U.S. patent application number 12/556084 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-18 for feedback system for optimizing exposure.
This patent application is currently assigned to SONY CORPORATION and SONY ELECTRONICS. Invention is credited to Rafael Calderon, Robert Hardacker, Steven Richman.
Application Number | 20100289942 12/556084 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43068071 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100289942 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hardacker; Robert ; et
al. |
November 18, 2010 |
FEEDBACK SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING EXPOSURE
Abstract
A processor disposed inside of a display device analyzes the
image received by a camera mounted on the display device to
determine the optimum output intensity of a light source also
mounted on the display device.
Inventors: |
Hardacker; Robert;
(Escondido, CA) ; Calderon; Rafael; (San Diego,
CA) ; Richman; Steven; (San Diego, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROGITZ & ASSOCIATES
750 B STREET, SUITE 3120
SAN DIEGO
CA
92101
US
|
Assignee: |
SONY CORPORATION and SONY
ELECTRONICS
|
Family ID: |
43068071 |
Appl. No.: |
12/556084 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61179304 |
May 18, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/373 ;
348/649; 348/687; 348/739; 348/E5.025; 348/E5.119; 348/E5.133;
348/E9.037 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/147 20130101;
G09G 2320/0626 20130101; G09G 2354/00 20130101; H04N 21/4318
20130101; H04N 21/4223 20130101; G09G 2360/144 20130101; H04N 5/58
20130101; G09G 2320/0666 20130101; G09G 2380/16 20130101; H04N
21/42202 20130101; G09G 2310/0232 20130101; H04N 1/00347 20130101;
H04N 21/41407 20130101; H04N 1/0035 20130101; G09G 2330/022
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/373 ;
348/687; 348/739; 348/649; 348/E05.119; 348/E05.133; 348/E05.025;
348/E09.037 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/225 20060101
H04N005/225; H04N 5/57 20060101 H04N005/57; H04N 5/66 20060101
H04N005/66; H04N 9/64 20060101 H04N009/64 |
Claims
1. System comprising: a video display; a light source associated
with the display for projecting light onto a user of the display
who is facing the display; a camera positioned to image a user
facing the display; and a processor receiving signals from the
camera and responsive thereto establishing an output of the light
source.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor controls the
display.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is mounted on the
display.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is mounted on an
edge of the display.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed
inside a bezel of the display.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor uses colorimetry
information from the camera to establish the output of the light
source.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the output of the light source
established by the processor is brightness.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the output of the light source
established by the processor is color temperature.
9. Method comprising: imaging a user of a video display associated
with a light source illuminating the user; and based on the imaging
act, establishing an indicia of illumination of the light source to
achieve a desired illumination of the user.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the indicia is brightness.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the indicia is color
temperature.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein a processor controls the
display.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein a camera is mounted on the
display to facilitate the imaging act.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the light source is mounted on
an edge of the display.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein the light source is disposed
inside a bezel of the display.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the processor uses colorimetry
information from a camera to establish the output of the light
source.
17. System comprising: a video display; a light source projecting
light onto a user of the display who is facing the display; an
imager positioned to image a user facing the display; and a
processor receiving signals from the imager and responsive thereto
establishing an output hue, and/or a brightness, of the light
source.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the imager is mounted on the
display.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein the light source is mounted on
an edge of the display.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein the light source is disposed
inside a bezel of the display.
Description
[0001] This claims priority from U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 61/179,304, filed May 18, 2009.
[0002] I. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates a feedback system implemented
into a display device involving a mounted light source whose
brightness is controlled by a mounted camera sending information to
a processor within the display device.
[0004] II. Background of the Invention
[0005] Methods of communication have evolved over centuries to its
present state of efficiency and affordability. The prior art
includes communication devices that allow two (or more) parties to
speak in real time and observe each other via cameras and display
screens. Sound and picture information may be sent over the
internet or wirelessly, i.e. via wireless communication devices
utilizing radio signals gathered by antennas on the receiving
end.
