Techniques for improving photograph quality for fouled lens or sensor situations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020084389-A1
Application number	US-201816127880-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 11, 2018
Priority date	Sep 11, 2018
Publication date	Mar 12, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A photograph is processed using signal processing or image comparison to determine whether a smudge or speck of dust on the lens or sensor appears in the photograph. If it does, an alert is generated on the imaging device so that the user is made aware and can take immediate corrective action, e.g. clean the lens or sensor, and/or allow the camera to remove the effects of the smudge or dust automatically.

First claim

1 . An assembly, comprising:
a housing; at least one processor in the housing; at least one imager supported on the housing and configured to communicate with the processor; at least one computer storage in the housing and comprising instructions executable by the processor to: render a first photograph; determine whether the first photograph has an anomaly caused by debris on a lens or sensor; responsive to the first photograph comprising an anomaly caused by debris on a lens or sensor, generate a first signal to cause an alert to be presented on the assembly, or to eliminate the anomaly automatically without user intervention, or to cause an alert to be presented on the assembly and to eliminate the anomaly automatically without user intervention; and wherein the alert is a first alert and the instructions are executable to: responsive to the first photograph not comprising the anomaly, generate a second signal to cause a second alert to be presented on the assembly, the second alert being different from the first alert.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to:
responsive to the first photograph comprising the anomaly, generate a first signal to cause an alert to be presented on the assembly.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to:
responsive to the first photograph comprising the anomaly, generate a first signal to cause a second photograph to be rendered automatically without user intervention.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to:
responsive to the first photograph comprising the anomaly, generate a first signal to cause an alert to be presented on the assembly and to cause a second photograph to be rendered automatically without user intervention.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first photograph is rendered responsive to actuation of a shutter associated with the imager.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the alert comprises at least one of the following: an audible alert, a visible alert, an audible alert and a visible alert.

7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly also includes a display, and responsive to the first photograph comprising an anomaly, the user is shown in the user interface on display where the debris is located on the camera.

8 . (canceled)

9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to:
determine whether the first photograph comprises the anomaly using image recognition including comparing the first photograph to at least one image captured prior to generating the first photograph.

10 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein determining whether the first photograph includes the anomaly is executed by a server receiving the first photograph.

11 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein determining whether the first photograph includes the anomaly is executed by the processor of the assembly.

12 . A computer storage device that is not a transitory signal and that comprises instructions executable by at least one processor to:
present on at least one computer display at least one user interface (UI) comprising: at least a first selector selectable to cause an imaging device to present a first alert responsive to a first photograph taken by the imaging device being determined to include an image of a smudge or other object on a lens of the imaging device; at least a second selector selectable to cause the imaging device to automatically take a second photograph responsive to the first photograph being determined to include an image of a smudge or other object on a lens of the imaging device; and at least a third selector selectable to cause the imaging device not to generate the first alert or take the second photograph responsive to the first photograph being determined to include an image of a smudge or other object on a lens of the imaging device.

13 . The compute storage device of claim 12 , wherein the UI comprises at least a third selector selectable to cause the imaging device to both present the first alert and take the second photograph responsive to the first photograph being determined to include an image of a smudge or other object on a lens of the imaging device.

14 . (canceled)

15 . The computer storage device of claim 12 , wherein the UI comprises at least a fourth selector selectable to cause the imaging device to generate a second alert responsive to the first photograph being determined to include an image of a smudge or other object on a lens of the imaging device.

16 . A method, comprising:
receiving a first photograph from an imaging device imager; determining whether the first photograph is fouled at least in part by using image recognition including comparing the first photograph to at least one image captured prior to generating the first photograph; responsive to the first photograph being fouled, generating a first signal to cause an alert to be presented on the assembly, or causing a second photograph to be rendered automatically without user intervention, or causing an alert to be presented on the assembly and causing a second photograph to be rendered automatically without user intervention.

17 . The method of claim 16 , comprising:
responsive to the first photograph being fouled, generating a first signal to cause an alert to be presented on the assembly.

18 . The method of claim 16 , comprising:
responsive to the first photograph being fouled, generating a first signal to cause a second photograph to be rendered automatically without user intervention.

19 . The method of claim 16 , comprising:
responsive to the first photograph being fouled, generating a first signal to cause an alert to be presented on the assembly and causing a second photograph to be rendered automatically without user intervention.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the alert is a first alert and the method comprises:
responsive to the first photograph not being fouled, generate a second alert different from the first alert.

Assignees

• Sony Corp

Inventors

• Candelore Brant

Classifications

• H04N5/2171

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/232933 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/23229

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/22521

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N23/634

  Warning indications · CPC title