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AppleGranted patentCameras & imagingInterest 6/10

Apple patents camera interface that shows when depth effects are active

Apple describes a system for its cameras that automatically applies a simulated depth-of-field effect to the live preview on the screen. The interface displays a visual indicator if certain conditions are not met, preventing the effect from being applied when it would look unnatural or incorrect.

Why it mattersThis improves the user experience by helping photographers know exactly when their camera is ready to capture a professional-looking blurred background effect.

In the filing’s own words

The present disclosure generally relates to user interfaces. In some examples, the electronic device transitions between user interfaces for capturing photos based on data received from a first camera and a second camera. In some examples, the electronic device provides enhanced zooming capabilities that result in visual pleasing results for a displayed digital viewfinder and for captured videos. In some examples, the electronic device provides user interfaces for transitioning a digital viewfinder between a first camera with an applied digital zoom to a second camera with no digital zoom. In some examples, the electronic device prepares to capture media at various magnification levels. In some examples, the electronic device enhanced capabilities for navigating through a plurality of values.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic device, comprising: a display; one or more processors; and a memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for: displaying, on the display, a representation of image data, wherein the representation of the image data is a live preview of the image data captured within a field of view of one or more cameras, wherein the live preview is displayed in a digital viewfinder; and while displaying, on the display, the representation of the image data: in accordance with a determination that a set of conditions are met, applying a simulated depth of field effect to the representation of the image data; and in accordance with a determination that one or more conditions of the set of conditions are not met: displaying a first graphical indication corresponding to the one or more conditions of the set of conditions that are not met without applying the simulated depth of field effect to the representation of the image data, wherein meeting the set of conditions is required in order for the simulated depth of field effect to be applied to the representation of the image data.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
User interface for camera effects
Patent number
US12744990B2
Application number
18900421
Filed
Sep 27, 2024
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
36

Classified under

H04N 23/62 Electricity & electronicsG06F 3/0484 Physics & computingG06F 3/04847 Physics & computingG06F 3/0488 Physics & computingG06F 3/04883 Physics & computingG06T 5/70 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.