Exposure level control method and apparatus, and computer usable medium storing software for implementing the method

Abstract

The present application provides a method for controlling the exposure level of a digital zoom image contained in a wide-angle image, the method comprising acquiring first statistical data related to the brightness level of the digital zoom image and second statistical data related to the brightness level of the wide-angle image, using the first statistical data and the second statistical data to infer whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated; and determining a final exposure level of the digital zoom image based on the inference result.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application generally relates to the field of image processing, and more particularly, to an exposure level control method and apparatus, and a computer-usable medium storing software for implementing the method. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, color imaging devices have been developed and widely used in devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, etc. The exposure level of a color imaging device is controlled based on the statistics of the image that the camera can see.

[0003] The color imaging device may have one camera unit with a digital zoom function, or two or more camera units, one of which is a wide-angle camera and the other is a telescopic camera.

[0004] When the color imaging device has one camera unit, the camera can capture a wide-angle image including a black object and other bright objects, and can also capture a digital zoom image of only the black object. When the color imaging device has two or more cameras, one camera can capture a wide-angle image including a black object and other bright objects, and the other camera can capture a telescopic image including only the black object.

[0005] The wide-angle camera can see not only black objects (e.g., brightness level = 60, between 0 and 255), but also bright objects (e.g., maximum brightness level = 125), so the wide-angle camera can determine that the object is black and the shooting conditions are not dark. The color imaging device can properly control the exposure level and the camera unit displays a "black" object (brightness level = 60).

[0006] The difference is that a digital zoom camera or retractable camera only sees a black object. The camera cannot determine whether the object is black or the shooting conditions are dark.

[0007] Therefore, the color imaging device cannot properly control the exposure level and change the exposure level from the actual level (brightness level = 60) to a brighter level (brightness level = 120). The camera unit cannot display a "black" object but displays an almost "gray" object.

[0008] As another example, when the color imaging device has one camera unit (wide-angle camera), the wide-angle camera can capture an image including a white object (brightness level = 216) and other dark objects (maximum brightness level = 170), and can also capture a digital zoom image including only the white object. When the color imaging device has two or more camera units, one camera can capture a wide-angle image including a white object and other dark objects, and the other camera can capture a zoom image of only the white object.

[0009] Since the wide-angle camera can see both white objects and other dark objects, the color imaging device can determine that the object is white and the shooting conditions are not bright. The color imaging device can properly control the exposure level and the camera unit properly displays the "white" object (brightness level = 216).

[0010] The difference is that a digital zoom or retractable camera can only see white objects. A color imaging device cannot determine whether the object is white or the shooting conditions are bright.

[0011] Therefore, the color imaging device cannot properly control the exposure level, changing the exposure level from the actual level (brightness level = 216) to a darker level (brightness level = 170). The camera unit fails to display a "white" object (brightness level = 216) and displays an almost "gray" object (brightness level = 170). Summary of the invention

[0012] The present application aims to solve the above technical problems. Therefore, the present application needs to provide an exposure level control method and device, and a computer-usable medium storing software for implementing the method.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present application, a method for controlling the exposure level of a digital zoom image contained in a wide-angle image includes:

[0014] acquiring first statistical data related to the brightness level of the digital zoom image and second statistical data related to the brightness level of the wide-angle image;

[0015] inferring whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated using the first statistical data and the second statistical data; and

[0016] A final exposure level of the digitally zoomed image is determined based on the extrapolated results.

[0017] In some embodiments, when inferring whether the exposure level of a digital zoom image should be compensated, the first statistical data and the second statistical data can be used to infer whether the object in the digital zoom image is black or the shooting condition is dark, or to infer whether the object is white or the shooting condition is bright.

[0018] In some embodiments, when inferring whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, the exposure level difference between the first statistical data and the second statistical data is calculated. When the exposure level difference is less than a preset value, it can be determined whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated.

[0019] In some embodiments, when determining whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, the first statistical data and the second statistical data may be blended using a blending ratio, where the value of the blending ratio varies with the exposure level difference.

[0020] In some implementations, when determining whether the exposure level of a digitally zoomed image should be compensated, the first statistical data may be blended with the second statistical data using the following formula:

[0021] Exposure_zoomed_final=Exposure_wide×Blend_ratio+Exposure_zoomed×(1–Blend_ratio)

[0022] Among them, Exposure_zoomed_final is the final exposure level of the digital zoom image;

[0023] Exposure_wide is the exposure level of the wide-angle image;

[0024] Exposure_zoomed is the exposure level of the digitally zoomed image; and

[0025] Blend_ratio is the blending ratio.

