# US 2018/0324343 A1 · Adaptive light source

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- Number: US 2018/0324343 A1
- Document ID: US20180324343A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/773,356
- Filed: 2016-11-02
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-10
- Assignees: Lumileds Holding B.V.
- Applicants: Lumileds Holding B.V.
- Inventors: Arjen Van Der Sijde; Nicola Pfeffer; Quint Van Voorst-Vader; Yourii Martynov
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324343A1

## CPC

- G03B 15/05: Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
- G06T 7/586: from multiple light sources, e.g. photometric stereo
- G06V 10/141: Control of illumination
- G06V 10/147: Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses (fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19)
- G06V 20/10: Terrestrial scenes (scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59)
- G06V 20/64: Three-dimensional [3D] objects
- G06V 40/166: {using acquisition arrangements}
- G06V 40/172: {Classification, e.g. identification}
- H04N 23/20: for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
- H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means
- H04N 23/71: Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
- H04N 23/74: by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
- G03B 2215/0567: Solid-state light source, e.g. LED, laser
- H04N 23/69: Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
- 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)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A method according to embodiments of the invention includes creating a three-dimensional profile of a scene, calculating a relative amount of light for each portion of the scene based on the three-dimensional profile, and activating a light source to provide a first amount of light to a first portion of the scene, and a second amount of light to a second portion of the scene. The first amount and the second amount are different. The first amount and the second amount are determined by calculating a relative amount of light for each portion of the scene.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
capturing a first image of a scene;
illuminating the scene with a first amount of light from a light source after capturing the first image, the light source comprising an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs);
capturing a second image of the scene while illuminating the scene with the first amount of light,
creating a three-dimensional profile of the scene;
calculating a relative amount of light for each portion of the scene based on the three-dimensional profile, the first image and the second image,
wherein said calculating a relative amount of light for each portion of the scene determines that a first portion of the scene and a second portion of the scene receive different amounts of light;
activating the light source for illuminating the calculated relative amount of light,
wherein said activating the light source comprises providing a first amount of current to a first LED, the first LED illuminating the first portion of the scene, and providing a second amount of current to a second LED, the second LED illuminating the second portion of the scene; and
capturing a final image of the scene after activating the light source for illuminating the calculated relative amount of light.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first amount of light from the light source is uniform such that all portions of the scene are illuminated with a known illumination profile and/or is provided in a torch mode of the light source.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1
wherein the second image of the scene is captured before creating the three-dimensional profile of the scene;
wherein the three-dimensional profile of the scene is determined on basis of the first and/or the second image of the scene; and
wherein brightness values of the first image and of the second image are determined and compared for each portion of the scene, to calculate the amount of light for that portion of the scene such that overexposure of the respective portion of the scene is reduced.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the second image of the scene is captured after creating the three dimensional profile of the scene;
the three dimensional profile of the scene is determined on basis of the first image of the scene; and
brightness values of the first image and of the second image are determined and compared for each portion of the scene, to calculate the amount of light for that portion of the scene such that overexposure of the respective portion of the scene is reduced.

### Claim 5

(canceled)

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the scene corresponds to an image viewed by a camera lens;
the method further comprises receiving a command to zoom in;
the first portion of the scene is closer to the center of the scene than the second portion; and
the first amount is greater than the second amount.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the scene corresponds to an image viewed by a camera lens;
the method further comprises receiving a command to zoom out;
the first portion of the scene is closer to an edge of the scene than the second portion; and
the first amount is greater than the second amount.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first LED in the array emits white light of a different emission spectrum than white light emitted by the second LED in the array.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the array of LEDs is a first array of LEDs, the light source further comprising a second array of LEDs, the first array of LEDs illuminates a first portion of the scene, and the second array of LEDs illuminates a second portion of the scene.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the array of LEDs is a first array of LEDs, the light source further comprising a second array of LEDs, the first array of LEDs and the second array of LEDs illuminating the same portion of the scene.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the first array of LEDs emits light of a different emission spectrum than the second array of LEDs.

### Claim 12

A structure comprising:
a camera having a field of view;
a light source comprising an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs); and
a microprocessor encoded with instructions for:
capturing a first image of the field of view;
illuminating the field of view with a first amount of light from the light source after capturing the first image;
capturing a second image of the field of view while the field of view is illuminated with the first amount of light;
creating a three-dimensional profile of the field of view;
calculating a relative amount of light for each portion of the field of view based on the three-dimensional profile, the first image and the second image; activating the light source for illuminating the calculated relative amount of light by means of the array of light emitting diodes (LEDs); and
capturing a final image of the field of view after activating the light source for illuminating the calculated relative amount of light,
wherein said calculating a relative amount of light for each portion of the field of view determines that a first portion of the field of view and a second portion of the field of view receive different amounts of light; and
wherein said activating the light source comprises:
providing a first amount of current to a first LED, the first LED illuminating the first portion of the field of view; and
providing a second amount of current to a second LED, the second LED illuminating the second portion of the field of view.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the light source is turned off when capturing the first image.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the first amount of current and the second amount of current are arranged such that overexposure of objects in a foreground of the scene is reduced.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the light source comprises a first array of LEDs and a second array of LEDs, wherein the first array of LEDs is arranged to emit white light with a first color temperature;
the second array of LEDs is arranged to emit white light with a second color temperature different than the first color temperature; and
the method comprises the further steps of:
calculating a first current for providing a first amount of light of the first color temperature and calculating a second current for providing a second amount of light of the second color temperature for providing a defined color temperature for each portion of the scene; and
activating the first array of LEDs by providing the first current and activating the second array of LEDs by providing the second current such that a sum of light provided by the first array of LEDs and the second array of LEDs provides the defined color temperature for each portion of the scene.