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Topic: Hardware

Apple focuses on 10 camera-related patents

Summary: A total of ten camera-related patents were published by Apple last week underscoring the camera's importance in the smartphone form-factor. A great read for iOS, photography and patent nerds alike.

Jason D. O'Grady

By for The Apple Core |

Apple is looking to build upon the success of the 5 megapixel camera and High Dynamic Range (HDR) feature that it rolled out with the iPhone 4. A total of ten (count 'em!) camera-related patents were published by Apple last week underscoring the camera's importance in the smartphone form-factor.

The first is about how to eliminate taking blurry photos with the iPhone's camera. Apple's solution? Capturing several images in sequence (like it does with HDR) then comparing detected movement data and selecting the image associated with suitably low movement data.

Another patent covers how the iPhone handles vignetting effects using a "skin-tone-mask" to avoid over exposed photos. Apple's solution? An efficient skin tone aware color boosting algorithm that automatically detects the skin tone and non-skin tone regions of an image and adjusts the color boost in the two regions accordingly to create more visually appealing photos.

The other patent applications deal with fun topics like Radially-Based Chroma Noise Reduction (a.k.a. "lens falloff"), Chroma Noise Reductions, Automatic Tone Mapping, Continuous Image, Orientation Detectors, Automatic Exposure Mechanisms, Video Processing for Masking Coding Artifacts using Dynamic Noise Maps, Image Acquisition and Transcoding System, and Image Acquisition and Encoding System.

The piece is a great read for iOS, photography and patent nerds alike.

Tip: Patently Apple

Topics: Hardware, Apple, Legal

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17 comments
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  • RE: Apple focuses on 10 camera-related patents

    > Capturing several images in sequence (like it does with HDR) then comparing detected movement data and selecting the image associated with suitably low movement data <

    At least a couple of high-end point-and-shoots already have that feature. Presumably the patent is in the modus operandi.

    The rest looks like a v. interesting application of the computing firepower of a unix based OS and fast processors. Again, high end SLRs and compacts minimize chroma, flare, distortions, etc. in the software (at least for jpegs not for RAW) but without the computing grunt of an iPhone or iPad.
    enzos2
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Apple focuses on 10 camera-related patents

      @enzos2 Yeah... I've known that for a long time. Part of what's annoying about this patent is you and I both know they're just adding "On a mobile phone" to technologies that have existed for years that either have expired patents or are unpatented.
      snoop0x7b
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Apple focuses on 10 camera-related patents

        @snoop0x7b Once again patents misreported. It helps if you read the patent. You'll see that apple is trying to patent the idea of using motion sensor data to work out which shot to keep. When reading a patent, read the claims. NOT the rest of the document. A patent ONLY covers what's in the claims.
        Ash NZ
        Reply Vote

  • Can you say

    Can anyone say "prior art"? Sorry but I've seen most of this in other cameras. Oh wait, Apple is using it in a phone, I guess that changes everything,,,, NOT!
    NoAxToGrind
    Reply Vote

    • The other important thing to say

      @NoAxToGrind
      Patents are GOOD when submitted and enforced by Apple.

      Patents are BAD when submitted and enforced against Apple.
      NonZealot
      Reply Vote

      • Can't win for loosing...

        @NonZealot
        "iF" Apple did not protect itself by going after patents they'd be called a fool and stock holders would be outraged. if they do go after all the patents they can get they are an evil bully. if they get sued by another company with a patent they deserve to loose because well they are Apple. if they sue and win they are being mean. There is nothing Apple can do to please anyone or everyone in this case so choosing it's own welfare and it's stock holders best interests seems the wisest of choices all things considered.

        Pagan jim
        James Quinn
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Apple focuses on 10 camera-related patents

        @NonZealot

        Really? Then why do you post that:

        It is BAD when Apple sues over patents.
        It is GOOD when Apple gets sued over patents.

        At least you don't have any double standards.
        msalzberg
        Reply Vote

      • OK, since you're a NonZealot...

        @NonZealot I'll assume your opinion is an objective one.
        godsfault
        Reply Vote

    • You can patent an improvement on an existing system. [nt]

      [nt]
      olePigeon
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Apple focuses on 10 camera-related patents

      @NoAxToGrind You're right... I've seen it elsewhere too. I'm sick of them just adding "on a mobile phone" and getting a free pass.
      snoop0x7b
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple focuses on 10 camera-related patents

    There is no penalty for filing a bad patent, and a large penalty for failing to file a patent. Hence all companies file bogus patents over every idea, and let the courts sort it out. Which will continue to happen until the legislature grows a brain and cares a damn.

    The upshot is success of the richest, which fits in well with the American ethos anyway.
    dimonic
    Reply Vote

    • Good point

      [i]There is no penalty for filing a bad patent, and a large penalty for failing to file a patent.[/i]
      John Zern
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple focuses on 10 camera-related patents

    lmao!!!
    So before I take a picture with my next iPhone I will need to set/adjust several settings......
    Hope there is an Off setting.....
    Sorry but if I am looking to take that level of quality photo's I will take my dslr and take them.
    My phone is more of a opportunistic point and shoot. The bloody camera is slow enough as it is.
    rhonin
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple focuses on 10 camera-related patents

    All this stuff sounds like existing algorithms that have been around for years in dSLRs as well as things that photographers have done with Photoshop for years. Multiple exposures for better HDR is not a new technique, people have been doing it manually with photoshop since there was such a thing... These patents sound like another case of taking existing algorithms and adding, "On a mobile phone"
    snoop0x7b
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple focuses on 10 camera-related patents

    funny my wife's little waterproof sony tx-5 already does what apple is copyrighting...
    illusionary
    Reply Vote

  • Apple is just covering their ass

    Without patents they'll just get sued someday.
    yobtaf
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple focuses on 10 camera-related patents

    Will you be publishing <a href="http://www.uggs-offer.com/" style="text-decoration: none; color: black;">black ugg</a> your individual particular posts? Or gaining them from every single other sources?
    jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812
    Reply Vote
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