[0026] According to one aspect of the present application, a method for controlling the exposure level of a zoomed image from a retractable camera device comprises:

[0027] acquiring first statistical data related to a brightness level in a region corresponding to the zoomed image contained in the wide-angle image, and second statistical data related to a brightness level in the wide-angle image;

[0028] using the first statistical data and the second statistical data, inferring whether the exposure level of the scaled image should be compensated; and

[0029] A final exposure level of the scaled image is determined based on the extrapolated results.

[0030] In some embodiments, when inferring whether the exposure level of the scaled image should be compensated, the first and second statistical data may be used to infer whether the object is black or the shooting condition is dark, or whether the object is white or the shooting condition is bright.

[0031] In some embodiments, when inferring whether the exposure level of the zoomed image should be compensated, the exposure level difference between the first statistical data and the second statistical data is calculated, and when the exposure level difference is less than a preset value, it can be determined whether to compensate the exposure level of the zoomed image.

[0032] In some embodiments, when determining whether the exposure level of the scaled image should be compensated, the first statistical data may be blended with the second statistical data using a blending ratio, the value of the blending ratio varying with the exposure level difference.

[0033] In some embodiments, when determining whether the exposure level of the scaled image should be compensated, the first statistical data may be blended with the second statistical data using the following formula:

[0034] Exposure_telescopic_final=Exposure_wide×Blend_ratio+Exposure_telescopic×(1–Blend_ratio)

[0035] Among them, Exposure_telescopic_final is the final exposure level of the zoomed image;

[0036] Exposure_wide is the exposure level of the wide-angle image;

[0037] Exposure_telescopic is the exposure level of the zoomed image; and

[0038] Blend_ratio is the blending ratio.

[0039] According to one aspect of the present application, a device for controlling the exposure level of a digital zoom image contained in a wide-angle image includes:

[0040] at least one camera unit with a digital zoom function, configured to obtain first statistical data related to a brightness level of the digital zoom image and second statistical data related to a brightness level of the wide-angle image;

[0041] The CPU is configured to input the first statistical data and the second statistical data, infer whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated using the first statistical data and the second statistical data, and determine a final exposure level of the digital zoom image based on the inference result.

[0042] According to one aspect of the present application, a computer-usable medium stores software for causing a computer to implement a method for controlling an exposure level of a digital zoom image contained in a wide-angle image, the method comprising:

[0043] acquiring first statistical data related to the brightness level of the digital zoom image and second statistical data related to the brightness level of the wide-angle image;

[0044] inferring whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated using the first statistical data and the second statistical data; and

[0045] A final exposure level of the digitally zoomed image is determined based on the extrapolated results.

[0046] According to one aspect of the present application, a computer usable medium stores software for a method for controlling an exposure level of a zoomed image from a retractable camera device, the method comprising:

[0047] acquiring first statistical data related to a brightness level in a region corresponding to the zoomed image contained in the wide-angle image, and second statistical data related to a brightness level in the wide-angle image;

[0048] using the first statistical data and the second statistical data, inferring whether the exposure level of the scaled image should be compensated; and

[0049] A final exposure level of the scaled image is determined based on the extrapolated results. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] The above and / or other aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the present application will become apparent and easily understood from the description of the implementation modes in conjunction with the following drawings.

[0051] Figure 1A An image captured by a wide-angle camera containing a black object and other bright objects is shown;

[0052] Figure 1B An image captured by a digital zoom camera or a retractable camera containing only black objects is shown;

[0053] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit structure of an exposure level control device including one camera unit according to a first embodiment of the present application;

[0054] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing a method of controlling an exposure level using one camera unit according to a second embodiment of the present application;

[0055] Figure 4is a block diagram showing a circuit structure of an exposure level control device including two or more camera units according to a third embodiment of the present application;

[0056] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing a method of controlling exposure levels using two or more camera units according to a fourth embodiment of the present application;

[0057] Fig. 6A An image captured by a wide-angle camera containing a dark object and a bright object is shown;

[0058] Figure 6B is an illustrative graph showing statistics regarding brightness levels in an image from a wide angle camera versus the number of pixels having the corresponding brightness levels;

[0059] Figure 6C is an illustrative graph showing statistical data on the relationship between the brightness level and the number of pixels having the corresponding brightness level in an area containing only black objects in an image from a wide-angle camera;

