Illumination systems and methods for imagers
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorPeter H. Mahowald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention can provide solutions to many common imaging problems, such as, for example, unevenly distributed illumination, shadows, white balance adjustment, colored ambient light and high dynamic range imaging. Imaging systems and methods can be provided through a computer (e.g., laptop or desktop) such that the system or method can take advantage of the computer's processing power to provide functionality that goes beyond typical camera. Such an imaging system may include an imaging device, a camera, a light source and a user interface.
Claims23
A method for capturing a digital image using automatic white balancing through illumination, the method comprising:
- collecting data;
- generating ambient light parameters from the collected data, wherein generating the ambient light parameters comprises identifying a color of the ambient light;
- providing illumination corresponding to the generated ambient light parameters to offset the color of the ambient light;
- and
- capturing an image while providing the illumination, wherein providing the illumination comprises adjusting the color of the illumination based on the identified color of the ambient light prior to capturing the image.
An imaging system for capturing digital images, the system comprising:
- an imaging device with a processor;
- a camera coupled to the processor;
- and
- a deployable light coupled to the processor wherein the light automatically moves between:
- a stowed position where the light is not visible;
- and
- a deployed position where the light is visible and operable, wherein the imaging system is configured to identify a color of detected ambient light, wherein the deployable light is configured to provide illumination to offset the color of the detected ambient light, and wherein the imaging system is configured to adjust the color of the illumination provided by the deployable light based on the identified color of the ambient light prior to capturing at least one of the digital images.
An electronic system, comprising:
- a first lighting element that emits light having a first color;
- a second lighting element that emits light having a second color, wherein the first and second colors are different;
- circuitry that identifies the color of ambient light, that directs the first lighting element to emit light at a first intensity, that directs the second lighting element to emit light at a second intensity, and that determines the first and second intensities relative to each other based at least partly on the identified color of the ambient light;
- and
- an image sensor that captures at least one image while the first lighting element emits light at the first intensity and while the second lighting element emits light at the second intensity.
An electronic system, comprising:
- a white lighting element;
- a colored lighting element;
- circuitry that identifies the color of ambient light and that directs the colored lighting element to emit light at a given intensity based at least partly on the identified color of the ambient light;
- and
- an image sensor that captures at least one image while the white lighting element emits light and while the colored lighting element emits light at the given intensity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.