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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A target (10, 20) is disclosed suitable for setting the exposure
and white balance of a photographic digital camera. The target (10,
20) comprises a target surface (12) that has a reflectance of 18%
for all wavelengths of visible light. The target surface (12) is
provided with a feature (16) upon which the camera is able to focus.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A target for setting the exposure and white balance of a photographic
digital camera, the target comprising a target surface that has
a reflectance of 18% for all wavelengths of visible light, and the
target surface being provided with a feature upon which the camera
is able to focus.
2. A target as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target feature comprises
one or more areas of the target surface that have a difference reflectance
to the remainder of the target surface.
3. A target as claimed in claim 1, wherein the boundaries between
the target feature and the remainder of the target surface are sharp
so as to facilitate focussing.
4. A target as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target feature has
a significantly smaller area than the remainder of the target surface
so that the reflectance properties of the target surface are not
altered significantly by the present of the target feature.
5. A target as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target features
comprises one or more lines on the target surface.
6. A target as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lines on the target
surface extend in more than one direction.
7. A target as claimed in claim 6, wherein the target feature includes
two or more straight lines that are orientated at an angle to one
another.
8. A target as claimed in claim 6, wherein the target feature includes
a closed line.
9. A target as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target feature is
white or black in colour.
10. A target as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target comprises
a sheet of flexible material that is held in tension at is periphery,
and at least one side of which forms the target surface.
11. A method of photographing a subject, which method comprises
the steps of: (a) positioning a target as claimed in claim 1 close
to the subject; (b) causing the camera to focus on the feature of
the target surface, and simultaneously setting the exposure and
white balance of the camera; (c) removing the target from the field-of-view
of the camera whilst maintaining the focus, exposure, and white
balance settings of the camera; and (d) taking photograph of the
subject using said focus, exposure, and white balance settings of
the camera.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, the photographic
digital camera includes an image sensor, means for focussing the
camera, and means for automatically setting both the exposure and
the white balance before a photograph is taken.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the camera is provided
with an automatic mode in which the exposure setting is set automatically
according to the intensity of light detected by a light meter within
the camera, and the white balance is set automatically according
to the relative intensities of different wavelengths of visible
light that are detected by the camera
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the camera assumes
that the scene being photographed has a reflectance of 18% across
the entire visible light spectrum.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the photographic digital
camera includes means for automatically focussing on the feature
of the target surface.
16. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein in the automatic mode,
the focus, exposure and white balance of the camera are set simultaneously
when the photograph partially depresses a shutter-release button
of the camera, and the camera takes a photograph when the shutter-release
button is depressed fully.
17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the photographs causes
the camera to automatically focus on the feature of the target surface,
and simultaneously set the exposure and/or white balance, by partially
depressing the shutter-release button of the camera, the photographer
then removes the target from the field-of-view of the camera whilst
maintaining the shutter-release button in its partially depressed
state, and hence maintaining the focus, exposure, and white balance
settings of the camera, and the photographer then takes a photograph
of the subject using said focus, exposure, and white balance settings
of the camera by fully depressing the shutter-release button.
18. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the target is positioned
directly in front of a subject, and as close as possible to the
front surface of the subject, so that the focus set using the target
is suitable for taking a photograph of the subject.
19. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the camera does not
have a spot meter for setting the exposure of the camera, and the
target surface is sufficiently large that when the camera is positioned
ready to take a photograph of the subject, the target can be positioned
in front of the subject so that the target surface entirely fills
the viewfinder of the camera without any need to move the camera,
and the camera is able to focus on the target feature.
20. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the camera does have
a spot meter, and the target surface is sufficiently large that
when the camera is positioned ready to take a photograph of the
subject, the target can be positioned in front of the subject so
that the target surface entirely fills the area covered by the spot
meter without any need to move the camera, and the camera is able
to focus on the target feature.
Digital Camera Patent Description
[0001] This invention relates to setting the exposure and white
balance of photographic digital cameras before taking a photograph.
[0002] The exposure setting of a camera determines the amount of
light that enters the camera through the lens when taking a photograph,
and is adjusted by changing the shutter speed and/or the aperture
size of the camera. Most digital cameras include a Through-The-Lens
(TTL) light meter that measures the intensity of the light entering
the camera through the lens. The light meter reading can be used
either automatically by the microprocessor of the camera, or manually
by the photographer, to determine the appropriate exposure setting
for the particular lighting conditions before a photograph is taken.
[0003] Most digital cameras include an automatic mode in which
the exposure is set according to the intensity of light that is
detected by the light meter before a photograph is taken. In order
to determine the appropriate exposure setting, the camera assumes
that the scene being photographed has a total visible light reflectance
of 18% (ie the scene reflects 18% of incident visible light). Clearly,
however, exposure problems can occur when the scene being photographed
has a total visible light reflectance that is significantly different
to the assumed value of 18%. For example, a scene including large
expanses of snow and sky will cause the camera to set the exposure
too low, and hence the resulting photograph will be too dark.
