METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING GLARE ON A SCREEN OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of digital camera. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and a system for reducing glare on the screen of a digital camera.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Photography has always been a hobby or a profession of many amateur and professional photographers. The skill of capturing an image includes understanding the working of camera, gauging and adjusting the lighting in the vicinity of a subject to be captured. However, even in good light condition, the photographer may face numerous difficulties. For example, photographs of the subject captured, where the subject is standing towards a source of light, results in the image of subject to appear dark due to glare. To overcome the glare effect, the subject may need to be shifted from the direction of the light source, or the angle at which the photo is captured may need to be changed.
[0003] Currently, in an embodiment, a polarizing filter is configured to polarize light emanating from the light source. The polarized light if got reflected can be blocked by another polarizing filter at the camera. Moreover, only a single light source may be blocked at a time. In another embodiment, an actuator is used to selectively move the polarized filter into the path of light. However, the polarization of light is performed for artificial light
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sources. Also, the usage of actuator may cause a black spot on the resulting image. Further, only one light source may be blocked at a time.
[0004] In light of the foregoing discussion there is a need for a method and system for reducing glare on a screen of an electronic device.
SUMMARY
[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide a method and system for reducing glare on a screen of a digital camera.
[0006] An example of a method for reducing glare on a screen of an electronic device includes identifying one or more light sources causing glare on the screen. The method also includes identification and suggestion of one or more areas in a transparent liquid crystal display corresponding to the one or more light sources. The transparent liquid crystal display is placed in front of a lens of the electronic device. Further, the method includes receiving one or more signals indicative of selection of the one or more areas based on the suggesting. Further, the method includes increasing the opaqueness of the selected one or more areas in the transparent liquid crystal display. The opaqueness is directly proportional to the brightness and the opaqueness gradually decreases from the one or more areas to the peripheral of the transparent liquid crystal display. Furthermore, the method includes displaying and capturing a glare reduced image based on the increasing. Furthermore, the method also includes generating a glared reduced video.
[0007] An electronic device for reducing glare on a screen of the electronic device includes a charge coupled device for identifying one or more light sources causing glare on
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a screen. The charge coupled device also captures a glare reduced image. The electronic device also includes a transparent liquid crystal display for reducing the glare in the screen. The transparent liquid crystal display is placed in front of a lens of the electronic device. Further, the electronic device includes a processor for suggesting one or more areas in the transparent liquid crystal display corresponding to the one or more light sources. The processor also receives one or more signals indicative of selection of the one or more areas based on the suggesting. Further, the processor displays a glare reduced image. Further, the electronic device also includes a glare controller for increasing the opaqueness of the selected one or more areas in the transparent liquid crystal display. The opaqueness is gradually decreased from the one or more areas to the peripheral of the transparent liquid crystal display. Further, the electronic device includes a charge coupled device for capturing an image.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0008] The accompanying figures, similar reference numerals may refer to identical or functionally similar elements. These reference numerals are used in the detailed description to illustrate various embodiments and to explain various aspects and advantages of the present disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device, in accordance with which various embodiments can be implemented;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for reducing glare on a screen of an electronic device, in accordance with one embodiment;
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[0011] FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b are exemplary illustrations of reducing glare on a screen, in accordance with one embodiment; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is an example illustrating variation of opaqueness with respect to the intensity of light source in the TLCD screen 400, in accordance with one embodiment.
[0013] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] It should be observed that method steps and system components have been represented by conventional symbols in the figures, showing only specific details that are relevant for an understanding of the present disclosure. Further, details that may be readily apparent to person ordinarily skilled in the art may not have been disclosed. In the present disclosure, relational terms such as first and second, and the like, may be used to distinguish one entity from another entity, without necessarily implying any actual relationship or order between such entities.
[0015] Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide a method and system for reducing glare on a screen of an electronic device.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device 105, in accordance with one embodiment. Examples of the electronic device include, but are not limited to, digital
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camera, video camera, camcorders, webcam in personal computers and laptops, and camera integrated hand held devices. The electronic device 105 includes a bus 110 for communicating information, and a processor 115 coupled with the bus 110 for processing information. The electronic device 105 also includes a memory 120, for example a random access memory (RAM) coupled to the bus 110 for storing information required by the processor 115. The memory 120 can be used for storing temporary information required by the processor 115. The electronic device 105 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 125 coupled to the bus 110 for storing static information required by the processor 115. A storage unit 130, for example a magnetic disk, hard disk or optical disk, can be provided and coupled to bus 110 for storing information.
[0017] The electronic device 105 can be coupled via the bus 110 to a display 135, for example a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD), for displaying information. An input device 140, including various keys, is coupled to the bus 110 for communicating information to the processor 115. In some embodiments, cursor control 145, for example a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, or cursor direction keys for communicating information to the processor 115 and for controlling cursor movement on the display 135 can also be present.
