Patent ID: 8648929

Claim:
An image capture method with an anti-flicker function, comprising estimating exposure integrals, according to an image sensed by a camera device, of a plurality of lines of the image; comparing the exposure integrals with reference exposure integrals for the plurality of lines separately, to estimate exposure integral offsets of the plurality of lines, wherein the reference exposure integrals for the plurality of lines are obtained from at least one reference image; and statistically analyzing positive and negative changes of the exposure integral offsets over the plurality of lines and, based on the statistical analysis, determining whether the sensed image contains light flicker from background illumination, and setting an auto exposure control module of the camera device according to the determination of light flicker, wherein steps for the statistical analysis and determination comprises: dividing the plurality of lines of the image into lines corresponding to a first quadrant, lines corresponding to a second quadrant, lines corresponding to a third quadrant and lines corresponding to a fourth quadrant in accordance with a periodic length; estimating an average exposure integral offset for the first quadrant, which is an average value of the exposure integral offsets of the lines corresponding to the first quadrant; estimating an average exposure integral offset for the second quadrant, which is an average value of the exposure integral offsets of the lines corresponding to the second quadrant; estimating an average exposure integral offset for the third quadrant, which is an average value of the exposure integral offsets of the lines corresponding to the third quadrant; estimating an average exposure integral offset for the fourth quadrant, which is an average value of the exposure integral offsets of the lines corresponding to the fourth quadrant; excluding consideration for light flicker of the periodic length that is being considered when the average exposure integral offsets for the first, second, third and fourth quadrants are all positive and then refreshing the period length to re-perform the steps for statistical analysis and determination; and excluding consideration for light flicker of the periodic length that is being considered when the average exposure integral offsets of the first, second, third and fourth quadrants are all negative and then refreshing the period length to re-perform the steps for statistical analysis and determination.