[0004] One method of setting the exposure more accurately involves
using a so-called "grey card". A grey card has a grey
target surface with a visible light reflectance of 18%. In use,
the photographer positions the grey card close to the subject being
photographed. The photographer then causes the camera to take a
reading of the intensity of visible light being reflected by the
grey card, and the camera then determines the exposure appropriate
for the particular lighting conditions. The photographer is then
able to manually adjust the exposure appropriately before taking
a photograph.
[0005] Most digital cameras also include means for setting white
balance. This is because the relative intensities of different wavelengths
of visible light received by the camera from a particular subject
will depend upon the light source(s) illuminating that subject,
and in particular the wavelengths of visible light that are emitted
by the light source(s). The white balance setting of a camera is
used to alter the colours recorded in the photograph so as to obtain
a photograph having a more natural-looking set of colours. Most
digital cameras have an automatic mode in which the white balance
is set automatically when taking a photograph according to the relative
intensities of different wavelengths of visible light that are detected
by the camera. In this automatic mode, however, the camera assumes
that the scene being photographed reflects the same proportion of
each wavelength of visible light falling upon it, and hence that
the scene has an overall grey colour.
[0006] One method of setting the white balance more accurately
involves using a white or grey surface to set the white balance
of the camera appropriately for the particular lighting conditions.
A white surface is often provided on the rear surface of a grey
card for convenience. In use, the white or grey surface is placed
close to the subject to be shot, and the photographer causes the
camera to set the white balance to an appropriate setting using
the white or grey surface as a reference.
[0007] Although the use of grey cards and white or grey surfaces
to calibrate the exposure and white balance settings of cameras
is effective, the process can be time-consuming and confusing for
an amateur photographer.
[0008] There has now been devised an improved accessory for photographic
digital cameras and an improved method of taking a photograph which
overcome or substantially mitigate the above-mentioned and/or other
disadvantages associated with the prior art.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided
a target for setting the exposure and white balance of a photographic
digital camera, the target comprising a target surface that has
a reflectance of 18% for all wavelengths of visible light, and the
target surface being provided with a feature upon which the camera
is able to focus.
[0010] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of photographing a subject, which method comprises
the steps of:
[0011] (a) positioning a target according to the invention close
to the subject;
[0012] (b) causing the camera to focus on the feature of the target
surface, and simultaneously setting the exposure and white balance
of the camera;
[0013] (c) removing the target from the field-of-view of the camera
whilst maintaining the focus, exposure, and white balance settings
of the camera; and
[0014] (d) taking a photograph of the subject using said focus,
exposure, and white balance settings of the camera.
[0015] The target and method according to the invention are advantageous
principally because a photographer can automatically set the exposure
and white balance of the camera whilst focusing the camera immediately
before taking a photograph. The method is simple and quick to complete,
and is therefore particularly suitable for amateur photographers.
[0016] The photographic digital camera will generally include an
image sensor, means for focussing the camera, and means for automatically
setting both the exposure and the white balance before a photograph
is taken.
[0017] Most preferably, the camera is provided with an automatic
mode in which the exposure setting is set automatically according
to the intensity of light detected by a light meter within the camera,
and the white balance is set automatically according to the relative
intensities of different wavelengths of visible light that are detected
by the camera. In this automatic mode, the camera preferably assumes
that the scene being photographed has a reflectance of 18% across
the entire visible light spectrum.
[0018] Most preferably, the photographic digital camera includes
means for automatically focussing on the feature of the target surface.
Photographic digital cameras typically focus by moving the lens
relative to the image sensor until differences in light intensity
between adjacent pixels of the image sensor are maximised. Most
cameras focus using a strip of pixels that is typically between
100 and 200 pixels in length, and this strip of pixels is commonly
orientated either horizontally or vertically when taking a photograph.
[0019] Preferably, the target surface is able to entirely fill
the viewfinder of the camera, and the camera is able to focus on
the target feature in this arrangement. Most preferably, the target
surface is sufficiently large that when the camera is positioned
ready to take a photograph of the subject, the target can be positioned
in front of the subject so that the target surface entirely fills
the viewfinder of the camera without any need to move the camera,
and the camera is able to focus on the target feature. This feature
is necessary where the camera does not have a spot meter for setting
the exposure of the camera. However, if the camera does have a spot
meter, it is only necessary for the area covered by the spot meter
to be filled by the target surface when setting the exposure of
the camera.
[0020] The target surface reflects the same proportion, ie 18%,
of all wavelengths of visible light falling upon it. Most preferably,
the target surface excluding the target feature has a constant reflectance
(ie 18% for all wavelengths of visible light) at all points across
its entire area, and preferably therefore has a grey tone that corresponds
to Zone V in the Ansel Adams Zone System.
[0021] The target feature preferably comprises one or more areas
of the target surface that have a different reflectance to the remainder
of the target surface. Most preferably, the boundaries between the
target feature and the remainder of the target surface are sharp
so as to facilitate focussing. However, the target feature preferably
has a significantly smaller area than the remainder of the target
surface so that the overall reflectance properties of the target
surface are not altered significantly by the presence of the target
feature.
