Electronic Device with Adjustable Illumination

Abstract

This application discloses an electronic device (e.g., a camera) that a plurality of light sources and a light source driver. The light sources are configurable to a plurality of light source subsets to illuminate a field of view. At least two of the light source subsets include distinct light source members and are configured to illuminate different regions of the field of view. The light source driver is coupled to the plurality of light sources and configured to drive the plurality of light source subsets. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes or is coupled to a camera module configured to capture visual data of the field of view, and the plurality of light sources is configured to provide illumination for the camera module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A camera that operates in a smart home environment, comprising:
 an illumination system including multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs); and   a microcontroller unit that controls the illumination system, the camera configured to:
 capture video in a daytime mode while the illumination system off; 
 capture video in a night vision mode while the illumination system on; and 
 capture video in a depth map mode during while at least a portion of the illumination system is activated at least once. 
   
     
     
         2 . The camera of  claim 1 , the camera configured to:
 using the video captured in the depth map mode, create a depth map corresponding to a field of view of the camera.   
     
     
         3 . The camera of  claim 2 , the camera configured to:
 identify objects in the smart home environment, in the daytime mode, using the created depth map.   
     
     
         4 . The camera of  claim 2 , wherein the capture of video in the depth map mode configures the camera to:
 selectively illuminate portions of the field of view; and   capture one or more images.   
     
     
         5 . The camera of  claim 4 , wherein the selective illumination of the portions of the field of view comprises:
 the microcontroller illuminating one or more subsets of the LEDs.   
     
     
         6 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein the capture of video in the depth map mode occurs during nighttime. 
     
     
         7 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple LEDs include infrared LEDs. 
     
     
         8 . The camera of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a dark-colored, infrared-transparent plastic cover that covers the LEDs.   
     
     
         9 . The camera of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a camera lens configured to capture visual data of a field of view, and wherein the multiple LEDs are disposed to surround the camera lens.   
     
     
         10 . The camera of  claim 9 , wherein the multiple LEDs are disposed symmetrically with respect to the camera lens. 
     
     
         11 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a camera module configured to capture a field of view;   an illumination system including multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs); and   a light source driver coupled to the illumination system, the electronic device configured to:
 capture video in a daytime mode while the illumination system off; 
 capture video in a night vision mode while the illumination system on; and 
 capture video in a depth map mode during while at least a portion of the illumination system is activated at least once. 
   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , the electronic device configured to:
 using the video captured in the depth map mode, create a depth map corresponding to a field of view of the camera.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , the electronic device configured to:
 identify objects in a smart home environment, in the daytime mode, using the created depth map.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the capture of video in the depth map mode configures the camera to:
 selectively illuminate portions of the field of view; and   capture one or more images.   
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the multiple LEDs include infrared LEDs. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a camera in multiple modes, the method comprising:
 capturing video in a daytime mode while an illumination system off;   capturing video in a night vision mode while the illumination system on; and   capturing video in a depth map mode during while at least a portion of the illumination system is activated at least once.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 using the video captured in the depth map mode, creating a depth map corresponding to a field of view of the camera.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 identifying objects in a smart home environment, in the daytime mode, using the created depth map.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the capturing of the video in the depth map mode comprises:
 selectively illuminating portions of the field of view; and   capturing one or more images.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the illumination system comprises multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs), the method further comprising:
 illuminating one or more subsets of the LEDs to selectively illuminate the portions of the field of view.