US 7,463,289 B2
Digital camera producing image embedded with diagnostic characteristic
Akihiro Machida, Sunnyvale, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Aptina Imaging Corporation, Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands)
Filed on May 07, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/841,854.
Prior Publication US 2005/0248668 A1, Nov. 10, 2005
Int. Cl. H04N 5/76 (2006.01); H04N 5/262 (2006.01); G06K 15/00 (2006.01); G06K 9/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 348—231.1  [348/231.6; 348/239; 358/3.28; 382/100] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A digital camera system including:
a digital camera comprising:
a user input device for adjusting a setting of at least one visual error diagnostic characteristic, wherein the at least one visual error diagnostic characteristic has at least two settings,
an image processor configured to create a digital image,
a watermark engine configured to organize watermark data, the watermark data including a current setting of the at least one visual error diagnostic characteristic, and
an image buffer configured to embed the watermark data within the digital image, as a watermarked image, and for outputting the watermarked digital image; and
a diagnostic device, remote from the digital camera, for receiving the outputted watermarked digital image, for determining the current setting of the at least one visual error diagnostic characteristic from the watermarked data and for identifying, based on user input, errors in an image setting of the digital camera based on the determined current setting of the at least one visual error diagnostic characteristic and visual errors in the digital image,
wherein the diagnostic device, based on user input, compares the current setting of the at least one visual error diagnostic characteristic to the visual errors of the watermarked digital image, and determines at least one adjustment image setting to reduce or remedy the visual errors in subsequently captured digital images.