[0018] In one embodiment, the steps of the present disclosure are performed by the electronic device 105 using the processor 115. The information can be read into the memory 120 from a machine-readable medium, for example the storage unit 130. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry can be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement various embodiments.
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[0019] The term machine-readable medium can be defined as a medium providing data to a machine to enable the machine to perform a specific function. The machine-readable medium can be a storage media. Storage media can include non-volatile media and volatile media. The storage unit 130 can be a non-volatile media. The memory 120 can be a volatile media. All such media must be tangible to enable the instructions carried by the media to be detected by a physical mechanism that reads the instructions into the machine.
[0020] Examples of the machine readable medium includes, but are not limited to, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, a CD-ROM, optical disk, punchcards, papertape, a RAM, a PROM, EPROM, and a FLASH-EPROM.
[0021] The machine readable medium can also include online links, download links, and installation links providing the information to the processor 115.
[0022] The electronic device 105 also includes a lens 150 for capturing light sources. Further, the electronic device 105 includes a communication interface 155 coupled to the bus 110 for enabling data communication. Examples of the communication interface 155 include, but are not limited to, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, a modem, a local area network (LAN) card, an infrared port, a Bluetooth port, a zigbee port, and a wireless port.
[0023] Further, the electronic device 105 also includes a charge coupled device (CCD) 160 coupled to the bus 110 for identifying one or more light sources causing glare on a screen. Further, the CCD 175 captures a glared reduced image. Furthermore, the electronic device 105 includes a transparent liquid crystal display (TLCD) 165 coupled to the bus 110 for reducing the glare in the screen.
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[0024] In an embodiment, the display device 135 may act as a touch screen input device. The display device 135 in electronic communication with the communication interface 155, can receive haptic inputs from a user.
[0025] In some embodiments, the processor 115 can include one or more processing units for performing one or more functions of the processor 115. The processing units are hardware circuitry performing specified functions. The one or more functions include suggesting one or more areas in the TLCD 165 corresponding to the one or more light sources, wherein the TLCD 165 is placed in front of a lens of the electronic device 105. The one or more functions also include receiving one or more signals indicative of selection of the one or more areas based on the suggesting and display a glare reduced image based on the increasing. The communication interface 155 may be used for the communication of data from the TLCD 165 to the processor 115.
[0026] The electronic device 105 further includes a glare controller 170 coupled to the bus 110 for increasing the opaqueness of the selected one or more areas in the TLCD 165, wherein the opaqueness is gradually decreased from the one or more areas to the peripheral of the transparent liquid crystal display.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for reducing glare on a screen of an electronic device, in accordance with one embodiment.
[0028] The screen is a display or viewfinder in the electronic device for previewing a photo corresponding to a field of view prior to capturing of the photo. In one embodiment, the display is a transparent liquid crystal display (TLCD).
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[0029] The method starts at step 205.
[0030] At step 210, one or more light sources causing glare on the screen is identified. The light sources cause glare because of a significant ratio of luminance between a subject being looked at and the light source. For example, the photo captured of a person standing towards the light source is glared. The one or more light sources may be identified using a CCD. The identified light sources are displayed on the screen. The identification is performed based on an intensity of the light source. An option for adjusting the intensity, for which the light sources are identified, is provided to the user.
[0031] In an embodiment, the options are pre-defined.
[0032] At step 215, one or more areas in the transparent liquid crystal display (TLCD) corresponding to the one or more light sources are suggested. Here, the transparent TLCD is placed in front of a lens of the electronic device. The suggestion of the one or more areas corresponding to the one or more sources is dependent on the intensity of light sources. The TLCD is used for preventing bright light hitting the lens by varying the opaqueness of the TLCD. In some embodiment, an option is provided to the user to select areas without the suggestion. The user may select the areas by providing input on a touch screen. The input may be the shapes of areas to be selected.
[0033] At step 220, one or more signals indicative of selection of the one or more areas is received. An input is received from the user for selecting the one or more areas. Further, the one or more areas may be resized by the user.
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[0034] In one embodiment, a user may provide the input for creating an area corresponding to the one or more light sources, on the screen enabled for receiving touch input.
[0035] In another embodiment, the user may provide the input for creating the area using a joystick, one or more switches or a combination thereof.
[0036] At step 225, the opaqueness of the selected one or more areas in the transparent liquid crystal display are increased. The increase in opaqueness is dependent and is proportional to the intensity of the light source. The opaqueness is gradually decreased from the one or more areas to the peripheral of the transparent liquid crystal display. The gradual decrease is based on the intensity of light decreasing towards the periphery. Further, within the selected area corresponding to the light source, the opaqueness increases towards the centre of the area. The level of opacity can be controlled either manually by the user or performed automatically based on a user setting. The setting includes setting an opacity value.
