Skin Imaging Brightness Control Under Variable External Light

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices struggle to capture accurate skin images for analysis due to varying brightness levels caused by external lighting conditions, which are not under device control, leading to inconsistent image quality and analysis accuracy.

Innovation Solution

The device includes a camera and a light source, controlled by a processor that adjusts capture and output parameters based on identified brightness to recapture images, ensuring uniform image quality for accurate skin analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the camera captures skin images under external lighting conditions, then the device can operate in various home lighting environments, but the image brightness varies due to uncontrollable external light, leading to insufficient or excessive light detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation in various lighting environmentsVSAvoidimage brightness consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a controllable light source as an intermediary to compensate for external lighting variations. The light source emits controlled illumination that works together with external light to ensure consistent skin image brightness, allowing the device to adapt to various lighting environments while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The processor dynamically adjusts capture control parameters (exposure time, ISO sensitivity, aperture) based on detected external lighting conditions and skin image brightness. By changing these parameters in real-time, the system maintains consistent image quality across different lighting environments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the camera uses fixed capture parameters, then the device complexity is reduced, but the image brightness cannot be standardized across different users with varying skin features

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapture parameter controlVSAvoidskin analysis accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback loop where the processor detects the brightness of captured skin images and automatically adjusts capture control parameters accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that image brightness is standardized across different users with varying skin features, improving skin analysis accuracy without requiring complex manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The capture control parameters are made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing real-time adjustment based on detected skin image brightness. The processor modifies exposure time, ISO, and other parameters dynamically to maintain optimal imaging conditions for each user, balancing device complexity with measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the light source output is not adjusted, then the device structure is simpler, but the image brightness varies due to differences in light absorption and reflection across users with different skin colors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight source controlVSAvoidimage brightness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The processor uses feedback from skin image brightness detection to automatically adjust light source output parameters. By monitoring the actual brightness of captured images and comparing it with target values, the system dynamically controls light source intensity to compensate for varying light absorption and reflection properties of different skin types, ensuring uniform image brightness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The light source output parameters (intensity, color temperature) are dynamically changed based on detected skin image characteristics and user skin features. This allows the system to adapt the lighting conditions to match the specific requirements of different users, improving image brightness uniformity across diverse skin types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables the capture of skin images unaffected by external light, ensuring consistent image quality and accurate skin analysis.

Implementation Method 1

at least one light source... controlling the at least one camera to capture a user image... identifying a brightness of a facial skin image from the user image

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

the quantity of light the image sensor may detect is excessive or insufficient... identifying a brightness of a facial skin image from the user image

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3917385B1Electronic device obtaining skin image and method of controlling the same
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3917385B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3917385B1 patent drawingFigure 1b~1c
  • EP3917385B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b

AI summary

Disclosed are an electronic device obtaining skin images and a method of controlling the same. According to an embodiment, an electronic device comprises at least one camera, at least one light source, and at least one processor configured to control the at least one camera to capture a user image, identify a brightness of a facial skin image from the user image, determine at least one of a capture control parameter of the at least one camera and an output control parameter of the at least one light source, based on the identified brightness, and control the at least one camera to recapture the user image according to the at least one of the determined capture control parameter and the determined output control parameter of the light source.