Patent ID: 7760246
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for adjusting white balance when generating an image representative of a scene during a time period with a photosensor array, wherein said image is portioned into a plurality of fields, one of said plurality of fields being a first field; the method comprising: not illuminating said scene with a strobe during a first portion of the time period; transferring first data representative of the first field from the photosensor array after said first portion of the time period; illuminating said scene with said strobe during a second portion of the time period; transferring second data representative of said first field from the photosensor array after said second portion of the time period; transferring data representative of the remaining fields; calculating a contribution of said strobe on said first field, the result being third data; calculating a contribution of ambient light on said first field based on said first data, the result of said calculating being fourth data; obtaining an ambient white balance of the scene represented by said fourth data; obtaining a strobe white balance related to said strobe; calculating a white balance strobe weight based on said third data and said fourth data; applying said ambient white balance and said strobe white balance to the first field, the result being a weighted field; and applying ambient white balance, said strobe white balance, and said white balance strobe weight to the remaining fields, the result being weighted fields.