Method for creating a camera capture effect from user space in a camera capture system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016266348-A1
Application number	US-201415034090-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 7, 2014
Priority date	Nov 7, 2013
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The various embodiments of the present invention disclose an image processing method and system for capturing a refocusable image set. The method comprises of segmenting a field of view into a plurality of grids, determining a sharpness level associated with each of the plurality of grids, identifying one or more regions based on the determined sharpness level of each of the plurality of grids, each region comprising one or more of the plurality of grids and capturing an image associated with each of the identified one or more regions to form the refocusable image set. The method further comprises of detecting a refocusing action on an object, in the field of view, having an associated illumination level and varying the associated illumination level of the object based on the detection.

First claim

1 . A method of capturing a refocusable image set, the method comprising:
segmenting a field of view into a plurality of grids; determining a sharpness level associated with each of the plurality of grids; identifying one or more regions based on the determined sharpness level of each of the plurality of grids, each region comprising one or more of the plurality of grids; and capturing an image associated with each of the identified one or more regions to form the refocusable image set.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a refocusing action on an object, in the field of view, having an associated illumination level; and varying the associated illumination level of the object based on the detection.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising capturing the refocusable image set in a panoramic mode, wherein each object, associated with the field of view, can be individually focused in the captured refocusable image set in the panoramic mode.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising capturing the refocusable image set in a High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode, wherein each object associated with the field of view, can be individually focused in the captured refocusable image set in the HDR mode.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising capturing the refocusable image set from a plurality of positions to render the captured refocusable image set in a three-dimensional (3-D) mode, wherein each object associated with the field of view, can be individually focused in the captured refocusable image set in the 3-D mode.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the refocusable image set as a one of a BSR file format, a multimedia container format, and an archiving file format with an associated metadata.

7 . A method of capturing a refocusable image set, the method comprising:
segmenting a field of view into a plurality of grids, each grid associated with one or more objects present in the field of view; determining a sharpness level associated with each of the plurality of grids; identifying one or more regions based on the determined sharpness level of each of the plurality of grids, each region comprising one or more of the plurality of grids; and capturing an image associated with each of the identified one or more regions having different sharpness level to form the refocusable image set.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
detecting a refocusing action on an object, in the field of view, having an associated illumination level; and varying the associated illumination level of the object based on the detection.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising capturing the refocusable image set in a panoramic mode, wherein each object, associated with the field of view, can be individually focused in the captured refocusable image set in the panoramic mode.

10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising capturing the refocusable image set in a High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode, wherein each object associated with the field of view, can be individually focused in the captured refocusable image set in the HDR mode.

11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising capturing the refocusable image set from a plurality of positions to render the captured refocusable image set in a three-dimensional (3-D) mode, wherein each object associated with the field of view, can be individually focused in the captured refocusable image set in the 3-D mode.

12 . An imaging apparatus for capturing a refocusable image set, the apparatus comprising:
an image capturing unit adapted for capturing images of a scene of interest; and an image processing unit adapted for: segmenting a field of view into a plurality of grids; determining a sharpness level associated with each of the plurality of grids; identifying one or more regions based on the determined sharpness level of each of the plurality of grids, each region comprising one or more of the plurality of grids; and capturing an image associated with each of the identified one or more regions to form the refocusable image set.

13 . The image processing apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the image processing unit is further adapted for:
detecting a refocusing action on an object, in the field of view, having an associated illumination level; and varying the associated illumination level of the object based on the detection.

14 . The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the image processing unit is further adapted for capturing the refocusable image set in a panoramic mode, wherein each object, associated with the field of view, can be individually focused in the captured refocusable image set in the panoramic mode.

15 . The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the image processing unit is further adapted for:
segmenting the field of view into the plurality of grids, each grid associated with one or more objects present in the field of view; determining the sharpness level associated with each of the plurality of grids; identifying one or more regions based on the determined sharpness level of each of the plurality of grids, each region comprising one or more of the plurality of grids; and capturing an image associated with each of the identified one or more regions to form the refocusable image set.

16 . The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the image processing unit is further adapted for:
detecting a refocusing action on at least one object, in the field of view, having an associated illumination level; and varying the associated illumination level of the object based on the detection.

17 . The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the image processing unit is further adapted for capturing the refocusable image set in a High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode, wherein each object associated with the field of view, can be individually focused in the captured refocusable image set in the HDR mode.

18 . The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising capturing the refocusable image set from a plurality of positions to render the captured refocusable image set in a three-dimensional (3-D) mode, wherein each object associated with the field of view, can be individually focused in the captured refocusable image set in the 3-D mode.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Narayanan Karthik
• Chiranjeevi Bhupala Srivarma
• KIM Gounyoung
• Narayanaswamy Santhosh Kumar Banadakoppa
• Pattanayak Deepanshu

Classifications

• G02B7/36 Primary

  using image sharpness techniques {, e.g. image processing techniques for generating autofocus signals (image data processing per se G06T; in cameras having a solid state image sensor H04N23/67)} · CPC title

• H04N23/951

  by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio · CPC title

• H04N23/741

  by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors · CPC title

• H04N23/698

  for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture · CPC title

• H04N23/673

  based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method · CPC title