Imaging device for capturing self-portrait images

Abstract

A digital camera for capturing an image containing the photographer, comprising: an image sensor; an optical system for forming an image of a scene on the image sensor; a processor for processing the output of the image sensor in order to detect the presence of one or more faces in a field of view of the digital camera; a feedback mechanism for providing feedback to the photographer while the photographer is included within the field of view, responsive to detecting at least one face in the field of view, and a means for initiating capture of a digital image of the scene containing the photographer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 an image sensor, wherein the device is configured to capture images;   a processor configured to process an output of the image sensor in order to detect a presence of one or more faces in a field of view of the device; and   a feedback mechanism configured to provide feedback responsive to detecting a face in the field of view, wherein the feedback mechanism provides information about the number of faces in the field of view of the device.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback mechanism provides an alert relating to the information about the number of faces in the field of view of the device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback mechanism initiates an image capture when predetermined criteria is satisfied relating to the information about the number of aces in the field of view of the device. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback mechanism only provides feedback during a self-portrait mode of the device. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the feedback mechanism provides feedback in response to a distance between the device and the detected face being within a specified range of distances. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the distance is provided by a calibration process for the self-portrait mode. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the specified range of distances comprises a stored range of distances at which a photographer can hold the device at arm's length. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the self-portrait mode is activated when the detected face comprises a face that was previously registered by the calibration process. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor applies different composition rules depending on a number of faces detected within the field of view. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the composition rule is to center the faces within the field of view. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 processing, by a processor, an output of an image sensor of a device configured to capture images in order to detect a presence of one or more faces in a field of view of the device; and   providing feedback, by a feedback mechanism, responsive to detecting a face in the field of view, wherein the feedback mechanism provides feedback about how many faces are in the field of view of the device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing an alert relating to how many faces are in the field of view of the device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising calibrating the device, including providing the processor with a distance between the device and the detected face being within a specified range of distances. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising applying different composition rules depending on a number of faces detected within the field of view. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution, cause a computer device to perform operations comprising:
 processing an output of an image sensor of a device configured to capture images in order to detect a presence of one or more faces in a field of view of the device; and   providing feedback in response to detecting at least one face in the field of view of the device.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise initiating an image capture when predetermined criteria is satisfied relating to the information about the number of aces in the field of view of the device. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising calibrating the device, including providing the processor with a distance between the device and the detected face being within a specified range of distances. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , further comprising activating a self-portrait mode when the detected face comprises a face that was previously registered by the calibration process. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the specified range of distances comprises a stored range of distances at which a photographer can hold the device at arm's length. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising applying different composition rules depending on a number of faces detected within the field of view.