[0006] Lighting determines the contrast and hence quality of a
picture or video captured by a camera. Exceedingly bright light
results in overexposure and poor image quality, sometimes known as
whiteout. Conversely, an insufficient amount of light underexposes
the image resulting in a dark image. To date, no prior art has
proposed a method of automatically controlling picture
exposure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention aims to control picture exposure by
means of a feedback system. A processor within the display device
uses colorimetry to analyze a picture captured by a camera in real
time and control the intensity of light being outputted by a light
source mounted on or within the display device. This ensures proper
exposure and optimum picture quality being captured by the
camera.
[0008] Accordingly, in one aspect a system includes a video
display, a light source associated with the display for projecting
light onto a user of the display who is facing the display, and a
camera positioned to image a user facing the display. A processor
that may control the display receives signals from the camera and
responsive thereto establishes an output of the light source.
[0009] The camera may be mounted on the display whereas the light
source may be mounted on an edge of the display or inside a bezel
of the display. The processor can use colorimetry information from
the camera to establish the output of the light source, which
output may be, e.g., brightness and/or color temperature.
[0010] In another aspect, a method includes imaging a user of a
video display associated with a light source illuminating the user,
and based on the imaging act, establishing an indicia of
illumination of the light source to achieve a desired illumination
of the user.
[0011] In another aspect, a system has a video display, a light
source projecting light onto a user of the display who is facing
the display, and an imager positioned to image a user facing the
display. A processor receives signals from the imager and
responsive thereto establishes an output hue, and/or a brightness,
of the light source.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device, showing
interior components systematically,
[0013] FIG. 2 is an anterior view of a display device illustrating
possible camera and light source configuration.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of a display device (exterior shell is
shown to be transparent) and its user to illustrate the arrangement
of the system including camera and light source.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a display device 10 includes
a video display screen 12 and bezel casing 14. The display device
may be, but is not limited to, a computer laptop or TV. The display
screen 12 may be an LCD display or any other mode of display
screen. The bezel 14 may be comprised of plastic; however it is not
limited to a plastic medium. Interior components are shown and
include a tuner 16, medium 18, and microprocessor 20. These
internal constituents are shown to present functioning aspects of
the display device, however are not limited to the tuner 16, medium
18, and processor 20. The processor 20 controls the output of an
image presented on the display screen.
[0016] Moving in reference to FIG. 2, an anterior perspective of
the display device 10 is shown with a front view of the display
screen 12 and bezel casing 14. A camera 22 is mounted on the bezel
14 in a forward facing position enabling image capture of objects,
particularly the display device user, in front of the display
device 10. The camera 22 may comprise a casing of various shapes
and mediums and its mounting configuration in relation to the
display device 10 is not limited to that which is shown. A light
source 24 is shown to be mounted on the bezel 14 in the upper right
hand corner of the display device 10.
[0017] The light source 24 may be mounted on the edge of the
display device 10 or disposed within the bezel 14. Various light
intensities are capable of being outputted by the light source 24.
Further, the light source 24 is turned on when the camera 22 is
activated and may be, but is not limited to, white LED lights
suitable for human colorimetry.
[0018] Another variation of the light source 24 could employ
different color LEDs with independent control to optimize not only
the lumen level, but also the color temperature of the lighting
source and hence the person. In such an embodiment the hue is
effectively controlled by controlling the illumination of red,
green and blue LEDs in the light source.
[0019] Now referring to FIG. 3, a side view of the display device
10 and a display device user 26 is shown to illustrate a two
dimensional perspective of the user 26 being in front of the
display device 10. The bezel 14 is shown to be transparent (dotted
lines) to enable viewing of internal components including the tuner
16, medium 18, and processor 20. The camera 22 and light source 24
are also shown in a configuration similar to that of FIG. 2. The
light source 24 illuminates the face of the user 26.
[0020] In addition to controlling the picture imaged on the display
screen, the processor 20 receives signals from the camera 22 and
responds by varying the light intensity, or brightness, and/or the
color temperature of the light being outputted by the light source
24 to optimize, from a colorimetry standpoint, the image captured
by the camera. The processor 20 uses colorimetry to analyze the
amount of illumination on the face of the user 26 from the camera
22 and determine the output of the light source 24 in terms of
brightness. The dotted lines with arrows demonstrate the light
waves leaving the light source 24, bouncing of the face of the user
26, and being received by the camera 22.
[0021] Furthermore, relatively inexpensive cameras may be used that
do not necessarily reproduce color or brightness accurately, since
the lighting of the light source may be adjusted to compensate.
* * * * *