[0060] Fig. 7A An image captured by a digital zoom camera or a retractable camera containing only black objects is shown;

[0061] Figure 7B is an illustrative graph showing statistics regarding brightness levels in an image from a digital zoom camera or a retractable camera versus the number of pixels having the corresponding brightness level;

[0062] Figure 8 An image captured by a wide-angle camera containing a black object and other bright objects is shown;

[0063] Fig. 9 An image captured by a digital zoom camera or a retractable camera containing only black objects is shown;

[0064] Fig.10 It is shown that the "final statistics of the retractable camera" is equal to the "statistics of the wide-angle camera" plus the "statistics of the digital zoom camera or retractable camera";

[0065] Fig.11A An image captured by a wide-angle camera containing bright objects (e.g., outside a window) and dark objects (e.g., inside a room) is shown;

[0066] Fig. 11B is an illustrative graph showing statistics regarding brightness levels in an image from a wide angle camera versus the number of pixels having the corresponding brightness levels;

[0067] Fig. 11Cis an illustrative graph showing statistical data on the relationship between the brightness level in an area corresponding to a zoomed image from a wide-angle camera and the number of pixels having the corresponding brightness level;

[0068] Fig. 12A An image from a wide-angle camera of an area containing only bright objects is shown;

[0069] Fig. 12B An image captured by a digital zoom camera or a retractable camera containing only bright objects is shown;

[0070] Fig. 12C It shows about Fig. 12B An illustrative graph of statistics of brightness levels versus the number of pixels having the corresponding brightness levels in an image containing only bright objects (e.g., outside a window) is shown;

[0071] Fig.13 is a flow chart showing a method for compensating exposure levels of a digital zoom camera or a retractable camera;

[0072] Fig.14 : is an explanatory graph showing a relationship between a blending ratio and an exposure level difference between an exposure level of a wide-angle camera and an exposure level of an area corresponding to a digital zoom image area or a zoom image captured by the wide-angle camera. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings. The same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements or elements with the same or similar functions from beginning to end. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present application, and cannot be understood as limiting the present application.

[0074] As described above, as a comparative example, the camera unit of a conventional color imaging system can capture Figure 1A The wide-angle image shown contains a black object and other bright objects. Figure 1B As shown, the camera unit of the conventional color imaging system may also capture a digital zoom image containing only black objects in the wide-angle image or a zoom image containing only black objects in the wide-angle camera.

[0075] Since a digital zoom camera or a retractable camera can only see a black object, the camera cannot determine whether the object is black or the shooting conditions are dark. Therefore, the color imaging device cannot properly control the exposure level to change the exposure level from the actual level to a brighter level. The automatic exposure function of a conventional camera determines the exposure level of the digital zoom image or the zoomed image based on information from the digital zoom image or the zoomed image.

[0076] The above problems can be solved using information from images taken by a wide angle camera, since the wide angle camera can see more information, not only the black object, but also other bright objects that indicate the shooting conditions.

[0077] The exposure level control method and apparatus described in the following embodiments of the present application and a computer-usable medium storing software for implementing the method solve the above-mentioned problems using information from an image of a wide-angle camera.

[0078] See also Figure 2 According to the first embodiment of the present application, the exposure level control device 10 includes at least one camera unit 11, a central processing unit (CPU) 12, a display unit 13 and a memory 14.

[0079] The camera unit 11 is configured as a wide-angle camera and has a digital zoom function. The camera unit 11 is used to capture a wide-angle image and output image data and statistical data of the wide-angle image. The image captured by the camera unit 11 may include a still image or a moving image. The statistical data may be, for example, data on brightness levels, a relationship between a brightness level and the number of pixels having the corresponding brightness level, or an average value of the brightness levels of all pixels.

[0080] The CPU 12 is used to input image data and statistical data, and determine whether the digital zoom function of the camera unit 11 is used.

[0081] If it is determined that the digital zoom function of the camera unit 11 is used, the CPU 12 uses statistical data to infer whether the object included in the digital zoom image is black or the shooting condition is dark, or whether the object is white or the shooting condition is bright.

[0082] More specifically, as described below, the CPU 12 performs the above-described inference based on the exposure level difference between the statistical data of the wide-angle image and the statistical data of the digital zoom image.

[0083] When the CPU 12 infers that the subject included in the digital zoom image is black / white and the shooting condition is not dark / bright, the CPU 12 compensates the exposure level of the digital zoom image using the statistical data of the wide-angle image.