[0037] At step 230, a glare reduced image is displayed. The displayed glare reduced image removes bright light corresponding to the light source. Upon reducing glare in the displayed image, the glare reduced image is captured.
[0038] At step 235, the step ends.
[0039] FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b are exemplary illustrations of reducing glare on a screen, in accordance with one embodiment.
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[0040] In the illustration of FIG. 3a, light from a scene 305 including a bright light source 310 is passed through a camera lens 315. The lens 315 creates an inverted image 320 on a charge coupled device (CCD) 325. The inverted image 320 includes a glare 330 corresponding to the bright light source 310. The glare 330 results in a bright area on the image. An arrow 335 highlights the path followed by the bright light from the scene 305 to the CCD 325.
[0041] In the FIG. 3b illustration, a TLCD 340 is placed in front of the lens 315. An arrow 345 highlights the path followed by the bright light 310 to the TLCD 340. The TLCD 340 is used to avoid the bright glare caused due to the bright light source 310 on the image. The area on the TLCD 350 corresponding to the bright light source 310 is selected. Based on the intensity level of the lights falling on the TLCD 340, the opacity level is increased gradually to the center of the area of the TLCD 350. The bright light is blocked by the TLCD 340 removing any glare caused by the bright light source resulting in a glare reduced image 355 is displayed on the CCD 325.
[0042] FIG. 4 is an example illustrating variation of opaqueness with respect to the intensity of light source in the TLCD screen 400, in accordance with one embodiment.
[0043] Consider an example of the TLCD screen 400 corresponding to a scene with a light source at the center. The light from the scene falls on the TLCD screen 400. Area 405 at the center of the TLCD screen 400 corresponds to light from the light source. Since the light source is at the center of the scene, the intensity is highest at the center and gradually decreases away from the center. Based on the intensity of the light falling on the TLCD screen 400, the opaqueness is varied at various points on the TLCD screen 400. For
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example, based on intensity of light on the TLCD screen 400, the opaqueness decreases gradually from the center. The gradual decrease in opaqueness is illustrated with multiple colors, each color corresponding to a level of opaqueness. In the illustration, color 1 corresponds to the area with maximum intensity, and is of maximum opaqueness to reduce the intensity of light coming out of the TLCD screen 400. Color 3, color 4 and color 5 correspond to area with decreasing intensity of light, and are of decreasing opaqueness respectively. Each area allows proportionate intensity of light based on the level of opaqueness of each area. Color 6 corresponds to the area with minimum intensity, and is of minimum opaqueness to allow proportionate intensity of light coming out of the TLCD screen 400.
[0044] In the preceding specification, the present disclosure and its advantages have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, it will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and changes can be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded as illustrative examples of the present disclosure, rather than in restrictive sense. All such possible modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.
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I/We claim:
1. A method of reducing glare on a screen of an electronic device, the method
comprising:
identifying one or more light sources causing glare on the screen;
suggesting one or more areas in a transparent liquid crystal display corresponding to the one or more light sources, wherein the transparent liquid crystal display is placed in front of a lens of the electronic device;
receiving one or more signals indicative of selection of the one or more areas based on the suggesting;
increasing the opaqueness of the selected one or more areas in the transparent liquid crystal display; wherein the opaqueness gradually decreases from the one or more areas to the peripheral of the transparent liquid crystal display; and
displaying a glare reduced image based on the increasing.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising at least one of: decreasing the opaqueness of the selected one or more areas; and modifying the area of the selected one or more areas.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: capturing an image based on the displaying.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises:
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receiving one or more signals indicative of deselection of the one or more areas based on the suggesting.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method of reducing glare on a screen of an
electronic device comprises:
capturing a glare reduced video.
6. An electronic device comprising:
a charge coupled device for
identifying one or more light sources causing glare on a screen; and capturing an glare reduced image. a transparent liquid crystal display for reducing the glare in the screen; a processor responsive for
suggesting one or more areas in the transparent liquid crystal display corresponding to the one or more light sources, wherein the transparent liquid crystal display is placed in front of a lens of the electronic device;
receiving one or more signals indicative of selection of the one or more areas based on the suggesting; and
displaying the glare reduced image. a glare controller for increasing the opaqueness of the selected one or more areas in the transparent liquid crystal display; wherein the opaqueness gradually decreases from the one or more areas to the peripheral of the transparent liquid crystal display.
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7. A system for performing a method, the method as described herein and in accompanying figures.
8. A method for reducing glare on a screen of an electronic device, the electronic device as described herein and in accompanying figures.