Smart Capture Mode for Reflective Surface Reflections

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image capture technologies fail to effectively minimize disturbances caused by reflective surfaces, such as glasses or helmets, due to reflections from light-emitting displays in electronic devices, which can degrade image quality.

Innovation Solution

A 'smart capture mode' is implemented in electronic devices, utilizing object detection and machine learning algorithms to identify reflective objects and adjust the display's brightness by dimming or turning it off before capturing images, thereby minimizing reflections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the display is oriented toward the subject during image capture, then the user can view the preview and interact with the device, but reflections from the display appear on reflective surfaces in the captured image

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay visibility for previewVSAvoidreflections on reflective surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of reflective objects in the scene before capturing the image. When reflective objects are detected, the display brightness is adjusted in advance (dimmed or turned off) to prevent reflections from appearing in the captured image, while restoring normal brightness after capture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the display brightness parameter based on the presence of reflective objects. The display controller adjusts the brightness level (from normal to dimmed/off) conditioned on the detection results, allowing the system to adapt between visibility needs and reflection prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the display brightness is reduced to minimize reflections, then image quality improves, but the user experience with display content is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereflections in captured imageVSAvoiddisplay content visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display brightness is adjusted only temporarily and specifically at the moment of image capture after detecting reflective objects. The normal brightness is restored immediately after capture, minimizing disruption to the user experience while effectively preventing reflections during the critical capture moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The display brightness adjustment occurs periodically only when needed - specifically triggered by the detection of reflective objects and the initiation of image capture. This on-demand adjustment approach maintains normal display operation for most of the time while preventing reflections when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If object detection algorithms are implemented to identify reflective objects, then reflections can be minimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereflections from reflective objectsVSAvoiddetection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses an intermediary object detection algorithm as a mediator between the display system and the camera capture process. The detector analyzes the preview image to identify reflective objects, enabling the display controller to make informed brightness adjustments without requiring complex direct coordination between other components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach significantly improves image quality by reducing unwanted reflections from light-emitting displays, allowing for optimal capture of images without disrupting the user's experience with other display content.

Implementation Method 1

the light emitted from the display can cause disturbances in the image to be captured

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Implementation Method 2

the disturbance being based on one or more reflections of the display on the one or more reflective objects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11546519B2Intelligent image capture mode for images involving reflective surfaces

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for capturing one or more images include a smart capture mode for detecting one or more reflective objects in an image to be captured by a device, and determining whether a display provided in the device will cause a disturbance when the image is captured, the disturbance based on one or more reflections of the display on the one or more reflective objects. A brightness of the display is adjusted prior to capturing the image based on determining that the display will cause the disturbance, where adjusting the brightness of the display reduces the disturbance in the image when the image is captured. The brightness of the display can be adjusted by dimming or turning off the display. The display can be returned to a previous state upon capturing the image, the previous state being prior to the brightness of the display being adjusted.