[0084] When the CPU 12 infers that the subject included in the digital zoom image is not black / white and the shooting condition is dark / bright, the CPU 12 does not compensate the exposure level of the digital zoom image.

[0085] The CPU 12 is used to output image data and an exposure control signal regarding the exposure level of the digital zoom image.

[0086] The display unit 13 is used to input image data and an exposure control signal regarding an exposure level of a digital zoom image, and to display the digital zoom image using the exposure control signal.

[0087] The memory 14 is used to input data to or output data from the CPU 12 , or to input data to or output data from the display unit 13 .

[0088] The exposure level control method according to the second embodiment of the present application includes the following steps: Figure 3 The flow chart shown is shown.

[0089] Step S11 , when capturing a wide-angle image and a digital zoom image included in the wide-angle image, obtaining statistical data of the wide-angle image and the digital zoom image.

[0090] Step S12, inferring whether the object included in the digital zoom image is black / white, or whether the shooting condition is dark / bright.

[0091] More specifically, the above inference is performed based on the exposure level difference between the statistical data of the wide-angle image and the statistical data of the digital zoom image.

[0092] When it is inferred that the subject included in the digital zoom image is black / white and the shooting condition is not dark / bright, the exposure level of the digital zoom image is compensated using statistical data of the wide-angle image.

[0093] When it is inferred that the subject included in the digital zoom image is not black / white and the shooting condition is dark / bright, the exposure level of the digital zoom image is not compensated.

[0094] In step S13, the final exposure level of the digital zoom image is determined based on the inference result.

[0095] See also Figure 4 According to the third embodiment of the present application, the exposure level control device 2 includes at least two camera units, namely, a camera unit 21 - 1 and a camera unit 21 - 2 , a CPU 22 , a display unit 23 and a memory 24 .

[0096] The camera unit 21-1 is set to wide angle, and the camera unit 21-2 is set to be retractable. The camera unit 21-1 is used to capture a wide angle image, output image data and statistical data of the wide angle image. The camera unit 21-2 is used to capture a zoom image, output image data and statistical data of the zoom image. The image captured by the camera unit 21-1 can be a still image or a moving image, and the image captured by the camera unit 21-2 can be a still image or a moving image.

[0097] The CPU 22 is used to infer whether the object included in the zoomed image is black / white or the shooting condition is dark / bright using statistical data.

[0098] More specifically, as described below, the CPU performs the above inference based on the exposure level difference between the statistical data of the wide-angle image and the statistical data of the area in the wide-angle image corresponding to the zoomed image.

[0099] When the CPU 22 infers that the subject included in the digital zoom image is black / white and the shooting condition is not dark / bright, the CPU 22 compensates the exposure level of the digital zoom image using the statistical data of the wide-angle image.

[0100] When the CPU 22 infers that the subject included in the digital zoom image is not black / white and the shooting condition is dark / bright, the CPU 22 does not compensate the exposure level of the digital zoom image.

[0101] The CPU 22 is used to output image data and an exposure control signal regarding the exposure level of the scaled image.

[0102] The display unit 23 is used to input image data and an exposure control signal, and use the exposure control signal to display a zoomed image.

[0103] The memory 24 is used to input data to or output data from the CPU 22 , or to input data to or output data from the display unit 23 .

[0104] According to a fourth embodiment of the present application, the exposure level control method includes: Figure 5 The following steps of the flowchart are shown.

[0105] S21, setting at least one camera (first camera) to a wide angle, and setting at least one camera (second camera) to be retractable.

[0106] S22, acquiring statistical data of a wide-angle image from a wide-angle camera (first camera) and statistical data of an area in the wide-angle image corresponding to the zoomed image.

[0107] S23, using statistical data to infer whether the zoomed image contains an object that is black / white or a shooting condition that is dark / bright.

[0108] More specifically, the above inference is performed based on the exposure level difference between the statistical data of the entire wide-angle image and the statistical data of the area in the wide-angle image corresponding to the zoomed image.

[0109] When the object is inferred to be black / white and the shooting condition is inferred to be other than dark / bright, the exposure level of the zoomed image from the retractable camera is compensated using statistical data of the entire wide-angle image.

[0110] When it is inferred that the object is not black / white and the shooting condition is dark / bright, the exposure level of the scaled image is not compensated.

[0111] Step S24: determining a final exposure level of the zoomed image based on the inference result.

[0112] The following describes a method for controlling the exposure level of a digitally zoomed image or a scaled image.

