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Samsung patents time-based white balance for phone cameras

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

Samsung has filed a patent for a method that improves how phone cameras adjust colors to look natural. The system uses a neural network to analyze the image data along with the time the photo was taken to determine the correct lighting conditions. This information is then used to fine-tune the camera's white balance settings before the final image is processed.

Why it mattersThis could lead to more accurate color reproduction in photos taken at different times of day or under varying artificial lights.

In the filing’s own words

A method for improving auto white balance (AWB) includes obtaining a raw image; obtaining metadata associated with the raw image; generating a time-capture feature based on the metadata; generating a histogram feature based on the raw image; obtaining illuminant chromaticity based on a neural network by using the histogram feature and the time-capture feature as inputs; obtaining an RGB illuminant color by converting the illuminant chromaticity; and adjusting one or more white balance parameters of an Image Signal Processor (ISP) based on the RGB illuminant color.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method performed by an electronic device for providing auto white balance (AWB), the method comprising: obtaining a raw image and metadata associated with the raw image; generating a time-capture feature based on the metadata; generating a histogram feature based on the raw image; obtaining illuminant chromaticity based on a neural network by using the histogram feature and the time-capture feature as inputs; obtaining an RGB illuminant color by converting the illuminant chromaticity; and adjusting one or more white balance parameters of an Image Signal Processor (ISP) based on the RGB illuminant color.

Facts

Company
Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
Official title
TIME-AWARE AUTO WHITE BALANCE IN MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY
Publication number
US20260303986A1
Application number
19545625
Filed
Feb 20, 2026
Published
Oct 1, 2026
Inventors
6
Claims
20

Classified under

H04N 23/88 Electricity & electronicsG06T 7/90 Physics & computingG06T 2207/10024 Physics & computingG06T 2207/20081 Physics & computingG06T 2207/20084 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.