Method and system for generating shallow depth of field effect
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorsJohan Nils FRANSSON, Sung Ho HONG
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for generating a shallow depth of field effect for a digitally captured image are provided. At least one region of interest (ROI) and at least one non-interest region are defined in the captured image. A difference in focus or object distance is calculated between the ROI and each non-interest region. A degree of blur is applied to each non-interest region, based on the calculated difference in focus or object distance.
Claims22
A method for generating a shallow depth of field effect for a digitally captured image, at least one region of interest and at least one non-interest region being defined in the captured image, the method comprising:
- retrieving a previously stored captured image from a memory, metadata having been stored with the captured image, the metadata containing focus information for each of the at least one region of interest and the at least one non-interest region;
- calculating, for each non-interest region, a difference in focus or object distance between the at least one region of interest and the non-interest region using the focus information contained in the metadata;
- determining, for each non-interest region, a degree of blur to be applied to the non-interest region, based on the calculated difference in focus or object distance;
- applying the determined degree of blur to each non-interest region, to generate a blurred image;
- and
- displaying the blurred image on a display.
(canceled)
The method of claim 21, wherein the focus information includes respective optimal lens positions, and wherein the calculated difference in focus or object distance is calculated as a difference in optimal lens position for each region.
An electronic device for generating a shallow depth of field effect for a digitally captured image, at least one region of interest and at least one non-interest region being defined in the captured image, the electronic device comprising:
- a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions to cause the electronic device to:
- retrieve a previously stored captured image from a memory, metadata having been stored with the captured image, the metadata containing focus information for each of the at least one region of interest and the at least one non-interest region;
- calculate, for each non-interest region, a difference in focus or object distance between the at least one region of interest and the non-interest region using the focus information contained in the metadata;
- determine, for each non-interest region, a degree of blur to be applied to the non-interest region, based on the calculated difference in focus or object distance;
- apply the determined degree of blur to each non-interest region, to generate a blurred image;
- and
- display the blurred image on a display.
(canceled)
A non-transient computer readable medium for generating a shallow depth of field effect for a digitally captured image, at least one region of interest and at least one non-interest region being defined in the captured image, the computer readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that are executable to cause an electronic device to:
- retrieve a previously stored captured image from a memory, metadata having been stored with the captured image, the metadata containing focus information for each of the at least one region of interest and the at least one non-interest region;
- calculate, for each non-interest region, a difference in focus or object distance between the at least one region of interest and the non-interest region using the focus information contained in the metadata;
- determine, for each non-interest region, a degree of blur to be applied to the non-interest region, based on the calculated difference in focus or object distance;
- apply the determined degree of blur to each non-interest region, to generate a blurred image;
- and
- display the blurred image on a display.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.