[0113] Fig. 6A A wide angle image captured by a wide angle camera (camera unit 11 or camera unit 21-1) is shown. The black object and other bright objects are within the field of view of the wide angle camera.

[0114] Figure 6B is an illustrative graph showing statistical data (average value = 125), namely showing the relationship between the brightness level in the wide-angle image from the wide-angle camera and the number of pixels having the corresponding brightness level, Figure 6C is an illustrative graph showing statistical data (average value = 60), i.e., showing the relationship between the brightness level in an area corresponding to a digital zoom image from a wide-angle camera (camera unit 11) or an area corresponding to a zoomed image from a wide-angle camera (camera unit 21-1) and the number of pixels having the corresponding brightness level.

[0115] Fig. 7A A digital zoom image captured by a wide-angle camera (camera unit 11) or a zoom image captured by a retractable camera (camera unit 21-2) is shown. The digital zoom image or the zoom image contains only black objects. Figure 7B is an illustrative graph showing statistical data (average value = 100) showing the relationship between the brightness level in the digital zoom image from the wide-angle camera (camera unit 11) or the zoomed image from the telescopic camera (camera unit 21-2) and the number of pixels having the corresponding brightness level.

[0116] CPU12 or CPU22 can be used Figure 6B Statistics for the wide-angle image shown, and Figure 6C The statistical data of the area corresponding to the digital zoom image from the wide-angle camera or the area corresponding to the zoom image from the retractable camera is used to infer whether the object contained in the digital zoom image or the zoom image is black or the shooting condition is dark.

[0117] when Figure 6B The statistics of the wide-angle images and Figure 6C When the difference in exposure levels between the statistical data of the area corresponding to the digital zoom image from the wide-angle camera or the area corresponding to the zoom image from the retractable camera is less than a preset value, as shown in FIG. Fig.10 As shown, using a blending ratio, the exposure level (average value = 100) of the digital zoom image from the wide-angle camera or the zoomed image from the retractable camera is added to the statistical data (average value 125) of the entire wide-angle image from the wide-angle camera for compensation.

[0118] As another example, see Fig.11A , a wide-angle image captured by a wide-angle camera (camera unit 11 or camera unit 21 - 1 ) may include bright objects (eg, outside a window) and other dark objects (eg, inside a room).

[0119] Fig. 11B is an illustrative chart showing statistics for an entire wide-angle image from a wide-angle camera.

[0120] Fig. 11C is an illustrative graph showing statistics from a wide angle camera corresponding to an area of ​​a zoomed image.

[0121] Fig. 12A An area showing only a bright subject corresponding to a digital zoom image from the wide-angle camera (camera unit 11 ) or an area showing only a bright subject corresponding to a zoom image from the wide-angle camera (camera unit 21 - 1 ) is shown. Fig. 12A The image shown (average = 200) is too bright so that almost nothing can be seen.

[0122] Fig. 12B A digital zoom image from the wide-angle camera (camera unit 11) showing only bright objects is shown, or a zoom image from the retractable camera (camera unit 21-2) showing only bright objects is shown. The exposure level (average value = 140) of the digital zoom image or the zoom image is appropriate, so Fig. 12B Details of the image shown can be seen.

[0123] Fig. 12C is an explanatory graph showing statistical data of a digital zoom image from the wide-angle camera (camera unit 11 ) or a zoom image from the retractable camera (camera unit 21 - 2 ).

[0124] CPU12 or CPU22 can be used Fig. 11B The statistics of the wide-angle images and Fig. 11CThe statistical data of the area corresponding to the digital zoom image from the wide-angle camera or the area corresponding to the zoom image from the wide-angle camera is used to infer whether the object contained in the digital zoom image or the zoom image is too bright or the shooting environment is too bright.

[0125] if Fig. 11B The wide-angle image statistics shown indicate the exposure level and Fig. 11C If the exposure level difference between the exposure levels indicated by the statistical data of the area corresponding to the digital zoom image from the wide-angle camera or the area corresponding to the zoom image from the wide-angle camera is equal to or greater than a preset value, the exposure level of the digital zoom image from the wide-angle camera or the zoom image from the telescopic camera (average value = 145) is not compensated as described in detail below.

[0126] See also Fig.13 , compensate the exposure level of the digitally zoomed image or scaled image as described below.

