System, method, and computer program for capturing an image with correct skin tone exposure

Abstract

A system and method are provided for capturing an image with correct skin tone exposure. In use, one or more faces having threshold skin tone are detected within a scene. Based on the detected one or more faces, a high dynamic range (HDR) capture mode is enabled. Further, the scene image is captured using the HDR capture mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a non-transitory memory storing instructions;   a camera module; and   one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory and the camera module, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
 detect one or more faces having threshold skin tone within a scene; 
 based on the detected one or more faces, enable a high dynamic range (HDR) capture mode; and 
 capture the scene image using the HDR capture mode. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold skin tone is detected for one or more regions of the one or more faces detected. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the threshold skin tone is a medium natural human skin color. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the threshold skin tone is a dark natural human skin color. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the threshold skin tone is a light natural human skin color. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the threshold skin tone is a predefined average intensity or histogram median. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the predefined average intensity or histogram median is based on one or more face regions associated with the one or more faces. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is operable such that the capturing includes performing local equalization to generate the scene image. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the local equalization comprises contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is operable to further execute the instructions to correct a color of light associated with the skin tone associated with each of the one or more faces based on a measurement of an ambient lighting color balance. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is operable such that the capturing includes enabling a flash illuminator. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is operable such that the capturing is of a video stream. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is operable such that the capturing includes performing tone mapping to generate the scene image. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the tone mapping is performed on pixels affiliated with exposed skin. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein contrast is adjusted is performed on pixels associated with exposed skin. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to determine a separate exposure value for each of the one or more faces. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to determine a first exposure for at least one of the one or more faces, and a second exposure for the scene which does not contain the one or more faces. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , the one or more processors execute the instructions to process each of the one or more faces to determine a face region, a transition region, and a non face region. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more programs containing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the device to:
 detect one or more faces having threshold skin tone within a scene;   based on the detected one or more faces, enable a high dynamic range (HDR) capture mode; and   capture the scene image using the HDR capture mode.   
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 detecting, using an image processor, one or more faces having threshold skin tone within a scene;   based on the detected one or more faces, enabling, using the image processor, a high dynamic range (HDR) capture mode; and   capturing, using the image processor, the scene image using the HDR capture mode.