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AppleGranted patentCameras & imagingInterest 4/10

Apple patents camera system that adjusts flash brightness based on object distance

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

Apple describes a method for electronic devices to automatically control flash lighting during video or photo capture. The system uses depth sensors and light sensors to measure how far away an object is and how much light is already present, then smoothly adjusts the flash intensity to ensure proper exposure.

Why it mattersThis technology could improve photo quality in low-light situations by preventing the flash from being too bright or too dim for the specific distance of the subject.

In the filing’s own words

Techniques are described that utilize continuous flash lighting, e.g., with automatic activation/deactivation and brightness control of a flash lighting element in an electronic image capturing device. Depth sensing, in combination with front and/or rear lux sensing, is performed at the device and used to evaluate the lighting on the object of interest being captured and/or the overall scene light levels. A lighting element (e.g., a single- or multi-channel flash element) may be controlled automatically based on the depth, front and rear lux sensing, or a combination thereof. The lighting element's intensity may be automatically adjusted in a smooth and gradual manner, e.g., utilizing ranges of acceptable lux values and/or non-linear lighting element activation functions.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic device, comprising: a memory; a first image capture device; a first ambient light sensor (ALS) oriented in a first direction with respect to the electronic device; a second ALS oriented in a second direction with respect to the electronic device; a first lighting element configured to emanate light in the first direction; and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions causing the one or more processors to: obtain a video image stream from the first image capture device, wherein the video image stream comprises a first plurality of captured images of a scene; obtain, from the first ALS and concurrently with the capture of the first plurality of images, a first stream of lux estimates for the scene; obtain, from the second ALS and concurrently with the capture of the first plurality of images, a second stream of lux estimates for the scene; calculate a stream of lux differential values based on a comparison of corresponding estimates from the first stream of lux estimates and the second stream of lux estimates; obtain a stream of depth estimates, wherein the stream of depth estimates represent an estimated depth of an object of interest appearing in at least one of the first plurality of captured images of the scene; determine, based, at least in part, on the stream of lux differential values and the stream of depth estimates, to adjust an intensity of light emanating from the first lighting element.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
Automatic continuous flash lighting for close range image capture
Patent number
US12756939B2
Application number
18898959
Filed
Sep 27, 2024
Granted
Oct 6, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

H04N 23/74 Electricity & electronicsG06T 7/50 Physics & computingH04N 23/71 Electricity & electronics
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.