[0127] S31, calculate the exposure level difference (Exposure_diff), that is, as shown in the following formula, the exposure level difference (Exposure_diff) is equal to the exposure level (Exposure_wide) in the wide-angle image minus the absolute value of the exposure level (Exposure_telescopicinwide) of the area corresponding to the digital zoom image captured by the wide-angle camera or the area corresponding to the zoom image captured by the telescopic camera.

[0128] Exposure_diff=|Exposure_wide–Exposure_telescopicinwide|

[0129] like Fig.14 As shown, the blend ratio (Blend_ratio) is determined based on the exposure level difference (Exposure_diff).

[0130] When the exposure level difference is less than the first preset value, the blending ratio is greater than "0" and equal to or less than "1".

[0131] When the exposure level difference is between the first preset value and the second preset value, the blending ratio becomes smaller.

[0132] When the exposure level difference is equal to or greater than the second preset value, the blending ratio is "0".

[0133] S32, using a blending ratio (Blend_ratio), blending the exposure level (Exposure_wide) of the wide-angle image from the wide-angle camera with the exposure level (Exposure_telescopicinwide) of the digital zoom image from the wide-angle camera or the zoom image from the retractable camera to obtain an exposure amount (exposure_telescope_final) of the digital zoom image or the zoom image, as shown in the following formula:

[0134] Exposure_telescopic_final=Exposure_wide×Blend_ratio+Exposure_telescopicinwide×(1–Blend_ratio)

[0135] The computer-usable medium according to the fifth embodiment of the present application is a medium storing software for causing a computer to implement the above-mentioned exposure level control method, which includes the above-mentioned Figure 3 In addition, the computer-usable medium according to the sixth embodiment of the present application is a medium storing software for enabling a computer to implement the above-mentioned exposure level control method, which includes the above-mentioned Figure 5 Steps shown.

[0136] According to the present application, the exposure level of a digital zoom image or a scaled image can be appropriately controlled.

[0137] For example, when a digital zoom image is completely occupied by a black / white object and is not captured under dark / bright conditions, the object may appear appropriately as a completely black / white object.

[0138] Furthermore, as another example, when a digitally zoomed image is occupied only by a bright object (eg, outside a window) and is not captured under dark conditions, the object may be appropriately displayed to show image detail.

[0139] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc. indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These related terms are only for the convenience of describing the present application, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or must be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the above terms should not be understood as limiting the present application.

[0140] In addition, terms such as "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes in this document and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance, or to indicate the number of technical features. Therefore, features defined as "first" and "second" may include one or more of such features. In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly stated, "plurality" means two or more.

[0141] In the description of the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified or limited, terms such as "installation", "connection", "coupling" and the like should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal connection of two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0142] In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise clearly stated or limited, the structure of a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, and may also include an embodiment in which the first feature and the second feature are not in direct contact with each other but are in contact through an additional feature formed between them. In addition, a first feature being "above", "on top" or "on top" of a second feature may include the following embodiments: the first feature is orthogonally or obliquely "above", "on top" or "on top" of the second feature, or simply means that the height of the first feature is higher than the height of the second feature; and a first feature being "below", "below" or "bottom" of the second feature may include the following embodiments: the first feature is orthogonally or obliquely "below", "below" or "bottom" of the second feature, or simply means that the height of the first feature is lower than the height of the second feature.

[0143] Various embodiments and examples are provided in the above description to realize different structures of the present application. In order to simplify the present application, certain elements and settings are described above. However, these elements and settings are only used as examples and are not intended to limit the present application. In addition, in different examples of the present application, figure numerals and / or reference letters may be repeated. This repetition is for the purpose of simplification and clarity, rather than referring to the relationship between different embodiments and / or settings. In addition, examples of different processes and materials are provided in the present application. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other processes and / or materials may also be applied.

[0144] References throughout the specification to "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "an exemplary embodiment," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples" mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. Therefore, the appearance of the above phrases throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example of the present application. In addition, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0145] Any process or method described in a flowchart or otherwise described herein may be understood as including one or more modules, code segments, or partial codes of executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process, and the scope of the preferred embodiments of the present application includes other implementations. Those skilled in the art should understand that these functions may be implemented in an order different from that shown or discussed, including in substantially the same order or in reverse order.

