Patent ID: 6859618

Claim:
A method for compensating for backlight conditions in a scene for use in a camera that includes a flash and a flash control signal for activating the flash when the flash control signal is asserted, the method comprising the steps of: generating a meter matrix for a scene that includes a plurality of points, wherein each point includes brightness information and distance information said generating comprising: defining a subject group of points; defining a background group of points; generating at least one point in the subject group; generating at least one point in the background group; and determining the distance between the camera and the point in the subject group; determining whether the distance between the camera and the point in the subject group is less than a predetermined distance; when the distance between the camera and the point in the subject group is less than a predetermined distance; determining a general brightness level of the scene; determining whether the general brightness level exceeds a predetermined brightness threshold; and when the general brightness level exceeds a predetermined brightness threshold, asserting the flash control signal.