Image capturing method for acquiring image frame using two or more exposure values, and electronic device therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12439169-B2
Application number	US-202318366434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2023
Priority date	Mar 8, 2021
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, disclosed is an electronic device comprising: a camera which can set a plurality of exposure values; a sensor for detecting an image capturing environment of the electronic device; and at least one processor electrically connected to the camera and the sensor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: obtain information about the image capturing environment through the sensor; set two or more exposure values among the plurality of exposure values on the basis of the obtained information about the image capturing environment; obtain frames to which the two or more set exposure values are alternately applied; and generate a video file on the basis of the obtained frames.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a camera configured to configure a plurality of exposure values;
a sensor configured to detect an image capturing environment of the electronic device;
memory storing instructions, a first application, and a second application, and
at least one processor electrically connected with the camera and the sensor,
wherein the instructions, when being executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to:
while the first application is executed:
acquire information on the image capturing environment through the sensor,
configure two or more exposure values among the plurality of exposure values based on the acquired information on the image capturing environment,
acquire frames to which the two or more configured exposure values are alternately applied,
generate an uncompressed video file based on the acquired frames, and
store the uncompressed video file, at least one index, and the information on the image capturing environment, wherein the at least one index indicates at least one index frame determined at least partially based on an exposure value from the acquired frames; and

while the second application is executed:
determine a first frame from among the at least one index frame indicated by the at least one index,
determine at least one second frame from the uncompressed video file based on the information on the image capturing environment, and
acquire a composite image by composing the first frame and the at least one second frame.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when being executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to detect the image capturing environment using at least one of an illuminance sensor, a gyroscope sensor, or an acceleration sensor.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the information on the image capturing environment comprises information on at least one of an image capturing place, ambient brightness of an environment of the electronic device, or movement of the electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when being executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to determine, as the at least one index frame, at least one frame determined as satisfying a designated condition from among the acquired frames.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the instructions, when being executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to determine, as satisfying the designated condition, a frame sharpness greater than or equal to a threshold value or a frame similarity to a previously acquired frame among the acquired frames less than a threshold value.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the instructions, when being executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to:
determine a number of frames among the acquired frames to be used for the composition, based on the information on the image capturing environment;
based on the determined number, extract the first frame and at least one continuous second frames from the uncompressed video file; and
acquire the composite image using the extracted frames.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when being executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to analyze at least one of composition, color, brightness of the composite image, or similarity to a previously acquired composite image, and generate a final image content based on the analysis.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when being executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to acquire the composite image based on image capturing being completed, based on a designated time being elapsed after image capturing is started, or based on the electronic device being in a sleep mode.

9. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
while the electronic device executes a first application:
acquiring information on an image capturing environment using a sensor,
configuring two or more exposure values based on the acquired information on the image capturing environment,
acquiring frames to which the two or more configured exposure values are alternately applied,
generating an uncompressed video file based on the acquired frames, and
storing the uncompressed video file, at least one index, and the information on the image capturing environment, wherein the at least one index indicates at least one index frame determined at least partially based on an exposure value from the acquired frames; and

while the electronic device executes a second application:
determining a first frame from the at least one index frame indicated by the at least one index,
determining at least one second frame from the uncompressed video file based on the information on the image capturing environment, and
acquiring a composite image by composing the first frame and the at least one second frame.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein acquiring the information on the image capturing environment comprises detecting the image capturing environment using at least one of an illuminance sensor, a gyroscope sensor, or an acceleration sensor.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the information on the image capturing environment comprises information on at least one of an image capturing place, ambient brightness of an environment of the electronic device, or movement of the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining, as the at least one index frame, at least one frame determined as satisfying a designated condition from among the acquired frames.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining, as satisfying the designated condition, a frame sharpness greater than or equal to a threshold value or a frame similarity to a previously acquired frame from among the acquired frames less than a threshold value.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining a number of frames among the acquired frames to be used for the composition, based on the information on the image capturing environment;
based on the determined number, extracting the first frame and a least one continuous second frame from the generated video file; and
acquiring the composite image using the extracted frames.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
analyzing at least one of composition, color, brightness of the composite image, or similarity to a previously acquired composite image, and generating a final image content based on the analysis.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lim Kwangyong
• Kwak Seongsin
• Kim Daesung
• Kim Sungoh
• Lee Dasom
• Cho Sungdae
• Kim Suhyung
• Shin Daekyu

Classifications

• G06T2207/20224

  Image subtraction · CPC title

• G06T2207/20208

  High dynamic range [HDR] image processing · CPC title

• G06T2207/10016

  Video; Image sequence · CPC title

• H04N23/633

  for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera · CPC title

• H04N23/12 Primary

  with one sensor only · CPC title