[0146] The logic and / or steps described in other ways or shown in the flowchart of the present application, for example, a specific executable instruction sequence list for implementing the logical function, can be specifically implemented in any computer-readable medium (such as a computer-based system, a system including a processor, or other system capable of obtaining instructions from the instruction execution system, device and device that executes the instructions) to be used by the instruction execution system, device or device, or used in combination with the instruction execution system, device and device. For the purpose of this specification, "computer-readable medium" can be any device suitable for containing, storing, communicating, propagating or transmitting programs for use by the instruction execution system, device or device or used in combination with the instruction execution system, device or device. More specific examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to: electronic connections with one or more wires (electronic devices), portable computer accessories (magnetic devices), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), fiber optic devices, and portable compact disk read-only memory (CDROM). In addition, the computer-readable medium may even be paper or other suitable medium on which the program can be printed. For example, the paper or other suitable medium may be optically scanned and then edited, decrypted or processed by other suitable methods if necessary to obtain the program electronically, and then the program may be stored in a computer memory.

[0147] It should be understood that the various parts of the present application can be implemented by hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. In the above embodiments, multiple steps or methods can be implemented by software or firmware stored in a memory and executed by an appropriate instruction execution system. For example, if implemented by hardware, in another embodiment, these steps or methods can be implemented by one or a combination of the following technologies known in the art: a discrete logic circuit with a logic gate circuit for implementing the logic function of a data signal, a dedicated integrated circuit with an appropriate combination of logic gate circuits, a programmable gate array (PGA) and a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

[0148] Those skilled in the art should understand that all or part of the steps in the above-mentioned exemplary method of the present application can be implemented by program instruction related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the program includes one or more steps in the method implementation of the present application when it is run on a computer.

[0149] In addition, the various functional units of the embodiments of the present application can be integrated into a processing module, or these units can be separate physical existences, or two or more units are integrated into a processing module. The integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware, or it can be implemented in the form of a software functional module. When the integrated module is implemented in the form of a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, the integrated module can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0150] The above storage medium may be a read-only memory, a disk, a CD, etc.

[0151] Although embodiments of the present application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these embodiments are illustrative and cannot be construed as limiting the present application, and that changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the exposure level of a digital zoom image contained in a wide-angle image, characterized in that: include: Acquire first statistical data related to the brightness level of the digital zoom image and second statistical data related to the brightness level of the wide-angle image; inferring whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated using the first statistical data and the second statistical data, wherein when inferring whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, calculating the exposure level difference between the first statistical data and the second statistical data, and determining that the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated when the exposure level difference is less than a preset value; as well as A final exposure level of the digitally zoomed image is determined based on the inference result.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: When inferring whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, the first statistical data and the second statistical data are used to infer whether the object in the digital zoom image is black or the shooting condition is dark, or to infer whether the object is white or the shooting condition is bright.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: When it is determined that the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, the first statistical data is blended with the second statistical data using a blending ratio, the value of the blending ratio varying with the exposure level difference.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: When determining that the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, the first statistical data is blended with the second statistical data using the following formula: Exposure_zoomed_final=Exposure_wide×Blend_ratio + Exposure_zoomed × (1– Blend_ratio) Wherein, Exposure_zoomed_final is the final exposure level of the digital zoom image; Exposure_wide is the exposure level of the wide-angle image; Exposure_zoomed is the exposure level of the digital zoom image; and Blend_ratio is the blending ratio.

5. A method for controlling the exposure level of a zoomed image from a retractable camera, characterized in that include: acquiring first statistical data related to a brightness level in a region corresponding to the zoomed image and contained in a wide-angle image, and second statistical data related to a brightness level in the wide-angle image; Inferring whether the exposure level of the zoomed image should be compensated using the first statistical data and the second statistical data, wherein when inferring whether the exposure level of the zoomed image should be compensated, calculating an exposure level difference between the first statistical data and the second statistical data, and determining to compensate the exposure level of the zoomed image when the exposure level difference is less than a preset value; as well as A final exposure level of the zoomed image is determined based on the inference result.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that In inferring whether the exposure level of the zoomed image should be compensated, the first statistical data and the second statistical data are used to infer whether the object is black or the shooting condition is dark, or to infer whether the object is white or the shooting condition is bright.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that When it is determined that the exposure level of the scaled image should be compensated, the first statistical data is blended with the second statistical data using a blending ratio whose value varies with an exposure level difference.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that When determining that the exposure level of the scaled image should be compensated, the first statistical data is blended with the second statistical data using the following formula: Exposure_telescopic_final = Exposure_wide×Blend_ratio + Exposure_telescopic×(1 – Blend_ratio) Wherein, Exposure_telescopic_final is the final exposure level of the zoomed image; Exposure_wide is the exposure level of the wide-angle image; Exposure_telescopic is the exposure level of the zoomed image; and Blend_ratio is the blending ratio.

