Calibrating digital cameras for varying ambient light conditions

Abstract

An internal or external device may be utilized to calibrate a digital camera for changing ambient light conditions. The device may include a surface which either provides for white light reflectivity or white light transmissivity for making a first measurement of white light intensity. A plurality of light emitting elements of known wavelengths can be used to obtain a second intensity measurement. This information may be used to calibrate the camera for changing ambient light.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 - 11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . An article comprising a medium for storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to: 
 cause a measurement of the ambient white light intensity to be taken;    illuminate a plurality of lights, each of a different wavelength;    cause a measurement to be taken of the intensity of each of said lights together with the white light intensity; and    calibrate said digital camera for the ambient lighting conditions using said measurement.    
     
     
         13  (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 12  further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to automatically cause measurements of the white light intensity to be taken in response to the detection of a change in ambient light conditions.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 12  further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to cause a measurements to be taken of the light transmitted by a light emitting element coupled to said camera.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 12  further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to use pattern recognition techniques to locate an external calibration device.  
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 12  further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to measure the white light reflected by an external device and identify indicia on said external device containing information about the optical characteristics of said external device.  
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 12  further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to measure the light transmitted though a device coupled to said camera and capture information recorded on said device about the optical characteristics of said device.  
     
     
         19 - 30 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         31 . The article of  claim 12  further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to cause the measurement of ambient white light intensity to be taken.