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The processor implemented method of claim 28 wherein, in the event the brightness value is greater than the flash threshold and the flash status is in the auto mode, causing a camera module to take a picture without a flash. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The processor implemented method of claim 28 wherein, in the event the flash status is in the auto mode and the brightness value is not greater than the flash threshold, determining whether there is sufficient light to perform an auto-focus based at least in part on a comparison of the brightness and an auto-focus threshold; and in the event the brightness value is not greater than the auto-focus threshold, causing the flash to generate a standard pre-flash and obtain only a white balance measurement and an auto-exposure measurement during the standard pre-flash; setting parameters of a camera module based on the white balance measurement and the auto-exposure measurement; causing the flash to generate a flash; and causing the camera module to take a picture. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The processor implemented method of claim 28 wherein, in the event the flash status is in the off mode, causing a camera module to take a picture without a flash. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The processor implemented method of claim 29 wherein, the flash is one of a light emitting diode (LED) and a tube filled with xenon gas. ### Claim 34 A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for configuring an electronic device to take a picture in response to receiving a picture request, the electronic device having a processor to execute instructions on the processor to: receiving a brightness value; determining a flash status for a flash based on a flash setting with the flash status being one of an off mode, on mode, and auto mode, wherein the flash is capable of generating a shortened pre-flash, a standard pre-flash and a flash; in the event the flash status is in the auto mode, determine whether there is sufficient light to capture an image based at least in part on a comparison of the brightness value and a flash threshold; in the event the brightness value is not greater than the flash threshold and the flash status is in the auto mode, determining whether there is sufficient light to perform an auto-focus based at least in part on a comparison of the brightness value and an auto-focus threshold, and in the event the brightness value is greater than the auto-focus threshold, the processor is further configured to cause the flash to generate a shortened pre-flash having a predetermined duration and obtain only a white balance measurement and an auto-exposure measurement during the shortened pre-flash. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34 further comprising instructions to, in response to generating the shortened pre-flash, setting parameters of a camera module, communicatively coupled to the processor, based on the white balance measurement and the auto-exposure measurement; causing the flash to generate a flash; and causing the camera module to take a picture. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34 further comprising instructions to, in the event the brightness value is greater than the flash threshold and the flash status is in the auto mode, causing a camera module to take a picture without a flash. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34 further comprising instructions to: in the event the flash status is in the auto mode and the brightness value is not greater than the flash threshold, determining whether there is sufficient light to perform an auto-focus based at least in part on a comparison of the brightness value and an auto-focus threshold; and in the event the brightness value is not greater than the auto-focus threshold, causing the flash to generate a standard pre-flash and obtain only a white balance measurement and an auto-exposure measurement during the generated standard pre-flash; setting parameters of a camera module, communicatively coupled to the processor, based on the white balance measurement and the auto-exposure measurement; causing the flash to generate a flash; and causing the camera module to take a picture. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34 further comprising instructions to, in the event the flash status is in the off mode, causing a camera module to take a picture without a flash. ### Claim 39 (depends on 34) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34 wherein, the flash is one of a light emitting diode (LED) and a tube filled with xenon gas.