9. A device for controlling the exposure level of a digital zoom image contained in a wide-angle image, characterized in that: include: at least one camera unit with a digital zoom function, configured to obtain first statistical data related to a brightness level of the digital zoom image and second statistical data related to a brightness level of the wide-angle image; A CPU is used to input the first statistical data and the second statistical data to use the first statistical data and the second statistical data to infer whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, wherein when inferring whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, the exposure level difference between the first statistical data and the second statistical data is calculated, and when the exposure level difference is less than a preset value, it is determined that the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, and the final exposure level of the digital zoom image is determined based on the inference result.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that When the CPU infers whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, the CPU uses the first statistical data and the second statistical data to infer whether the object in the digital zoom image is black or the shooting condition is dark, or to infer whether the object is white or the shooting condition is bright.

11. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that When the CPU determines that the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, the first statistical data is blended with the second statistical data by using a blending ratio whose value varies with an exposure level difference.

12. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that When the CPU determines that the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, the first statistical data is blended with the second statistical data using the following formula: Exposure_zoomed_final = Exposure_wide×Blend_ratio + Exposure_zoomed×(1– Blend_ratio) Wherein, Exposure_zoomed_final is the final exposure level of the digital zoom image; Exposure_wide is the exposure level of the wide-angle image; Exposure_zoomed is the exposure level of the digital zoom image; and Blend_ratio is the blending ratio.

13. An apparatus for controlling the exposure level of a zoomed image from a retractable camera, characterized in that include: at least one first camera unit for acquiring first statistical data related to brightness levels in a region contained in a wide-angle image corresponding to the zoomed image, and second statistical data related to brightness levels in the wide-angle image; at least one second camera unit for acquiring third statistics related to brightness levels in the zoomed image; as well as A CPU is used to input first statistical data and second statistical data to use the first statistical data and the second statistical data to infer whether the exposure level of the zoomed image should be compensated, wherein when inferring whether the exposure level of the zoomed image should be compensated, the exposure level difference between the first statistical data and the second statistical data is calculated, and when the exposure level difference is less than a preset value, it is determined to compensate for the exposure level of the zoomed image, and the final exposure level of the zoomed image is determined based on the inference result.

14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that When the CPU infers whether the exposure level of the zoomed image should be compensated, the CPU uses the first statistical data and the second statistical data to infer whether the object in the zoomed image is black or the shooting condition is dark, or to infer whether the object is white or the shooting condition is bright.

15. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that When the CPU determines that the exposure level of the zoomed image should be compensated, the first statistical data is blended with the second statistical data using a blending ratio whose value varies with an exposure level difference.

16. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that When the CPU determines that the exposure level of the scaled image should be compensated, the first statistical data is blended with the second statistical data using the following formula: Exposure_telescopic_final = Exposure_wide×Blend_ratio + Exposure_telescopic×(1 – Blend_ratio) Wherein, Exposure_telescopic_final is the final exposure level of the zoomed image; Exposure_wide is the exposure level of the wide-angle image; Exposure_telescopic is the exposure level of the zoomed image; and Blend_ratio is the blending ratio.

17. A computer usable medium, characterized in that The computer usable medium stores software for causing a computer to implement a method for controlling the exposure level of a digital zoom image contained in a wide angle image, the method comprising: Acquire first statistical data related to the brightness level of the digital zoom image and second statistical data related to the brightness level of the wide-angle image; inferring whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated using the first statistical data and the second statistical data, wherein, when inferring whether the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated, calculating the exposure level difference between the first statistical data and the second statistical data, and when the exposure level difference is less than a preset value, determining that the exposure level of the digital zoom image should be compensated; and A final exposure level of the digitally zoomed image is determined based on the inference result.

18. A computer usable medium, characterized in that The computer usable medium stores software for causing a computer to implement a method for controlling an exposure level of a zoomed image from a retractable camera, the method comprising: acquiring first statistical data related to a brightness level in an area corresponding to the zoomed image and contained in a wide-angle image, and second statistical data related to a brightness level in the wide-angle image, wherein, when inferring whether the exposure level of the zoomed image should be compensated, an exposure level difference between the first statistical data and the second statistical data is calculated, and when the exposure level difference is less than a preset value, it is determined to compensate the exposure level of the zoomed image; using the first statistical data and the second statistical data, inferring whether the exposure level of the scaled image should be compensated; and A final exposure level of the zoomed image is determined based on the inference result.

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