[0022] The target feature preferably comprises one or more lines
on the target surface. Most preferably, these lines extend in more
than one direction. For example, the target feature may include
two or more straight lines that are orientated at an angle to one
another, and/or a closed line such as a circle. Most preferably,
the target feature is white or black in colour.
[0023] The target preferably comprises a sheet of flexible material
that is held in tension at its periphery, and at least one side
of which forms the target surface. The sheet of flexible material
is preferably stretchable, and hence is preferably a knitted fabric.
Most preferably, the sheet of flexible material is provided with
a peripheral tube within which a flexible hoop is accommodated,
the hoop serving to tension and slightly stretch the sheet of flexible
material. The flexible hoop is most preferably formed of a band
of resilient material, ie a flat strip of resilient material. The
band is most preferably formed in a metal such as steel.
[0024] The target is preferably positioned directly in front of
a subject, and preferably as close as possible to the front surface
of the subject, so that the focus set using the target is suitable
for taking a photograph of the subject.
[0025] In the automatic mode, the focus, exposure and white balance
are preferably set simultaneously when the photographer partially
depresses a shutter-release button of the camera, and the camera
preferably takes a photograph when the shutter-release button is
depressed fully. Hence, the photographer preferably causes the camera
to automatically focus on the feature of the target surface, and
simultaneously set the exposure and/or white balance, by partially
depressing the shutter-release button of the camera. The photographer
preferably then removes the target from the field-of-view of the
camera whilst maintaining the shutter-release button in its partially
depressed state, and hence maintaining the focus, exposure, and
white balance settings of the camera. The photographer preferably
then takes a photograph of the subject using said focus, exposure,
and white balance settings of the camera by fully depressing the
shutter-release button.
[0026] The invention will now be described in greater detail, by
way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which
[0027] FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a target
according to the invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the target of FIG. 1; and
[0029] FIG. 3 is a front view of a second embodiment of a target
according to the invention.
[0030] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a target according
to the invention, which is generally designated 10. The target 10
comprises a circular sheet of fabric that is stretchable and has
a target surface 12 formed on one side. The target surface 12 is
grey in colour and has a reflectance of 18% for all wavelengths
of visible light. The target surface 12 therefore has a neutral
reflectance, ie it reflects the same proportion of all wavelengths
of visible light falling upon it, and represents the middle tone
(Zone V in the Ansel Adams Zone System) used for exposure determination.
[0031] The target surface 12 is formed with a target feature 16
at its centre. The target feature 16 is formed from narrow white
lines that do not significantly alter the overall reflectance properties
of the target surface 12. The target feature 16 comprises a pair
of straight lines that intersect one another at their centres, and
are orientated perpendicularly to one another. The target feature
16 further comprises a circular line that is centred about the intersection
of the two straight lines.
[0032] A fabric tube 14 is stitched to the periphery of the sheet
of fabric and contains a continuous, resilient hoop. The hoop is
typically formed from a band of carbon spring steel with a width
of about 10 mm and the ends of which are riveted, welded or clipped
together to form the hoop. The effect of the hoop is to maintain
the sheet of fabric in a tensioned and slightly stretched state,
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0033] The target 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is of particular use
when taking a photograph of a small subject. In use, the photographer
firstly arranges the subject, the background, the lighting, and
the position of the camera, as desired. The photographer then positions
the target 10 directly in front of the subject, and as close as
possible to the front surface of subject, so that the viewfinder
of the camera is filled with the target surface 12 and the camera
is able to automatically focus on the target feature 16.
[0034] The photographer then causes the camera to automatically
focus on the target feature 16. For most digital cameras, this is
done by depressing the shutter release button about halfway, and
will also result in the exposure and white balance settings of the
camera being set automatically. Provided that the shutter release
button is maintained in its partially depressed state, most digital
cameras will lock the focus, exposure and white balance settings
ready for when the photograph is taken. The photographer therefore
removes the target 10 from in front of the subject while maintaining
the shutter release button in its partially depressed state, and
then fully depresses the shutter release button so as to take a
photograph of the subject using the focus, exposure and white balance
settings that were set using the target 10.
[0035] Clearly, this method of setting the exposure and white balance
settings of the camera, whilst simultaneously focussing the camera,
is quick and easy, and therefore ideally suited to the amateur photographer.
[0036] After use, the target 10 may be collapsed for storage. This
is done by grasping opposite sides of the target 10, twisting the
target 10 to form two loops, and folding the two loops together
to form a collapsed configuration. The collapsed target 10 can then
be stowed in a pouch or other receptacle until it is next required.
[0037] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a target according to
the invention, which is generally designated 20. The target 20 shown
in FIG. 3 is identical to the target 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in
all aspects other than size and shape. In particular, the target
20 shown in FIG. 3 is generally rectangular in shape, with rounded
corners, and is therefore suitable for more elongate subjects. |